Search for a star
with a Golden future
by Gary Skentelbery
CUSTOMERS shopping in Warrington’s Golden Square are being urged to ?keep up appearances? this Saturday (April 7, 10am ? 4pm) when model scouts will be searching for the face to help promote the new look shopping destination – and win a two-year modeling contract!
Newly crowned Miss Warrington, warrington-worldwide cover girl Holly Ikin, is set to join forces with managers to search for its ?Model Shopper? who will adorn the Centre?s forthcoming advertising campaign and secure a two year modeling contract with Warrington based EKA model management, which is part of the EuroKids & Adults International Casting & Model Agency.
Holly, along with four model scouts from EKA model management, will be on the lookout in the centre looking for faces who have the potential to become Golden Square?s ?Model Shopper?.
Individuals chosen on the day will be invited to an on-the-spot photo shoot and five finalists will be short-listed to appear on advertising hoardings across the town. A panel of judges will later decide which face best reflects the new image of the ?120 million development and will go on to star in future advertisements and take part in the official opening.
Holly, 20 from Culcheth, said: ?I?m delighted to have been asked to launch the search for Golden Square?s ?Model Shopper?. I?ve been amazed at the changes going on at the Centre and it will be a really exciting opportunity for the person who wins to work on a fantastic commission and to raise their own profile.?
Ian Cox, Golden Square?s Marketing Manager, added: ?We?re quite open minded about the kind of face we want to represent Golden Square. It could be a male or female, and the person doesn?t necessarily have to have typical model good looks. It?s more important that whoever is short-listed has a happy, welcoming face, full of character, is photogenic and stylish. We want the final five to represent a cross section of our customers.?
MP steps into row
over health shake-up
by John Hendon
MP Helen Jones has stepped into the ongoing row over plans to re-organise primary health care in Warrington.
The Warrington North MP has called on the town?s Primary Care Trust to withdraw its controversial consultation programme which is currently enraging many people across the borough.
Ms Jones (pictured) met representatives of Warrington GPs to discuss their concerns about the proposals contained in the consultation document.
After the meeting she said: ?I have deep concerns at the way the consultation is being conducted.
?There has been no proper consultation with GPs and many of my constituents do not understand what is being proposed. Indeed, many people are unaware of the proposals despite the fact that the consultation is well underway.
?We all recognise that changes have to be made. More out-patient appointments in the community and more services offered locally are good examples, but this can only be done in co-operation with existing staff.
?Longer opening hours and more convenient appointments are important but so is continuity of care and the desire of people to retain their family doctor.
?The acting chief executive of the PCT seems intent on a confrontation. Changes are being introduced without proper thought and discussion. However, he won?t be here to take the consequences. This is simply not the way to do things in Warrington.?
One consultation meeting had to be abandoned last week after so many people turned up they could not be accommodated in the meeting room. PCT officials pledged to re-organise the meeting at more suitable accommodation ? but no date or venue has been announced yet.
Opponents of the scheme claimed it could result in the closure of every doctor?s surgery in Warrington.
Savage attack leaves
victim in hospital
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are hunting two men who carried out a savage, unprovoked attack on a 30-year-old man in Warrington town centre.
The attack took place in Academy Way, close to the taxi rank near the junction with Bridge Street on Friday, March 16.
But it has not been possible for details to be released earlier because the victim was detained in hospital with serious head injuries and could not be interviewed.
It was about 9pm when the attack took place. The two men attacked the victim for no apparent reason, punching him and kicking him about the head and body.
Then they ran off along Academy Way.
One of the pair is believed to have been of Asian appearance.
A police spokesman said: ?The reason we have not issued this information before is that the victim was in hospital.?
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who can help police with enquiries is asked to call DC Darren Riley on 01244 615859.
Man, 35, survives after
being struck by train
by staff reporter
A MAN has escaped death after being struck by a train near Warrington.
The 35-year-old Warrington man was struck by the train near to Sankey Station on the Liverpool-Manchester line.
He was rushed to hospital where he was treated for a serious leg injury. His condition is stated to be serious, but stable.
Officers from British Transport Police were called to the railway at 8.13pm in Sunday April 1 after reports that a man was injured next to the track near to the station.
They are investigating the circumstances of the incident. But at this stage it is not being treated as suspicious.
The train involved was the Central Trains 19.50 Liverpool Lime Street to Nottingham service.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact Sgt Andy Tomkins at BTP on Freefone 0800405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously ON 0800 555 111.
Business as usual
for town’s binmen
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON residents are being reminded that refuse collections will be running as normal during the Easter Bank Holiday this weekend.
Householders whose usual collection day is a Friday should still put their bin out this Good Friday as there are no disruptions to the service.
The same applies to your blue and green bins if a collection is scheduled for this Good Friday.
There is a lot of additional cardboard during time of year with Easter egg boxes so don’t let them go to waste and do your bit and recycle them at one of the bring sites or Recycling and Household Waste sites across the borough.
In addition, garden waste collections have now started again following a break in the winter and you can check you collection dates on line at www.recycleforwarrington.co.uk For more information ring the Customer Care Line on 01925 443000.
Planners oppose
car park extension
by David Skentelbery
A PLAN to add 40 additional spaces to the car park at a busy leisure centre should be refused, according to planning chiefs at Warrington Borough Council.
They claim the expansion of the car park at Winwick Leisure Centre in Myddleton Lane, Winwick would result in an unacceptable loss of urban green space.
The expansions could also worsen problems of access during busy ?dropping off and picking up? times at adjacent Winwick Primary School, they say.
But local councillor John Joyce (pictured)is supporting the proposal, put forward by Winwick Parish Council.
Currently there are 24 parking spaces, shared by the leisure centre and the school. Access is via a single-lane track from Myddleton Lane.
Planning officers accept that the site has minimal nature conservation significance but say the development would result in an unacceptable loss of green space because the site has landscape value in terms of providing a break in development and a “buffer” between different uses.
Erosion of the existing recreation ground would be excessive. Additiona
l parking spaces would help alleviate parking problems at busy times at the school, but there would only be one, single lane access.
This could worsen highway conditions – and lead to dangerous situations.
Coun Joyce argues that the extra space for parking would, in fact, improve the existing dangerous parking and traffic movements at peak periods at the school.
