M&S withdraw major
store expansion plan
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to extend the giant Marks and Spencer store at Warrington?s Gemini retail park has been withdrawn after planning officers recommended it be refused.
The company will now amend the scheme before re-submitting it to the borough council?s development control committee.
Major opposition has come from the Warrington Retail Partnership, representing town centre traders.
They fear an increase in the size of the Gemini store could damage the viability of the town centre and could even lead to M&S closing their Sankey Street store ? causing serious damage to a main shopping frontage.
The Partnership says an agreement should be reached between the borough council and M&S which provides an obligation that company may not trade from their out of town store if the town centre store ceased trading.
Many people recall that planning consent for the Gemini store was granted on condition there was no running down of the Sankey Street store.
But within months of Gemini opening, customers at Sankey Street were being told that some lines were now only available at Gemini.
Borough council chiefs are also concerned about the impact of the expanded Gemini store on the town centre.
The scheme would involve a first floor extension over part of the existing store would add 2,160 sq metres of internal floorspace for retailing and a new caf?.
M&S say in addition to providing additional space, the proposal would address a number of shortcomings in the existing store.
Santa Andrew is
ahead of the game
by James Parr
A MEMBER of staff at Cheshire Spire Hospital in Warrington is already ahead of Santa in giving gifts this Christmas.
Andrew Eadsforth, 28, deals with customer care at the Stretton hospital and recently visited children in Thailand who have HIV as part of a week?s charity work.
Dubbed “the real Father Christmas”, Andrew has now “adopted” two boys and will act as a long distance “dad.”
He was given this unique opportunity after raising more than ?1,000 for charity and was selected in the top 10 in the hospital sector to travel to Nong Khai.
The hospital group’s Thailand initiative is a partnership charity with the Pattaya Orphanage Trust link with Sarnelli House, an orphanage where Andrew was assigned.
In searing heat, Andrew’s day was split between labouring, construction, painting, digging and playing with the children.
He said: “On the way out I was in a turmoil. Ecstatic at the chance to help but nervous about how sick the children might be and how I would cope with my own sadness.
?Then I found all my Christmases had come at once. I have never met such a happy bunch of kids so full of mischief and real fun. I was constantly water bombed and never allowed to ride my bike without at least four of them it seemed, on board.
“The children’s spirits are unquenchable and one little boy even helped change government policy. The brave youngster pushed his way through the crowd to the health minister on her formal visit to the region with a letter requesting new policy on retroviral drugs.
?The ‘heavies’ flipped the child aside but an orphanage staff member stuffed the envelope into the minister’s hands. She read it on the plane trip back to Bangkok.”
Thanks to continued efforts like Andrew’s the government in Thailand is now supplying retroviral drugs to people in the worst effected areas.
Many children at Sarnelli House have been chased from their homes by fellow villagers who abused and beat them.
Now they have been given a chance as dedicated nuns provide them with a base and Catholic education.
Andrew is currently trying to build on this work and get children from poor backgrounds to enter university through a national group called Widening Participation.
He is running a campaign at Spire Cheshire Hospital entitled “Who Inspires You.”
Patients, staff and consultants can all enter, with winners being selected on the basis of best inspirational story. The campaign is still looking to hear from former patients who can enter an inspirational story. Contact Andrew on 01925 215 003.
Bus passes available
to thousands
by staff reporter
THOUSANDS of elderly and disabled residents in Warrington are being offered the chance of a free bus pass – thanks to a new Government initiative.
More than 22,000 people have returned application forms that entitle them to free public transport access on a national scale.
Dubbed a “smart card”, passengers will be able to travel free on every local off-peak bus service across England from next April.
Fairfield and Howley councillor Paul Kenny said: “I am delighted that people are getting their completed forms back quickly but I want to remind people that the smart card will provide a gateway to the immediate area and England.
“Thanks to the government bus travel is now free for all over 60s across England from next April.
“Previous trends suggest that take up in Warrington will be good, but anyone who has not received a letter and is eligible for the smart card should drop into the borough council’s contact centre for an application form.”
Campaign against
gender violence
by James Parr
MEN and women across Warrington are being urged to give their backing to a campaign against gender violence.
Around 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence is already under way and aims to end male violence against women.
White Ribbons are available in Warrington from the town centre and from the tourist information centre, located in the market.
Men and women are being asked to wear the ribbon, which is signifies challenging the acceptability of domestic abuse, helping victims to break the silence, speaking out about what is often still a taboo subject and encouraging a united front against violence and abuse in the home.
One in four women and one in six men are affected by domestic abuse and every minute in the UK, police receive a call from someone reporting domestic violence.
Primarily aimed at men, the White Ribbon Campaign encourages them to pledge that they will never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
Warning on fake
internet bargains
by staff reporter
A STARK warning has been issued to the residents of Warrington to be on the look out for Internet fakes when shopping online this Christmas.
Continued growth in online trading has brought with it a rise in the number of counterfeit goods being sold.
In a single day last summer, 15 brand owners removed more than ?60,000-worth of fake goods and closed down nearly 5,000 auction sites on eBay alone, for selling fake versions of their products.
The most common fake goods items are clothing, computer games and jewellery, but there has also been a rise in other unusual fake goods, such as pharmaceuticals.
Warrington Borough Council?s executive member for Community Services, Roy Smith said: “Counterfeiters love using the internet due to its speed, convenience, reach and the anonymity it offers them.
“Once buyers receive the item and realise it’s a fake there is often no way to trace the seller. People must be very cautious when buying on the Internet, whether its through auction sites, bulletin boards or retail websites.”
Disability Partnership’s
annual general meeting
by James Parr
WARRINGTON Disability Partnership will be holding their annual general meeting on Monday, December 3 to celebrate the good work carried out by individuals throughout the year.
Mayor Coun Celia Jordan will be attending the event to present the ?Appreciation of Efforts? award and the Mark Rushton Volunteer Awards.
She will also be making the formal donation of a cheque for the money raised by the “Pulse” sponsored walk
/push.
All members of the WDP are invited to attend the meeting, which will be held in Conference Room One, Bewsey Old School, on December 3.
For more information about the AGM contact WDP on 01925 240 064.
Contaminated soil
to be removed
by John Hendon
CONTAMINATED soils – a legacy of the area’s industrial past – are to be removed from the gardens of houses in Roughley Avenue and Broadhurst Avenue, Sankey Bridges, Warrington. Planning bosses have given the go ahead for the work in front and rear gardens and on public open space at the rear of the properties.
The scheme includes replacement of the soil with reinforced concrete slabs and the creation of vehicle handstandings adjoining Hesketh Street North.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 6, 8 and 13. One winner claimed the ?1,370 jackpot prize and two ?25 consolation prizes were awarded to
Satellite dish
PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a satellite dish on a rear chimney of a Grade 2 listed building in Bewsey Road, Warrington.
Ice rink
AN outdoor ice rink made of synthetic ice will open at Warrington’s Golden Square tomorrow (Saturday) and will be open until Saturday, January 5 – public holiday’s excepted.
Hotel plan
PLANS have been put forward for a hotel at the Burtonwood Service Area on the M62 as part of a general improvement of the facility.
[ 03.12.2007, 08:32: Message edited by: James P ]
