Under age drinker
supplied by his mum!
by Gary Skentelbery
A 16-year-old Warrington boy caught in a group of under age drinkers confessed to police that he had been supplied by his mother!
The youngster had been bought 16 cans of lager and two bottles of cider which were then delivered to him and his group of friends in the Great Sankey area.
Now Warrington police have issued a warning to parents who are tempted to supply their children with alcohol following the incident.
Officers have ? and will ? use their powers to prosecute anyone who is foolish enough to buy booze for those too young to drink.
Penalities, including on-the-spot fines, can be issued to anyone aged over 18 who buys alcohol for underage drinkers and those caught breaking the law risk a spell in prison for their irresponsible actions.
?It is an offence to buy alcohol on behalf of children and it will not be tolerated by the police,? said Inspector Brian Heywood, (pictured)from Warrington West Neighbourhood Policy Unit..
?We want to remind parents that they could be fined or end up in prison if they are caught supplying alcohol to anyone aged under 18.
?They are not only being extremely irresponsible, but are not fully thinking about the consequences of their actions or the effect the alcohol could have on their child.?
He says some parents seem to turn a blind eye to the problems they can cause by handing over the booze. In one recent incident Police Community Support Officer Dave Brownlee seized alcohol ? including two bottles of cider and 16 cans of lager ? from a group of underage youths in the Great Sankey area. A 16-year-old boy later admitted that his mum had bought the booze and then delivered it to him.
?It is shocking to think that parents are supplying their children with alcohol when it is blatantly against the law,? said PCSO Brownlee. ?Underage drinking is often a contributory factor to nuisance youth issues and there are also serious risks to health to consider.
?We know that the majority of adults would not dream of supplying their children with alcohol. But there is still a minority who will not think twice about doing it.
?I just hope that the message that this will not be tolerated will encourage the handful of adults who do buy alcohol for youngsters to change their ways.?
Jane Knight, Alcohol Harm Reduction Co-ordinator for the PCT, revealed that last year 93 young people in Warrington had to be admitted to hospital due to acute severe alcohol intoxication.
?Experimental drinking in young people is particularly harmful as a young body cannot tolerate large quantities of alcohol, they can easily slip into unconsciousness leading to breathing difficulties and vomiting,? she said. ?Parents have an important role in preventing these risky drinking behaviours.?
Parents can get advice from PhaZe – The Young People Substance Misuse Service – on 01925 644202 or more information on the Warrington Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy on 01925 843722.
Anyone with information about the supply of alcohol to those aged under 18 should call police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Sheltered flats plan
splits a community
by David Skentelbery
A PLAN to demolish a petrol filling station and shop and build a block of 53 flats for the elderly has divided a Warrington community.
Nearby residents have lined up to oppose and support the scheme on the site of the long-established Rushgreen Service Station, in Rushgreen Road, Lymm.
Lymm Parish Council has lodged an objection ? as have borough councillors Sheila Woodyatt and Ian Marks.
The scheme, which envisages ?sheltered? flats with communal facilities and an on-site manager, would required demolition of all the existing buildings on the site, which include a filling station, vehicle repair workshop, car wash, shop and residential accommodation.
Developers have offered a ?200,000 contribution towards the provision of affordable housing.
The proposed building would be Z-shaped and part three-storey and would have a 26-space car park.
Planning officers that existing council policy is to restrict new housing, because of the current oversupply of housing land. But they say an exception could be made because of the contribution to affordable housing.
The parish council says the scheme would be an over-development of the site, and detrimental to the street scene. A three-storey building would be out of character with the area and overbearing in the situation. They point out there is already sheltered accommodation for the elderly in Lymm.
Coun Woodyatt is not opposed in principle to development on the site, but objects to the scheme, which she says will be detrimental to the street scene.
She says: ?I do not believe there is a need for a development of sheltered accommodation.? Coun Ian Marks says the density and height of the property would be over-bearing and out of character in a semi-rural location. He is worried about overflow parking on nearby roads.
Ten residents have objected to the scheme and point out the filling station offers the only retail facility on the eastern side of Lymm.
But nine others argue that the development will look more attractive than the existing filling station. They say a new Co-op store to be built as part of the nearby Heatley Mere development will serve local needs.
Run-down railway station
to go under microscope
by David Skentelbery
A MAJOR study has been commissioned to look at long term options for Warrington?s run-down Bank Quay railway station.
It will consider a number of alternatives for the long term improvement of the station and put forward a preferred option and estimated cost.
The study has been commissioned by the borough council and will involve transport consultants Faber Maunsell and architects Austin-Smith: Lord.
It is being funded by the Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance together with the North West Development Agency.
The study is expected to be completed in July, following which the council, together with Network Rail and Virgin, will look towards raising the necessary funds.
Chris McCarthy, the council?s interim strategic director of environment and regeneration, said: “It’s been noted on many occasions that Bank Quay station is not a welcoming place for people arriving in Warrington. The council is currently working with Virgin on short term measures to improve the station frontage and facilities, but the station needs comprehensive redevelopment if it is to become a major gateway to an important and economically successful town like Warrington. This study will show the way forward with realistic proposals that will hopefully receive widespread support.
“Although we know the project will take some time to deliver, it will identify a funding target the major organisations can look to secure in the hopefully not too distant future.?
He added: “First impressions of any place are important, and a modern Bank Quay station will provide the town with an impressive entrance to Warrington for all users, whether visitors, business people, potential investors or Warrington residents.”
The study is also to examine measures that would link the station better to the town centre, through public realm works and signage.
Busy road to be closed
for improvement work
by Lesley Wilkinson
PART of Cromwell Avenue, Westbrook, Warrington is to be temporarily closed to allow improvements to help make the area safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
The road will be closed from the Twenty Acre Road/Shackleton Close roundabout to the Westbrook Crescent/Ladywood Road junction.
Closures will start on Friday and Saturday this week, and then from Monday April 30 until Wednesday May 2, between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
The work includes maintenance and resurfacing of the road, as part of the scheme to
replace the ASDA roundabout with traffic lights.
A diversion route is via A57 Sankey Way, Whittle Avenue and Westbrook Way, and will be signposted.
There will be no through route for traffic from Old Hall to Westbrook Centre while Cromwell Avenue is closed. Pedestrians and cyclists will not be affected.
Some bus services will be altered. They include the number 18 service to Callands, which will run from the Interchange to Tasman Close only.
The 18A service will be diverted via Canons Road, Tankersley Grove, Whittle Avenue and Westbrook Way to Westbrook Crescent. It will then follow the usual route to Marks & Spencers/IKEA and Callands.
Bus stops will show information about all diverted routes.
Street attack puts
victim in hospital
by John Hendon
POLICE have released details of a vicious street attack in Warrington which occurred three weeks ago.
Reason for the delay is that the 17-year-old victim suffered such serious injuries in the attack on April 1 that police have been unable to interview him.
The teenager was in Knutsford Road, Warrington, near to Harry’s taxi office when he was punched in the face by a complete stranger for no apparent reason.
He suffered serious injuries to his lower teeth and jaw and required extensive hospital treatment.
A police spokeswoman said: “Due to his injuries, we have been unable to take a statement from him earlier.”
Anyone who witnessed the attack, which took place about 3.30am, is asked to contact PC Gary Langrish on 01244 613860.
?1,000 boost
for local charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LYMM charity has been given a ?1,000 boost as a result of a partnership with a building society.
Staff from Cheshire Building Society have chosen the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust at Millington, near Lymm, as its new charity partner.
And staff from the society’s head office and customer contact centre organised a bumper fundraising day of activities to launch the link.
Activities included a charity auction, cake sale, luxury hamper raffle and virtual Easter egg hunt.
Karen McCormick, chief executive of the society said: “It is great to be involved in a local charity that offers disabled and disadvantaged children a fun environment with plenty of entertainment. We are now busy planning fundraising events and staff volunteering opportunities throughout the year.”
Charity relationship manager for the trust Alistair Laing said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen by the Cheshire as a charity partner and we have been impressed by the society’s effort and commitment. This will make a considerable difference to helping the very deserving children we support.”
Park project visionary
welcomes progress
by David Skentelbery
THE man who first put forward the idea of a major regeneration scheme to revive Warrington?s Orford Park has welcomed continuing progress on the project.
Long serving Orford councillor Mike Hannon ? architect of the scheme more than a decade ago ? said he was delighted to hear of progress being made by the multi-million ? Orford Project.
He said: ?It is great to know the project is on course and that the Orford Project could become a centre of excellence for the whole of the North West.
?But we should not forget the work done by local councillors, more than a decade ago, which set the whole scheme in progress.
?They had a vision for the Orford Park area even then.?
The Orford Project has evolved into a major partnership between health, education, community and sport sectors.
It involves the creation of a ?sports village? just off the A49 including a multi-use sports building, a super new health centre, specialist disability services and the Warrington Wolves? Academy.
There will be links with Warrington Collegiate and William Beamont Specialist Sports College, with sporting provision including grass pitches, a synthetic turf pitch and regional gymnastics centre.
Baroque organ –
and all that jazz!
by staff reporter
AN organist whose repertoire extends from the French Baroque to modern jazz is to appear at Warrington?s Parr Hall tonight (Wednesday).
Ben Saunders, diocesan director of music at Leeds Cathedral, will be playing the famous Cavaille-Coll organ.
The recital forms part of the organ?s 80th anniversary season which will reach a climax in October on the actual anniversary of it being acquired by the Parr Hall.
A special celebration concert is being planned to mark the occasion with a youth choir, guest organists and, hopefully, a brass band.
Tonight?s concert starts at 7.45pm.
“Hoodies” in attack
on 28-year-old man
by John Hendon
A GANG of “hoodies” attacked a man in the street at Warrington, leaving him with serious injuries to his head and face.
The attack took place in Greenwood Crescent, Orford, near to a telephone box by an alleyway leading to Meteor Crescent.
The 28-year-old victim was walking with a woman in Greenwood Crescent when the gang struck for no apparent reason.
Afterwards, the five, all wearing hoods, ran off towards the Greenwood pub.
Police said two of them were aged about 19, 5ft 7 inches and 6ft tall respectively. One was wearing a black hooded top and the other a grey hooded top. Both wore black tracksuit bottoms.
The other three all wore hoods.
Anyone who witnessed the attack on Sunday (April 22) is asked to call DC John Callender on 01244 615859.
