Monday 14th August 2006

Couple flee blaze house
after arsonists strike
by John Hendon

A 55-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman escaped from their smoke-filled home at Warrington after arsonists struck in the early hours of the morning.
The pair were awoken by a smoke alarm and managed to get out of the house in Grasmere Avenue, Orford, safely.
But a police spokeswoman said the incident could have proved fatal if the alarm had not sounded.
The couple were asleep in the living room at around 3am when the alarm awoke them.
They discovered the blaze in a bedroom and ran out of the property.
Fire crews dealt with the blaze ? and discovered evidence that it had been started deliberately.
A joint police-fire service investigation is now going on.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw anything suspicious in the Grasmere Avenue area is asked to contact DC Emily Cole on 01244 614893.

Action group urges council
to save primary school
by David Skentelbery

A DETAILED report on options for the future of Stockton Heath Primary School has been submitted to Warrington Borough Council?s executive board by the action group campaigning to save the school.
The group wants councillors to consider the report before reaching a decision at their meeting on Monday.
It reminds board members that the development control committee voted 7-1 to reject proposals to demolish the school at its meeting on March 20.
As reported by Warrington-Worldwide on Tuesday, the board is being recommended to approve new proposals to demolish the 100-year-old school and replace it with a new one.
But more than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the old school to be refurbished.
The campaigners say the development would result in demolition of the school, which is on the list of buildings of local interest.
They say the council should now take a lead and direct officers to look at a viable refurbishment option, taking note of other valid reasons for refusal of the planning application.
These include traffic implications, pollution and dwindling numbers of pupils.
In addition, the campaigners claim there are shortcomings in the council?s administrative processes because the minutes of the development control committee meeting have disappeared.
They say minutes are available for the previous and subsequent meetings but that they have been told they have been destroyed.
?This in itself calls into question the probity of council business.
The campaigners point out that the school has a high proportion of pupils from outside the area and that a new school, if built, would have a capacity of at least 420 pupils, compared to the present school population of 360.
Stockton Heath has an aging population, mean local birth rates will never be high enough to justify a larger school.
Action group member Patrick Mullee (pictured, above)said since the report had been prepared it had been discovered that of 43 parents who had responded to a council questionnaire and supported demolition of the school, only 17 actually lived in Stockton Heath.
?We had more than 5,000 names on our petition ? and 2,642 of them lived within a one mile radius of the school,? he said.
?We believe it the new school is built, it will have serious implications for local traffic, with an extra 80 cars coming into the village every morning and every evening.?

Hospital parking fees
jump by 50 per cent
by Terry Johnson

VISITORS to Warrington and Halton hospitals face a painful 50 per cent increase in car parking charges.
A new charge of ?1.50p for up to three hours parking is set to hit thousands of visitors and patients.
Hospital spokesman, Mike Atkinson, said the increase ? the first for three years – was needed for the NHS Trust to meet car park costs.
“This ensures money for clinical services is not used to subsidise parking”, he stated.
Parking in excess of three hours carries a ?2 charge.
The increase at Warrington Hospital will add to concerns of residents of neighbouring terraced streets, already plagued by people for unofficial free “overspill parking”.

First aiders’ warning
of another heat wave
by Terry Johnson

WITH a forecasted return to blistering temperatures, First Aiders in Cheshire are urging people to carry a “survival kit” to counter the Big Heat.
A simple package could prevent dehydration, nausea and dangerous sunburn, say St John Ambulance experts.
The kit should include bottled water, a brimmed hat, a banana, sugar sweets, high factor sunscreen, hay fever tablets, prescribed medication and plasters.
St John volunteers say a lesson should be learned from the major RHS Flower Show at Cheshire’s Tatton Park when more than 60 people were treated on July 19 for heat exhaustion, insect bites and stings.
Over the five-day event, casualties rose to 350.
Other events where St John volunteers have been on hand to help recently included the Lymm Festival and a Warrington Athletic Club event.
“More hot and humid weather is predicted, so people should carry a ‘survival kit’ when they are out and about”, said spokeswoman Stephanie Littler.
To avoid sunstroke, they should carry a bottle of water – and not drink too much alcohol. A brimmed hat will protect face and neck from sunburn. And a banana and sugar sweets will keep energy levels high and prevent nausea.
High factor sun cream will protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays and pollen-induced hay fever can be counteracted with anti-histamine tablets.
And in case of sudden weather changes, carry some warm and waterproof clothing!
More advice from the website www.sja.org.uk/ifirstaid

Top band for
charity concert
by staff reporter

?BEST Newcomers Band? Avalon perform a St Rocco’s charity concert on September 1 at the Hollins Park Social Club, Winwick, near Warrington.
Formed in 2002, the vocal trio were voted “Best Newcomers” and Band of the Year in 2003.
Lead singer, Nick Curran, spent six years entertaining on cruise liners. He is backed by Joanna Foster and lead guitarist-singer, Les Winterbottom.
Ticket hotline: 0797l-221171.