“Big three” parties to
fight all council seats
by David Skentelbery
THE three main political parties are all fighting all 19 seats up for grabs on Warrington Borough Council in the municipal elections to take place on Thursday, May 3.
But the Green Party is also fielding five candidates – and four Independents are entering the fray.
One of these is former Stockton Heath parish councillor Patrick Mullee, who resigned his seat over the controversial decision to demolish Stockton Heath Primary School.
He is standing against Deputy Mayor Coun Celia Jordan, Liberal Democrat at Stockton Heath and is hoping for support from the thousands of people who signed a petition to save the school.
Current Mayor Coun Linda Dirir, Labour, is also defending her seat at Penketh and Cuerdley.
Leader of the council Coun Ian Marks, Lib Dem, is defending his seat at Lymm while at Burtonwood and Winwick, the former leader, Coun John Joyce, Labour, is seeking re-election.
In Poplars and Hulme, former Labour rebel Eric Verdon is making the latest in a series of attempts to get back on the council as an Independent. But another former Labour rebel – ex-leader of the council Mike Hughes, who was deselected by his party and later tried to regain his seat at Howley as leader of a Warrington branch of the Community Action Party – is not seeking re-election this year.
The full-line up of candidates is as follows:
Appleton: *Ray Hancock (Lib Dem); Gloria Jefferson (Lab); Paul Kennedy (Con).
Bewsey and Whitecross: Sonia Boggan (Con); *Jeff Richards (Lab); Bob Timmis (Lib Dem).
Birchwood: Chris Fitzsimmons (Lab); Christopher Hepworth (Lib Dem); David Ward (Green); Andrew Wilson Smith (Con).
Burtonwood and Winwick: Val Allen (Con); Philip Chadwick (Lib Dem); *John Joyce (Lab).
Culcheth and Glazebury: *Sue Bland (Con); Merril Cummerson (Lib dem); Tony McCarthy (Lab).
Fairfield and Howley: *Yvonne Fovargue (Lab); Ileyne Hutchinson (Con); Hasan Kazi (Lib Dem).
Grappenhall and Thelwall: *Mike Biggin (Lib Dem); Dorothy Carter (Con); Helen Dutton (Lab).
Great Sankey North: Stephanie Davies (Green); *Roy Smith (Lib Dem); Adrian Wildman (Con); Tony Williams (Lab).
Great Sankey South: Jan Davidson (Lab); *Alan Litton (Lib Dem); Mike Stansfield (Con).
Latchford East: Julian Craddock (Con); Lyndsay McAteer (Green); *Hans Mundry (Lab); Eddie Sloane (Lib Dem).
Latchford West: Kevin Bennett (Lab); Gwyneth Craddock (Con); *Ted Finnegan (Lib Dem).
Lymm: James Ashington (Con); Chris Ferguson (Lab); *Ian Marks (Lib Dem).
Orford: Barry Burton (Lib Dem); *Kate Hannon (Lab); William Jackson (Ind); John Leslie (Con); David Whitehouse (Green).
Penketh and Cuerdley: Paul Campbell (Con); *Linda Dirir (Lab); Veronia Hudson (Lib Dem).
Poplars and Hulme: Joan Hall (Lib Dem); Brian Lambert (Con); Steve Roberts (Lab); Eric Verdon (Ind).
Poulton North: Francine Leslie (Con); *Colin Oliver (Lib Dem); Alan Simcock (Lab).
Rixton and Woolston: Edward Bibby (Ind); Paul Bretherton (Lab); Peter Edwards (Lib Dem); *Roger Rankin (Con).
Stockton Heath: Thomas Forster (Con); *Celia Jordan (Lib Dem); Peter Kenny (Lab); Patrick Mullee (Ind); Kenneth Wilson (Green).
Whittle Hall: Peter Carey (Lab); Carl Roberts (Con); *Judith Wheeler (Lib Dem).
* Denotes sitting councillor.
Nurse runs marathon
in memory of mum
by Gary Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON nurse is putting her best foot forward to raise vital cash for the Stroke Association.
Caroline Rogers, a Sister on the Colorectal Surgical Ward at Warrington Hospital is running in the 2007 London Marathon on April 22.
Caroline wants to raise public awareness about strokes and honour the memory of her mother, who died last year as a result of a stroke.
She has spent the last 16 months training for the gruelling 26.2-mile course, during which time she has successfully completed four half marathons.
Through support from friends, relatives and colleagues, she hopes to raise more than ?2500 for the Stroke Association.
Caroline said: ?I started running after losing a close friend to cancer. Before that, I didn?t have a sporting bone in my body! I am running for the love of both my mother and my friend. I want to prove that it is possible to achieve this remarkable feat. If you want to do something enough, you can do it!?
Julie Ainscow, Regional Communications Officer for the Stroke Association said: ?Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the UK. More than 300,000 people in England are currently living with moderate or severe disabilities as a result of stroke.
?The support of people like Caroline is invaluable in helping the Stroke Association fund its work into stroke prevention, research and rehabilitation.?
If you would like to support Caroline?s efforts by donating to the Stroke Association, please visit her fundraising web page at: www.justgiving.com/carolinemaryrogers
?1.3 million scheme
will mean road closure
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SECTION of Woolston Grange Avenue will be closed from April 16 to allow work to be carried out to change it to a dual carriageway as part of a ?1.3 million improvement package.
The section being improved is between the Chesford Grange and Hardwick Grange roundabouts.
Other work is being carried out on the A57 Manchester Road/Woolston Grange roundabout to construct a left turn lane from Manchester Road to Woolston Grange Avenue, and traffic signals will be installed.
Work on the existing carriageway will be restricted to between 9.30am and 4pm.
Road closures are planned to allow surfacing work, but will only take place between 7pm and 5am.
Road improvements are being funded by Birchwood Park Estates Ltd as part of the requirements for developing land at Birchwood Park Business Park.
The dual carriageway is scheduled to be complete by December, and the A57 roundabout by August 14.
Freemasons’ ?3,400
boost for cancer charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CHARITY that helps improve the environment of cancer treatment clinics was given a ?3,400 boost by Warrington Freemasons.
The Warrington charity CANtreat was founded in 2005 by cancer survivor Andrew Gartside, of Appleton Thorn, and funds projects in cancer treatment clinics at NHS hospitals.
Andrew’s father, Bolton Wanderers FC chairman Philip Gartside and the fund’s operations manager Chris Eyres, are both members of Masonic Lodges in Warrington.
The town’s Group of Lodges decided to support the charity and a Sportsman’s Dinner was held at Warrington Masonic Hall to raise funds. Ian Boswell, group chairman, presented the cheque to Chris Eyres at the group’s annual dinner.
Ian said: “CANtreat is aiming to provide modern and attractive environments in NHS hospitals which, unfortunately the NHS cannot fund itself.
“When undergoing treatment Andrew Gartside realised that things needed to be improved and set about doing something to help the situation. Warrington Freemasons are delighted to be able to make a financial contribution to such a worthy cause.”
Punk band to
play for charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEWLY signed pop-punk band, Testosterone, will be playing in Warrington on Friday (April 13).
The gig, to promote their new charity single “Your Johnny Depp,” will be at The Pear Tree Inn, Collins Green Road, Collins Green, from 9pm. Entry is free.
The band recently signed to Manchester label Hangman Records, and are looking forward to their first show in Warrington.
Their new single is out on April 23, and half the profits raised will be donated to Helen and Douglas House, Oxfordshire, – a home for terminally ill children supported by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor himself.
Those who buy the single will a
lso be entered into a prize draw to win a life size stand up of Johnny Depp, signed by members of the band.
Friends of the Earth
launch local branch
by staff reporter
A NEW group aiming to improve the environment and campaign for change has set up in Warrington and is looking for new members.
Warrington Friends of the Earth is looking forward to tackling local environmental issues – including setting up a farmers market in the town – and also supporting national and international campaigns.
One of the members Dina Baird said: “We are local enthusiastic people from a variety of backgrounds and ages and we are hoping to expand the group to drive through some changes to improve our environment.”
Meetings are open to all and will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at The Friends Meeting House (side entrance), Buttermarket Street, from 7pm to 9pm.
Masked men threaten
convenience shop staff
by John Hendon
TWO masked men, one brandishing a knife, threatened staff at a convenience store in Warrington.
They struck in the early evening at the One Stop Shop in Park Road, Great Sankey.
Both wore balaclavas with eyeholes cut in them ? and one threatened a woman shop assistant with a knife. No-one was hurt but the shop workers were left badly shaken.
A quantity of cash and a bottle of vodka were stolen.
Both offenders were about 5ft 10 inches tall and of stocky build. They wore hooded black tops, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
Police are seeking witnesses of the incident at 9.58pm on April 5. Anyone who can help should call DC Emily Cole on 0845 458 0000.
Charity gig
raised ?400
by staff reporter
A CHARITY Gig held in Warrington raised ?400 for The Relationships Centre, a local charity supporting people affected by unhealthy relationships.
The event at Roosters Social Club featured bands Expletives Deleted, Red Badge of Courage and Sly Digs.
Marissa Hankinson, charity spokesperson, said: “We have set ourselves an ambitious fundraising target for 2007, events like this really can help us make a difference to people’s lives. The bands were great and a good time was had by all.”
[ 17.04.2007, 17:01: Message edited by: DS ]
