Residents complain
over “nightmare” of
a 24-hour society
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE MOVE to a 24-hour society and a 50-fold increase in traffic since their homes were built is making life “intolerable” for people living in the East Avenue area of Stockton Heath, near Warrington.
Residents complaining about the “nightmare ” of parking and “rat-running” in streets in the Arley Avenue/East Avenue area have formed an action group.
Spokesman Jim Pearson said: “The problems are now intolerable. Most people have lived there for at least eight years and during the time I have lived there, I have seen an increase in traffic.
“I am concerned it is like a dripping tap, you can put up with it at first, then it becomes a nuisance, and then it becomes intolerable,” he added.
The group says that since the estate was built in the 1930s there has been a massive increase in traffic, and problems are made worse by the proximity to the village centre.
“This has been made worse again during the last 10 years by the borough council’s policy for a 24-hour society and multi-occupancy business sites,” said Mr Pearson. “Gone are the days when business was a nine to five affair.
“Because of the council policy Stockton Heath is full of restaurants and licensed premises with no parking arrangements in place for either their staff or customers. The ‘just in time’ stock control arrangements of business now means that deliveries to premises are made every day and throughout the night,” he added.
The action group claim that following changes to the traffic lights in Victoria Square to make them more pedestrian friendly, more cars were using East Avenue/Sandy lane as a “cut through race track.” They also complain about the noise of delivery vehicles.
Double parking in East Avenue and Arley Avenue encourages cars to race down the middle of the road when they see a clear run.
“The double-parking on the double yellow lines near the chip shop at the junction of East Avenue and London Road is very dangerous,” Mr Pearson added.
The action group has passed on its complaints to Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Parish council clerk Peter Briggs said the complaints had been passed to police, and the borough council and he was awaiting replies.
The parish council has agreed to do their best to support residents and to ask Police Community Support Officers if they could assist.
Punk band
remembered
by Gary Skentelbery
WHEN cult punk band Joy Division took to a Cheshire stage in 1979, so did Warrington based photographer Martin O’Neill. More than a quarter of a century later the Culcheth snapper’s photographs of the ‘gig’ have been exhibited for the first time.
Joy Division played at Bowdon Vale Youth Club, in Hale, Altrincham, and Martin photographed the event as a young 18-year-old photographer.
Just over a year later the lead singer Ian Curtis was dead after hanging himself and Martin marked the 25th anniversary of his death with a show of photographs at Hale Library, just a mile from the site of the youth club.
Following the death of their singer, the remaining members of the band went on to great success as New Order.
Fans of the group can view the pictures and order prints at www.zyworld.com/cameraman
Steam party celebrates
its sixth birthday
by staff reporter
HUNDREDS of people attended the annual Stockton Heath Steam Party, which celebrated its sixth birthday with a move to a new site.
The event which moved from its previous base in Victoria Square to a field in Walton Lea Road was expanded to become a two-day “village fete” with many local organisations taking part.
One of the organisers Patrick Mullee said: “There were many local people all raising money for their own groups, the event pulled the whole community together. It went very well and everyone said they enjoyed it.”
Food and drink were supplied by the adjacent Warrington Sports Club, who were pleased to support the event. Patrick thinks the same site will be used next year.
Among the attractions were three fairgound organs, a vintage police display, a fair and the steam engines.
In addition, there was a model steam railway, vintage cars, tractors, a dog show and stalls run by a variety of charities.
But a scheduled farmers market on the second day did not go ahead because of the weather.
Patrick said: “The weather was atrocious but we carried on. There was no trouble at all on the day – it was a really good family day out.”
Youth orchestras
join forces
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Youth Orchestra have taken part in a joint concert with Wirral Youth Orchestra in Birkenhead.
Both orchestras are conducted by Anthony Ridley, and have developed close links over the last 30 years.
They regularly arrange music courses and foreign trips and invite members of the other orchestra to join them on their ventures.
Friendships between members have grown closer over the years.
All who attended the Birkenhead concert enjoyed it immensely, from the ‘Fingals Cave Overture’ (Mendelssohn) played by Warrington Youth Orchestra to the ‘Egmont Overture’ (Beethoven) played by Wirral.
The piece that went down best, however, was the finale ‘Overture – Lord of the Rings’ which was played as a joint piece by both orchestras.
Warrington Youth Orchestra will be playing next, together with the younger Second and Third Orchestras, on Saturday May 21, when they will be playing at Parr Hall in their Spring Concert.
Mystery girl makes
record for charity
by John Hendon
A MYSTERY school girl took time out from her GCSE studies to make a recording of ‘My heart will go on’ at Frogg Studios in Warrington.
The recording took just two hours, yet it was the first time, either she or her mum had ever been in a recording studio.
The record is dedicated to the 15-year-old’s dad, who the family now believe was a possible carbon monoxide poisoning victim.
He died in 1999 and, if released, the record will help raise money for three carbon monoxide charities, CO-Gas Safety based in Surrey and Airsay in Peterborough as well as a new charity CO Awareness, which the girl hopes to set up with her mum.
The girl’s identity will remain a mystery while she concentrates on studying for her exams. Anyone wanting further information should contact Stephanie Trotter on email at [email protected]
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas which can be emitted from any heating or cooking appliance, petrol generator, or vehicle engine or indeed any appliance powered by combustible fuel e.g. gas (mains or bottled), solid fuel (coal, wood, etc) petrol, oil, paraffin. CO is formed when a combustible fuel doesn’t burn properly.
A survey by the Consumer Unit of the DTI, dated 1995, showed that on average 50 people die per year from Carbon Monoxide poisoning from domestic heating appliances.
Old photos wanted
for class of ’79 reunion
by Gary Skentelbery
A Culcheth High School Class of ’79 Reunion for everyone who was in the 5th form in 1979 is taking place on Saturday May 21 at the Culcheth Sports Centre (Daten), Charnock Road from 8pm.
Orgainsers are anxious to obtain old photos of former students to help people remember what their old school friends used to look like!
Anyone who left the 5th form in this year is welcome whether they went on to higher Education at college, stayed on in the 6th form or started working life in the big outside world.
Organisers have had a good response from local people and would like everyone to get intouch with old school friends of that year to let them know, so everyone can catch up on old times.
There will be a charge of ?1 on the door to cover costs.
Those who have indicated they will be attending include:
Anita Matthews (Williams)
, Anne Greig (Barber), Helen Kember (Weight), Stella Kember (Davies) Graeme McMenemy, Brian James, John Gordon, Dawn Wilcock, Gary Farrington, Alan Daintith, Mike Hadfield, Fiona Reekie, Gary Skentelbery, Paul Morris, Nick Randall, Neville Myatt, Carole Massey (Harrold), Keith Linsley, Mike Leaver, Alastair Bromley, Nick Taylor, Jane Mullineuax and John Worthington.
Any one with old photos can drop them in at Mullineaux’s florists in Lodge Drive.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 9, 10, 13 and 16. There was one winner for the ?677 jackpot. The ?25 consolation prize was won by M Kay.
Nursery plan
PLANS for a pre-school nursery, with before and after school and holiday club for up to 32 children at Sycamore Lane Primary School, Great Sankey, Warrington have been submitted to the borough council.
Spring sale
A SPRING sale is to be held at the schoolroom in Wash Lane, Latchford, Warrington on Saturday, May 21 to raise funds for Christ Church, Latchford.
Bird walk
WARDENS will lead a guided walk at Moore Nature Reserve on Sunday, May 22 to show off baby birds that have arrived in the reserve.
