TV star opens
Our Wood!
by Gary Skentelbery
TV weatherman Fred Talbot was on hand to officially open a community woodland which has become a “textbook” for environmental studies.
Seven years of effort by hundreds of primary and high school children has regenerated a straggling area of trees in Westbrook, Warrington.
The pupils set to work with passion – planting 1,500 extra trees, 30,000 daffodil bulbs, 4,000 bluebells, as well as various other wild meadow flowers.
The school-kids fulfilled the dream of local community worker Brenda Bradley, 64, to save the land from development and provide a “recreation lung” and study area.
They presented their project for “Our Wood” to housing developers, business leaders and community groups, who pledged ?60,000 support.
Fred was on hand to officially open the community woodland on land which was once part of the former Burtonwood Airbase by unveiling a special carving, created by pupils from St Philips Westbrook with the help of local craftsman Geoff Wilson.
Brenda, chairman of Great Sankey North Residents’ Association: “Seven years of effort by local primary schools, high school, scout and guide groups and other community interests have made this woodland dream a reality.
“Schoolchildren have shown great commitment to ‘Our Wood’. They presented the scheme to businesses, including Fiddler’s Ferry and United Utilities, and obtained community project grants.
“House-building is gobbling up the former airbase land. The community effort to preserve this site means that present and future generations can enjoy the peace of a woodland walk and the splendour of springtime bulbs.”
Local schools are now to use “Our Wood” as part of their teaching curriculum.
Restaurant plan approved
despite resident objections
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to open a restaurant above car showrooms at Woolston, Warrington, have been given the green light following an appeal.
A planning inspector has ruled that the development in Manchester Road, at its junction with Hawthorn Avenue, can go-ahead.
The scheme was fiercely opposed by local residents who fear parking problems, noise, smells and disturbance.
Warrington?s development control committee threw out the proposals ? against the advice of their officers.
The inspector decided the necessary 11 parking spaces would be available when the adjacent car repair business was not in use and also noted the proximity of public transport routes.
He dismissed fears of on-street parking on the grounds that if it happened it would be far enough away from houses to ensure there would be no noise nuisance. The main customer entrance would be away from adjacent houses in Hawthorn Avenue.
But he imposed conditions requiring odour extraction equipment and ruled that the restaurant should only be open when parking areas on the site are available.
Hotel group pitches in
for football and cricket
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON-based Venture Hotels has taken over its fifth hotel ? just five minutes walk from Old Trafford football and cricket grounds.
The Trafford Hall Hotel is currently going through a Venture Hotel make-over in readiness for the new soccer season in August.
In the meantime, it is still open for evening meals, lunches, family events, pre-match drinks, corporate entertaining and as accommodation.
Family-run Venture Hotels was established in 1997 with the Paddington House Hotel in Warrington.
Since then it has acquired hotels in Eccles, Manchester and Chester.
Company spokesman Paul Abson said: ?The Trafford Hall Hotel fits with the rest of Venture Hotels’ properties.
?The arrival of the Trafford Hall Hotel signals the intention of the group to develop its management contract and franchise side of the business.
?The intention is to give independent operators an option to join with a like minded group looking to compete with the larger corporations.
?The independent market is a huge part of the hotel industry and for many guests is the best option, giving them an additional service and a home from home experience – something Venture Hotels is keen to develop across the north of England.?
Still time to hand
in those knives!
by John Hendon
POLICE at Warrington have reminded the public that there is still time to hand in knives under the national amnesty which ends tomorrow (Friday).
They say there has been a tremendous response across Warrington and the rest of Cheshire.
But they want to know what people think about the initiative ? and have set up a special website where people can air their views.
Anyone with opinions about the knife amnesty should visit www.cheshire.police.co.uk where comments can be made ? anonymously if preferred.
Full details of the number of knives handed in during the month-long amnesty will be released later. But in the first week, 372 knives and other bladed weapons were handed in across Cheshire.
A police spokesman said: ?Each one of the items handed in means there is one less knife or blade on the street that could potentially be used to commit a crime.?
Anyone with a knife to dispose of is advised to pack them in cardboard, or similar material, and take them to amnesty bins at police stations and other public buildings.
No-one will be questioned about the knives they are disposing of.
24-hour relay race
for cancer research
by staff reporter
A 24-hour fundraiser is to take place at Warrington?s Victoria Park on August 12 to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Teams of eight will walk or run round the running track in relays all through the day and night in the Relay for Life ? the first event of its kind to be held in Warrington.
Organisers are appealing for people to get together teams of family, friends, work colleagues, etc., to take part.
Teams will camp out under the stars taking it in turns to walk around the track.
There will also be a competition in advance of the event ? with each team trying to raise as much money as they can.
Relay For Life chairperson, Laura Gilberts, said: ?We hope to make the day a fun community event for people to get involved with as well as increasing the profile of the cause. Cancer affects such a lot of us now; one in three people will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives.
?We want teams of eight to 15 people to run, walk, or crawl around the track every half-hour and engage in the general party atmosphere which will include music, dancing and competitions.?
Anyone who wants to form a team and take part in the Relay for Life should contact Laura on 0781 690 0208 or by emailing her at [email protected]
Local alert over
suspect chocolate
by staff reporter
THE Food Safety team at Warrington Borough Council has joined the national alert over chocolate possibly contaminated with Salmonella.
Cadbury?s Dairy Milk brands have been recalled following the discovery that they could contain a strain of Salmonella known as Montevideo.
Retailers have been told to either destroy the suspect chocolate and any shopkeeper or consumer who has doubts should contact the Food Safety team on 01925 442588.
