Change of use plan
for town centre shops
by David Skentelbery
COUNCILLORS are to visit Warrington?s flagship Golden Square shopping centre before reaching a decision on a contentious application that would allow seven shops to be changed into cafes, restaurants or professional offices.
The shops, all currently in retail use, are centred around Old Market Place and the eastern end of Sankey Street, within the main town centre retail core.
Planners are recommending the application be refused because of strategic town centre policy issues which designate the properties as principal shopping frontages.
But developers warn that a refusal could lead to ?less desirable? retailers moving into Golden Square.
The application is merely for change of use ? no physical alterations to the buildings are proposed.
Since submitting the proposed alterations, the developers have amended the plans to omit a change of use of the shops fronting Sankey Street.
Existing policy sets out that ground floor premises will be reserved primarily for retail use ? and states that non-retail uses in any shopping frontage should not exceed 10-20 per cent.
If consent was given, non-retail uses on one frontage could reach 60 per cent and on another 20 per cent.
Permission for a number of changes of use within Old Market Place and along Sankey Street has already been given. Only one of these has so far been implemented, but the other permissions should be taken into account, say planners.
They say consideration must be given to the viability and vitality of the town centre generally and not just Golden Square.
The developers say including cafes and restaurants would help integrate Golden Square with the wider town centre. If the scheme is not approved, they believe there will be a danger of the town centre being divided into two zones ? inside Golden Square and outside Golden Square.
If the scheme was approved, they argue, it could help bring more families into the town centre of an evening and help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. They believe four restaurant units in the Old Market Place would be necessary to create a more family friendly environment.
They warn that a refusal could lead to ?less desirable? retailers moving into the centre.
Bethany is a
musical maestro
by Gary Skentelbery
A Warrington schoolgirl is celebrating after winning a musical competition.
Bethany Franks, aged 12 from Culcheth High School was winner of The North Cheshire Concert Band’s Musical Stories concert.
Bethany was presented with her prize by Josephine Lunt, Pianist of the NCCB.
The competition was held in conjunction with local schools and was to write a short piece of music, a poem or a story.
The judges were very impressed with Bethany?s music written for the piano which describes a Cheetah.
They thought the music summed up the different aspects of the animal and especially liked the stalking section.
The judges also thought she had used some interesting musical ideas and chosen an unusual musical key to write in.
Bethany?s entry was performed by Josephine Lunt at the NCCB?s recent Musical Stories concert and was enjoyed by the audience at the Pyramid.
The North Cheshire Concert Band is a wind orchestra based in Warrington performing regularly at the town?s Pyramid and Parr Hall. The NCCB is committed to working with young musicians in the local community and works with local schools and holds musical workshops.
Further info on the North Cheshire Band can be seen at their website www.northcheshire.org.uk
Home extension may
have to be demolished
by John Hendon
A HOUSEHOLDER may have to demolish an extension at his home after a planning inspector?s ruling that it means he is able to look directly into a neighbour?s living room at close quarters.
The fact that the neighbour in Woodley Fold, Penketh near Warrington does not object makes no difference, says the inspector.
Warrington Borough Council now has to consider enforcement action to resolve the breach of planning control.
The householder applied for planning permission to convert his garage to living accommodation, with an additional window, after carrying out the work.
The borough?s development control committee rejected the application and the householder appealed.
But the inspector who heard the appeal says the additional window enables the householder to look directly into a neighbour?s living room.
The neighbour did not object ? but this did not remove the damage to his residential amenity, the inspector decided.
Planners originally rejected the scheme because of the impact on the neighbour?s privacy.
A council spokesman said: ?It is unfortunate that the conversion and the window insertion were completed before the planning application was determined.
?It is necessary to give consideration to enforcement action or alternative means of resolving the breach of planning control which now exists.?
Birthday celebrations
end with broken jaw
by staff reporter
A YOUNG Warrington man?s 18th birthday celebrations ended with him in hospital with a broken jaw.
Police are hunting the gang of thugs who attacked the youngster from behind in a completely unprovoked attack as he walked home at night.
The young man had been celebrating his birthday in Warrington town centre and was walking home along Longshaw Street, Dallam with friends.
A group of men approached them from behind and the 18-year-old was struck a single heavy blow to the side of the face, for no apparent reason.
The blow broke his jaw and he was taken to Warrington Hospital.
Police are seeking witnesses of the attack which occurred at about 10.15 on Saturday April 21.
Anyone who can help should call DS Caroline Smith on 0845 458 0000.
Canal walk to
help the Wizard!
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged to join a canal-side sponsored walk to help raise funds for the wheelchair-accessible narrow boat “Wizard.”
A team of walkers from Warrington Disability Partnership will be joining the walk on Sunday May 13 to raise money for their boat.
The annual Bridgewater Canal sponsored walk is organised by the Lions Clubs of Lymm, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston. Half the money raised by the Lions will go to the Wizard, and the remainder to a similar boat in Trafford.
Walkers have a choice of two distances, nine and four miles, to ensure anyone can join in.
Those taking the longer route will start at 10am at the Watch House, Stretford, and follow the scenic canal towards the finish line at the Bridgewater Club in Lymm – for a lunch supplied by the Lions.
Alternatively the shorter route to the finish line and lunch, starts at the Bay Malton pub in Altrincham.
Anyone interested in joining the Warrington walking team can contact Jon Menzies on 01925 240064, or by visiting www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk
Egg “factory” plan
is thrown out
by David Skentelbery
PLANS for a major free range egg production unit, housing 9,000 hens on a green belt site at Croft have been thrown out by the borough’s development control committee.
More than 140 local people lodged objections – and many of them turned up for the Town Hall meeting.
Croft Parish Council also opposed the scheme at Springfield House Farm in Spring Lane.
The plans involved a 100m x 18m purpose-built building to accommodate three colonies of 3,000 hens each. There would also be a temporary living accommodation for an agricultural worker.
But objectors claimed the scale of the development would be inappropriate for the area, that the scheme would generation increased traffic on Spring Lane and that there
would be unacceptable noise and odour problems.
Fears were also expressed that in the event of an outbreak of avian ‘flu, the whole of Croft village would become an exclusion zone.
Although the site is currently open farm land, planning officers did not believe the development would be intrusive in the landscape nor that traffic problems would be significant.
However, the noise generated by 9,000 hens and a high-powered ventilation system could affect nearby homes as well as wildlife and the ambience of the countryside. There could also be undesirable smell problems.
Nearby residents said the building would be an eyesore, spoiling an otherwise beautiful rural village. Although an agricultural scheme, it was of industrial scale inappropriate in the green belt.
Public health chiefs had drawn attention to an increased risk of bird associated diseases, including avian flu, with two schools and a pre-school nursery within a few hundred yards of the site.
There was also a risk of pollution of nearby streams and underground water sources.
Hanging basket
“workshops”
by staff reporter
TWO hanging basket ?workshops? are to be held in the beautiful surrounds of Grappenhall Hey Walled Garden.
Ruth Brown, a retired lecturer in horticulture, will be leading the two sessions on Friday, May 4 between 1-3pm and Saturday May 5, between 10am and 12 noon.
Members of Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden society will have to pay ?15 and non-members ?17, but the price includes a basket and all materials as well as refreshments.
A trowel and a pair of gloves are recommended and pre-booking is necessary. Further details from Louise Parker on 01925 268817.
