Railway vandals put
hundreds of lives at risk
by David Skentelbery
VANDALS put the lives of hundreds of people at risk in two separate incidents on the railway at Warrington.
On successive days, they placed obstructions on the track at Great Sankey ? not far from Sankey Station.
British Transport Police were called to the scene on both occasions and found a cable had been pulled across the track and bricks, ballast and stone placed on the line.
The obstruction was at exactly the same location ? below a footbridge off Canon?s Road, between Sankey Station and Cromwell Avenue.
On the first occasion, shortly after 1030pm on Monday (August 7) police went to the scene after receiving reports of a signals failure. A train had run over the cable, causing the signals to fail. Ten trains were delayed for a total of 86 minutes.
The following day, 54 trains were delayed after a similar incident ? and police also recovered a bicycle which is believed to have been thrown on the to the track from a nearby bridge.
PC Peter Murphy said. ?We need the help of the local community to come forward with any information whatsoever as to who is responsible for these incidents.
?Placing obstructions on the track has the potential to derail a train and puts not only the lives of rail users at risk but also the lives of those responsible for the vandalism.
?I would also urge adults, parents, and teachers to reinforce the message to youngsters that railways can be extremely dangerous places if not used correctly.?
British Transport Police have stepped up patrols in the area as a result of these incidents.
Last week British Transport Police, alongside Network Rail, launched helicopter patrols in the North West area ? including Warrington – using ?air observers? trained to spot people trespassing on the railway. These patrols will continue on dates throughout the coming months.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Peter Murphy at British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
TV producer appeals
against filming ban
by David Skentelbery
TV producer Russell Harris has appealed against a ban on the use of his Lymm home as a commercial film and television location.
At the same time, another filming session has taken place at the property – the converted water tower in Tower Lane.
Angry neighbours who reported the film shoot as a breach of an enforcement notice served by Warrington Borough Council have been told that as a result of the appeal, the notice is, in effect, on hold.
In addition, Mr Harris arranged access to his home across an adjoining field – avoiding the traffic problems in Tower Lane which triggered protests from neighbours on previous occasions.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: “Technically, Mr Harris is in breach of the enforcement notice and the council could not serve a stop notice to prevent further breaches.
“But current Government guidance is that a stop notice should only be served to safeguard amenities or prevent serious irreversible harm to the environment.
“As one of the key planks of the enforcement notice was traffic nuisance in Tower Lane and access has now been gained across the field, the advice now is that the nuisance being caused is n ot serious enough to warrant a stop notice.
“I think it is appalling that there are so many loopholes in planning law and guidance.
“Law abiding citizens are being penalised – yet again the people of Lymm have been let down by the planning system which I find very frustrating.”
Ironically, although Mr Harris’s activities at his Grade 2 listed home are angering neighbours, he has won 12 awards for design – including a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects – for his conversion of the former water tower, which took years to complete and featured in a television documentary.
There have been a number of complaints from neighbours over the last two years when filming sessions have taken place – resulting in the enforcement notice being served two months ago.
Mr Harris has previously declined to comment on the enforcement notice.
Open prison tops
list for absconding
by John Hendon
MORE inmates have absconded from Warrington?s Thorn Cross young offenders? institution than any other open prison in the country, over the last 10 years.
A total of 1,172 have walked out of the Appleton Thorn establishment, according to a Parliamentary answer.
Another North West establishment, Kirkham, came second in the ?league table? with 1, 154 absconders and together the total from the two prisons equates to more than one third of the 7,155 prisoners who absconded from the 15 open prisons in England.
Recent absconding levels at Thorn Cross were 90 last year and, so far this year, 105.
Thorn Cross caters for more than 320 offenders with less than two years left to serve.
The Home Office stress that absconding levels nationally are at their lowest level in 10 years in relation to the prison population and that more than three quarters of absconders had since been rearrested and returned to custody.
All those in open prisons are assessed as being of low risk to the public.
Inspector rules against
house conversion
by staff reporter
A DEVELOPER who converted a house in Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, into three self-contained flats has fallen foul of planning regulations.
The conversion was carried out without permission ? and a planning inspector has ruled that the property should be converted back to a single dwelling.
An unauthorised extension should be removed.
Warrington Borough Council took enforcement action after discovering the work had been carried out. There was an appeal ? but the planning inspector rejected it.
He said the flats were small and the change of use was likely to increase congestion, inconvenience and danger to users of narrow, poorly lit River Road.
Living rooms were placed against the bedrooms of neighbouring houses and there was no evidence of adequate noise insulation.
Warrington?s director of environmental services, Alan Stephenson, said both the extension and the use of the property as flats did not satisfy usually applied policy.
Enforcement officers were now pursuing compliance by the developer.
Concert for
St Rocco’s
by staff reporter
A CONCERT is to be held at St Thomas? Church Hall, Stockton Heath to raise money for Warrington?s St Rocco?s Hospice and the refurbishment of the church hall.
The show is being staged by a group of amateur actors and singers who, two years ago, raised more than ?700 with a concert at Walton Hall.
Seating will be arranged around tables, nibbles will be provided and wine and soft drinks will be on sale.
The show, entitled ?Words and Music? will be staged on Friday and Saturday, September 8 and 9 starting at 7.30pm.
Taking part are Betty Atkinson, Ron Birks, Frank Bonser, Tony Howard, Nora Gleave, Bob Leckenby, Roy Hayes, Jan Messenger and Wayne Richards.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 2, 7 and 9. One winner claimed the ?100 jackpot and the winner of the ?25 consolation prize gave the money back to the hospital. Next week’s jackpot is expected to be around ?200.
Quiz night
A QUIZ night is to be held at The Harrow pub, Culcheth near Warrington on October l in aid of Children in Need. Hosting the night will be Alan Dedicoat, the “voice” who calls out the numbers on television’s National Lottery show. Tickets are available from behind the door.
House refused
PLANNING chiefs have thrown out proposals for a detached house in Coopers Place, Latchford, Warrington.
Office block
A NEW four-storey office block with associated ca
r parking can be built in Lakeside Drive, Centre Park, Warrington, planning chiefs have decided.
