Residents lose battle
over factory buildings
by David Skentelbery
RESIDENTS have lost a battle to block plans for a range of light industrial and storage buildings at the rear of their homes at Woolston, Warrington.
Planners have given the go-ahead for the scheme, submitted by Delma Developments on land at Pipe Lane, Grosvenor Grange, Woolton – a two and-a-half acre site previously a concrete works.
They say the most sensitive aspect of the development is its relations with homes in Ludlow Close which would lose an open aspect to the rear ? particularly a number of three storey houses.
But they say it is widely acknowledged that there is no private right to a view.
They say the buildings will be nearly 30 yards from the nearest houses and will not have a significant on the properties. Although there will be an increase in noise, even in a worst case scenario, it would not be sufficient to refuse planning consent.
More than 30 residents had lodged objections, together with local borough councillors.
They warned of noise, smells, loss of privacy, daylight, etc as well as an impact on wildlife. They said the buildings would be clearly visible from their homes and would open up the area to vandals, undesirables, etc. There was particular concern because a helicopter pad was shown on plans for the development.
But councillors were told by officers the impact of the development on the homes would not be so great to warrant a refusal of planning consent and the scale and nature of development meant it was unlikely to have an impact on the local highway network.
Town’s South African links
EDUCATIONAL links between Warrington and South Africa were strengthened with a week-long visit to the North West by representatives of the country’s government and schools.
The visit, aimed at exchanging ideas and best practice, included sessions at Bridgewater, Penketh and William Beamont high schools, as well as sessions on Youth and Development, Sports and Culture, School Safety and Health and School Leadership and Management.
Year 8 pupils compete
in engineering challenge
by John Hendon
MORE than 40 Year Eight pupils from Warrington high schools took part in the Axis Engineering Enterprise Challenge event at Culcheth Sports and Social Club.
Teams of eight pupils from different schools formed companies to compete against the others, using their skills, initiative and communications abilities to find ways of improving production while, at the same time, coping with the sort of problems they would face in a real situation.
They also had to market their companies, culminating in a three minute sales presentation at the end of each event.
Local businesses and organisations, including the British Nuclear Group, who were sponsoring the event, worked with the students as business facilitators.
High schools taking part included Culcheth, Birchwood, Penketh and William Beamont.
Axis is a skills development organisation supported by Total People Ltd. Its aim is to ensure the suture supply of skilled people into engineering and manufacturing by working with schools to enhance their curriculum through CD resources, challenge activities and industry contacts to promote engineering careers.
Axis was commissioned to stage the event by the Aim Higher organisation.
The aim of the event was to improve the perception of engineering and manufacturing in young people in an interesting and fun way, as well as giving them an insight into industrial practices.
Daniel’s cyber challenge
to help fight autism
by staff reporter
DANIEL Richardson, an administrator and entrepreneur from Warrington, has set himself a cyber challenge to raise funds for The National Autistic Society (NAS), the UK’s leading charity for people with autism, their families and carers.
Daniel created www.mini-smiles.org a new, easy to use website where companies and individuals can purchase pixel blocks to advertise other websites. Visitors can simply upload logos and create a link to their websites. Each pixel block costs ?5.
From his website, Daniel is aiming to raise a mega ?35,000 which will help support NAS services including the Autism Helpline, Advocacy for Education Service, Befriending scheme, Parent to Parent support service and help! programme.
Daniel, who is a triplet, chose to set up the website for the NAS, not only to enjoy the virtual challenge but also because one of his brothers has autism.
With an enormous passion for information technology (IT), Daniel has a terrific track history of IT achievements including a grade A in AVCE and grade AA in GNVQ Information Communications Technology.
He said: “I’ve organised charity events in the past but nothing quite as ambitious as this! I knew that I wanted to use my IT skills to help raise money online for the NAS.
“Then I came across a site created by Alex Tew from America.
“Alex’s site is a real inspiration. Setting up my own site has been a great achievement and my way of helping people with autism, their families and carers. Making improvements to my site can sometimes be time-consuming but it’s going to be worth it as the money I raise will help support thousands of people with autism to live their lives to full potential by enabling the NAS to continue its crucial work.”
David Richards, NAS director of fundraising, added: “We’re delighted that Daniel has chosen the NAS as the beneficiary charity of his website. We wish Daniel the very best of luck and look forward to seeing his site covered in logos, helping to raising important funds for the NAS.”
www.mini-smiles.org
Exhibition highlights
an underwater world
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SERIES of photographs showing the underwater world inhabited by corals, moray eels, lobsters, and spider crabs, is to go on display at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery.
The strange and colourful marine wildlife have been captured in high quality cibachrome prints, by internationally acclaimed photographer Mark Webster.
The show, A Bit of a Dive, is at the venue from August 26 until December 2. It features 40-large scale award-winning photographs.
Mark’s work is classed by many as fine art and it features in marine natural history – having impressed judges worldwide. Mark and his wife, Susanna, form a successful photography team competing, teaching and on commercial assignments in the UK and overseas including Belize, the Red Sea and Indonesia.
Alongside his work will be a selection of water-related artwork produced by Warrington schools and colleges.
This will include the mermaid Sabrina, a giant seahorse and a ceiling where fish float – and visitors can create their own fish to be included.
Future museum events include, Be an Artist for the Day, on Tuesday October 24 in Gallery Four.
Flats plan rejected
by councillors
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs have thrown out a controversial proposal to convert the former Lymm Council offices building into apartments.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee visited Berkeley House in Whitbarrow Road, before reaching a decision.
Lymm Parish Council and local councillor Sheila Woodyatt had lodged objections, along with nearby residents.
The plan involved converting the property – currently used for offices but largely unoccupied – into five apartments. But planning chiefs were concerned at the lack of parking provision, in view of existing problems in Brookfield Road.
Coun Woodyatt said the building was totally unsuited for conversion to flats because of its location and lack of parking.
She also pointed out that there was an embargo on residential development in Warrington at present.
Some residents argued that the buildi
ng should be preserved for community use as there was a need for a local meeting room.
Berkeley House is a late 19th or early 20th century building with a prominent tower feature, locally listed and within the Lymm Conservation Area.
Community action meeting
PEOPLE are invited to have their say on police issues at a special meeting being held in Culcheth tomorrow (Wednesday) The Culcheth Community Action Meeting will be held at Culcheth Methodist Hall, Ellesmere Road, starting at 7.30pm.
