Council urged to act
to save walking days
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington are being urged to take action to avert a threat to walking days, festivals and other similar community events in the town this year.
A question mark hangs over a number of events because police can no longer provide officers to marshal such events and voluntary organisations will be unable to afford the cost of road closures, barriers, traffic cones, marshals, etc.
Latchford councillor Graham Welborn is to move a resolution to the borough council on Monday (January 10) asking the council to recognise the importance of walking days, etc., the implications of the additional costs likely to fall on organisers and to express concern that some events may not take place in 2005.
Coun Welborn – whose motion is to be seconded by Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks – will request that council officers work with event organisers, the police and others to ensure that the events continue to take place.
The council has already set up an advisory group on events and produced a guide for organisers and Coun Welborn is to call for a review of the guide in the light of experience.
Fears have already expressed that Stockton Heath Walking Day may not go ahead because of problems associated with costs and marshalling.
It has been estimated that churches taking part might have to raise ?2,000 for traffic notices, road closures, etc.
One church, Bethesda, is understood to have already made the decision to pull out of this year’s event.
Last year, the annual Penketh Fun Run, which has raised thousands of pounds for charity, was cancelled because of marshalling problems. Biggest event of the year, of course, is Warrington Walking Day, founded around 1832 which involves thousands of people every year. There has been no suggestion that the event will not go ahead as normal.
But there are numerous other walks in Orford, Penketh, Great Sankey, Grappenhall, etc and many other festivals which involve processions through the streets where marshals are required and road closures involved.
A number of event organisers believe they could face costs which make it impossible to carry on.
Town remembers
tidal wave victims
by Gary Skentelbery
The Mayor of Warrington, Coun Ted Lafferty led a three-minute silence at noon in front of the Town Hall yesterday (Wed) as part of the national act of remembrance for all those who lost their lives in the Tsunami disaster.
The short service was conducted by the Borough Minister Rev Stephen Kingsnorth.
Around 40 people, mainly town hall employees, observed the silence in front of the town hall, while the union flag was flown at half mast all day.
They were joined by Warrington GP Dr Sri Kumaraswarmy, of Bold Street Surgery, who was born in Sri Lanka, and has launched an appeal to collect clothing and bedding for those affected, as reported on Warrington-Worldwide yesterday, Wednesday.
Dr Kumaraswarmy, who was born in the capital Colombo and has a home there, is planning to visit the country next week with his wife Leela to help distribute aid.
Hope for the future –
not “politics of fear”
by Lesley Wilkinson
LIBERAL Democrats in Warrington say they are offering people hope for the future rather than the “politics of fear” offered by the other two major parties.
Coun Ian Marks, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South, said: “Labour, with its reliance on spin and external threats, crime and insecurity is undermining trust in the political process.
“They are supported by the Tories who are reworking their populist scares about asylum and the European ‘menace’. Labour is using this climate of fear to strip away the civil liberties we have enjoyed for generations.”
He said both Labour and the Conservatives wanted to impose compulsory ID cards on everyone. This was an expensive scheme, costing at least ?85 a head, with the taxpayers picking up the “inevitable cost over-runs.”
Coun Marks said: “I’m quite sure the people of Warrington could come up with a multitude of better ways of spending this money. More government aid for the victims of the terrible tsunami would be a good start.”
The ID cards would require an iris scan, fingerprints and a facial scan, all with “untested” technology. The government had a poor record with big IT systems – such as the Child Support Agency and tax credit problems.
ID cards were not needed as passports, driving licences, credit cards and birth certificates could be used for identification. He was also concerned with what future governments might do with the information stored on the national database.
“ID cards didn’t prevent terrorism in New York or Madrid. They won’t stop benefit fraud which is largely based on false claims about circumstances. They won’t stop organised crime and anti-social behaviour.
“France, Spain and Italy all have ID cards but they still have problems with illegal workers. I urge the Government to think again about this costly and illiberal proposal,” added Coun Marks.
Hospice chief
awarded MBE
by staff reporter
CHAIRMAN of St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington, Celia Jordan was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
The former teacher from Stockton Heath, who is also a member of Warrington Borough Council, says she has accepted the award on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers she has worked with.
She said: “I am delighted, but I do feel that I receive this on behalf of all the people who work so hard and do not get a mention.”
Coun Jordan is also a governor of Bridgewater High School and a member of Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Another person with Warrington connections to receive an award was pop music guru Pete Waterman, who lives in the borough. He received the OBE.
Family idea raises ?3,000
for tsunami appeal fund
by David Skentelbery
A FAMILY’S spur-of-the-moment idea raised more than ?3,000 for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.
The Jones children – Anna, 14, Rebekah, 12 and Christopher, 10, of Lymm near Warrington – told their mother they wanted to do something to help.
She agreed – and in just two days, they printed leaflets and sponsorship forms and arranged a 10-mile walk along the Bridgewater Canal from Lymm Cross to Dunham.
Eighty two people, including many children, and five dogs took part in the walk on New Year’s Day.
Mrs Rosemary Jones said: “A lot of those who took part were friends of the family, but others were complete strangers who must have picked up our leaflets in the village.
“It was fantastic that so many people took part at such short notice.
“One of my daughter’s friends, Laura Smylle, aged 12, summed it up when she said: ‘It’s great to feel you are doing something to help.’
“Children don’t have a lot of money but here was a way they could do something.
“There was a really great atmosphere and we would like to thank everyone who joined in and helped at such short notice.” Meanwhile, Warrington Freemasons have announced they raised more than ?300 for the tsunami disaster appeal with a raffle at their New Year’s Eve dance.
The cash will be added to the ?100,000 which the United Grand Lodge of England immediately donated to the Red Cross after the Boxing Day tragedy and a further donation of ?10,000 to the Red Cross given by the Community Fund of West Lancashire Freemasons of which the Warrington Group of Lodges is a part.
There are 23 Lodges in the Warrington Group who meet at the Winmarleigh Rooms, Winmarleigh Street.
Theme park seeks
“interesting voices”
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE with interesting voices who could portray a children’s character are being sought by Gulliver’s in Warrington.
The theme park is searching the area for talented people who can sing and perform, and will build up
a character voice bank for use in its children’s shows.
A park spokesman said: “Could you be the voice of Fairy Goodlight or Billy Bob Bear? Then the park is keen to hear from you.”
Each year a variety of live and animated shows are produced and successful performers may be required to return each year to record their characters voices for the new season.
Anyone interested in auditioning should contact Peter Tattersall on 01925 230088.
Fire crews tackle
kitchen blaze
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to a house in Clarence Street, Warrington when a fire broke out in the kitchen.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze with a hosereel jet.
A ventilation unit was used to clear dense smoke from the ground floor of the premises. No-one was hurt.
A Fire Service spokesman said the blaze had been started as a result of smoking materials being dropped in a waste bin.
