Dream comes
true for Adam
by Gary Skentelbery
A DREAM came true for Warrington based Manchester United fanatic Adam Vout when he met his soccer hero Wayne Rooney who is backing a new hospice facility for teenagers.
Rooney met 15-year-old Adam from Woolston, who suffers from a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, when he was on hand to help launch the start of building work on a new ?2 million facility at Claire House Hospice, on the Wirral.
He was joined at the turf cutting ceremony by fianc?e Collette, whose six-year-old sister Rosie visits the hospice, where she receives respite care for a rare syndrome condition.
Rooney spent some time chatting privately with a number of youngsters from all over the North West who receive respite care at the hospice, which relies totally on public funding.
Adam was kitted out in his Man United shirt for the occasion and was delighted to meet his favourite player.
Rooney, who has contributed to the appeal fund, said “This new centre will provide some much needed space and privacy for the teenage patients here at Claire House. I hope that by being here tI can help provide the final push for Claire House to reach its ?2 million target.”
Building work is expected to take 33 weeks and it is hoped the new centre will be finished by the end of the year. Before then a further ?300,000 is needed to fully equip and furnish it and to recruit the specialist nurses and care staff required to care for teenagers with life-threatening/life-limiting conditions.
Janet Croker, Head of Appeals at Claire House said “we are tremendously grateful to everyone who has supported this appeal so generously. It is entirely due to them that this centre will soon be benefiting very special teenagers. We urge people to continue their support and to help ensure the success of this project.”
Meanwhile Rooney signed the spade he used which is being auctioned on ebay in aid of Claire House.
School’s garden pond
trashed by vandals
by Lesley Wilkinson
CHILDREN and staff at a primary school at Warrington were “devastated,” when a garden they have been working on for months was trashed by vandals.
Parents have been helping to create an eco-garden at Newchurch Primary School, Glebeland, Culcheth, to include a pond and special planting.
But their hours of work were destroyed when youths climbed over the fence, hurled rocks into the pond, smashed planters and damaged newly-delivered trellis fencing.
The expensive pond lining was ripped and parts the school playground were daubed with graffiti.
A gang of youths was seen near the school, climbing over a fence near the pond. They were filmed by a nearby resident – whose car was later daubed with paint.
A spokeswoman for the Parent-Teacher Association, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisal, said: “We have raised a lot of funds for this work and put in a lot of hours to create something for the children.
“We are really demoralised. These youngsters feel they can control everywhere, they are left to run rampage through the village and nothing is done,” she added.
Pupils at the school set about fishing the debris out of the pond and staff are assessing the damage and planning repairs. Staff at Culcheth Garden Centre offered to repair a planter.
One of the teachers said: “We are really disappointed with this, people had put in a lot of work on the garden and it is not even completed yet. Now we have got to start again.”
Police are investigating.
Council to act on
“nightmare” roads?
by David Skentelbery
THE parish council at Appleton, near Warrington, is to investigate the possibility of purchasing its own speed camera in a bid to reduce traffic speeds on “nightmare” roads.
A highways expert from Warrington Borough Council is also to be asked to attend the parish council’s next meeting to try and resolve speeding problems on Lumb Brook Road and Wright’s Green.
Coun Brian Smith told the council: “It is only through pure luck that no-one has been killed.
“A bus shelter has been demolished, a telephone box has been demolished. Numerous garden walls have been demolished.
“If anyone had been in that shelter or that phone box they would have been killed or seriously injured.”
The council decided to investigate buying a speed camera after a deputation of Wright’s Green residents attended the annual meeting.
One resident told them: “It’s a nightmare on Lumb Brook Road. It is just like a racetrack. It’s an accident waiting to happen.
“One guy in a silver Porsche regularly drives passed at 80mph and most drivers ignore the speed limit.”
Coun Smith said he had campaigned for years to get a 40mph limit on the road but now admitted it had been a waste of money because drivers simply ignored it.
Coun John Price suggested residents take matters into their own hands by erecting warning signs or even parking their own cars outside their homes to narrow the road and force drivers to slow down.
But Insp Stuart Woodcock, (pictured) of the Neighbourhood Policing Unit warned that while parked cars could sometimes slow traffic down they could also cause dangers, particularly for children.
He said the Community Speed Watch had proved effective in reducing speeds on Longwood Road.
Residents called for speed humps or other traffic management measures, but Insp Woodcock said he was not sure if the road met the necessary criteria. He stressed that the police did not set the criteria and that the best thing residents could do, would be to put pressure on the borough council.
New appeal after bank
raid features on TV
by David Skentelbery
DETECTIVES at Warrington are appealing for information about a bungled bank robbery which took place six months ago as a result of it being feature on the BBC TV “Crimewatch UK programme.
They are hoping the programme will bring forward new witnesses of the raid on Barclay’s Bank at Culcheth on November 2 last year.
Two men, armed with what was believed to be a shortened shotgun and a sledgehammer, burst into the bank on Lodge Drive at about 2.25pm.
They attacked the security screen with the sledgehammer before fleeing from the building when a smoke screen was activated.
The raiders left a blue canvas holdall at the scene and a Ford Mondeo car was found abandoned nearby.
Both men were described as being between 5ft 7 and 5ft 10 inches tall, of proportionate athletic build. They were wearing khaki, army-style jackets.
A CCTV still of the offenders was screened during the programme which police hope will jog some memories.
No-one was hurt in the raid, although staff members were badly shaken.
Afterwards, rumours swept through Culcheth that the bank was to close. But Barclays issued a denial and pledged to continue to provide a service in the village.
Young people tested in
“Mission Impossible”
by staff reporter
YOUNGSTERS from Warrington took part their own version of Mission Impossible when they joined more than 140 youth groups from across Cheshire at special meeting in Chester.
The Youth Federation of Wirral, Warrington, Halton and Cheshire gave youngsters the chance to complete the 12 tasks set by the leader “M.”
Working from the Youth Federation Mission Impossible headquarters their tests included a treasure trail and a series of challenges, aiming to create a positive image for youths in the community.
A major challenge was for a group to have their pictures taken on a football ground whilst wearing the club strip. To complete it some of the youngsters had the thrill of visiting the City of Manchester Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club, and seeing the boardroom.
A spokesman for the federation said: “The tasks are to encourage young people to go out into their community, and meet new people that they wouldn’t normally meet. All of the young people
taking part in Mission Impossible are already looking forward to next year’s challenges, as they enjoyed the experience.”
Volunteers celebrate
21st anniversary
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Warrington who give a few hours to help the community are being urged to join in the 21st Anniversary of Volunteers’ Week from June 1 to 7.
A spokesman for Volunteering England, which is organising the event, said: “Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate the contribution made by the 22 million volunteers who give up their time to help organisations and communities across the UK.”
Organisations in the town are being asked to stage an event to thank their volunteers and to encourage more people to get involved.
“If you’re not already volunteering, the week is a fantastic opportunity to find out what you can do and how you can get started. Modern volunteering is enjoyable and flexible and can give you skills for a new career, as well as improving your well-being and reducing stress and depression,” she added.
More information about the celebrations are available on www.volunteersweek.org.uk or by telephoning 0845 305 6979.
Quarry fence
safety fears
by staff reporter
WORRIES over the safety of fencing around the quarry in Quarry Lane, Appleton, Warrington, were raised at a meeting of the parish council.
Coun Mike Stansfield described the fencing as “barely adequate” considering how dangerous the quarry was.
“Health and Safety make a fuss about things a lot less dangerous than this,” he said.
The council decided to establish who was responsible for the fencing. Enquiries will be made through Appleton Rifle Club, who use the quarry as a shooting range.
[ 23.05.2005, 11:48: Message edited by: DS ]
