Council’s fact-finding
meeting on flooding
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are today meeting water industry chiefs and the Environment Agency to discuss flooding issues in the borough.
The meeting ? arranged by council officers ? will also involve senior councillors and is part of an on-going dialogue between the authority, the Environment Agency and United Utilities.
Even though Warrington has escaped the worst of this summer?s floods, some parts of the borough were affected and councillors are pressing for urgent action.
All three main political parties joined forces at the last meeting of the council to call for action from the government, the Environment Agency and United Utilities.
Warrington South MP Helen Southworth has also called for action to put an end to flooding in the Penketh and Great Sankey areas. She had received complaints from about 40 residents.
Ofwat – the water industry watchdog organisation – says it believes Warrington-based United Utilities is in breach of its obligations and has failed to satisfy them that they have any viable or coherent scheme to address flooding issues within the catchment area.
It has given the company a 12-month deadline to deal with problems in the Great Sankey and Penketh areas before considering issuing an enforcement notice.
Borough council leader Ian Marks said: ?Today?s meeting is to enable us to find out what is going on. It?s a fact-finding meeting.
?We want to know just how much progress has been made on plans to deal with flooding problems and also what is being done to ensure new housing is not built on flood plains.
?This has not happened in Warrington recently, but in the past houses have been built on flood plains and have, in fact, suffered from flooding.
?As soon as we know what the situation is we will be informing residents.?
United Utilities has indicated it is committed to delivering an improvement scheme which benefits affected properties in the Warrington area.
Wolves’ “cubs” get new kit
WARRINGTON Wolves? scholarship teams will certainly look the part this season, as all five of the teams have been presented with brand new kits.
Squadbuilder and the Warrington Wolves Vice Presidents? Association have joined forces to sponsor the new strips.
The kits were presented to the teams at the scholarship introduction meetings held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Council cleared over
historic pub demolition
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council has been cleared of any wrong-doing over the demolition of a historic pub which was once the haunt of ukulele star George Formby.
The Local Government ombudsman has ruled that there is no evidence of maladministration by the council in connection with the illegal demolition of the Grade 2 listed Bay Horse Hotel, in Winwick Street, Warrington.
A local resident had reported the authority to the ombudsman alleging eight cases of maladministration in connection with the incident, in which the pub and adjoining cottages, all listed buildings, were razed to the ground virtually overnight.
Among the alleged failings, the council was accused of failing to make itself aware that a listed building was being prepared for demolition, failing to act on a warning that slates had been removed from the roof, failing to serve a stop notice to prevent demolition and failing to prosecute the developer.
The resident also claimed comments by the council after the demolition appeared to condone the offence.
But the ombudsman says council do not have the resources to routinely check on the state of all listed buildings. Although the complainant had written to the council about the state of the building, there was no reason from this to deduce the building was about to be demolished or fall down.
The ombudsman says the council approved the developer?s representative the day they became aware demolition had started and received an agreement the works would stop.
Even if enforcement action had been started, it was doubtful if it could have been completed in time as the demolition was carried out quickly because of expected severe weather.
Planning chief John Groves said the ombudsman?s decision validated the council?s approach. Although the building was in state of disrepair, the council’s actions in respect of attempts to anticipate and prevent demolition were vindicated.
Although the developer was not prosecuted, the council did take the demolition contractor to court. The company admitted two offences relating to the unauthorised demolition of the buildings and was ordered to pay ?16,500 in fines and costs.
Woman escapes from
smoke-filled home
by John Hendon
AN elderly woman escaped from her smoke filled home at Warrington after fire broke out in the kitchen.
The woman managed to stagger from the house in Falmouth Drive, Penketh and knock on a neighbour’s window before collapsing due to smoke inhalation.
Fire crews – alerted by the neighbour – gave the woman oxygen at the scene and she was later taken to hospital.
The fire was caused by a pan of food left unattended on the cooker.
Smoke detectors were fitted in the property but either failed to operate or were not heard by the occupant.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “The message in this incident is that cookers should not be left unattended when in use.”
A ventilation unit was used to clear smoke from the property. There was minor fire damage to the cooker and light smoke damage throughout the house.
Police in crackdown
on illegal bikes
by James Parr
POLICE at Warrington are cracking down on the illegal use of mini motorbikes and off road motorbikes in the town.
The Warrington East Neighbourhood Policing Unit will be patrolling the land adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal in the bid to clamp down on illegal riders.
Community Support Officer Bethan Roberts said: “Anyone caught using off-road motorbikes on public land will be issued with a warning, which may then lead to the seizure of the bike.”
Under section 59 of the Police Reform Act, police have the power to seize the vehicles if they are being used in an anti-social way, have no tax or no insurance. The owner is then left with a bill for the recovery of their vehicle.
Police are also looking to clamp down on under age riders as by law they have to be 16 years old, hold a valid licence and posses an MOT for the vehicle.
Now the NPU is calling for members of the public to aid them in their efforts to clamp down.
CSO Roberts added: “We have had some real successes in trying to combat the issue, but the challenge still remains. People can support us in our efforts to reduce the problems by reporting incidents and identifying offenders if they know them.”
Officers have also been working in partnership with Woolston Eyes Conservation Group and companies whop own land along the Ship Canal to catch offenders.
Billy Fury legend
comes to town
by James Parr
HALF way to paradise: the Billy Fury Story, will roll into the Parr Hall, Warrington next month as part of its 10th anniversary tour.
The show depicts the life and times of Billy Fury, from his humble beginnings working on the River Mersey tugboats right through to his musical success.
The tour was born after now lead singer, Colin Gold, appeared on Stars in Their Eyes as Billy and gave an almost perfect rendition of the original rocker.
This prompted Fury’s Tornados to carry on the legend, recapturing the memories of yesteryear and providing fans with a nostalgic taste of their lost idol.
Classic hits such as, I will, Jealousy and Half way to paradise will all be performed during the two-hour show that also shows unseen footage of the original band.
Lead guitarist Chris Raynor said: “Every member of the band is always surprise
d and delighted by the warm reception we receive wherever we perform, and this forthcoming show already appears to be no exception. We’re very excited to be performing here.”
To get tickets for the tour, which comes to the Parr Hall on October 20, contact the Box Office on 01925 442345.
