Council costs victory
is not a “windfall”
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Council is set to receive a “substantial five figure sum” in costs after winning a planning battle over a proposed medical waste recycling centre.
But members of the council’s development control committee have been warned not to regard the award as a “windfall.”
Interim environment services director Chris McCarthy says it only covers costs to which the council is already committed.
He also points out that the council’s victory was based on a technicality rather than planning merits and that, at the moment, it is not known if the appellants will pursue the matter further.
A planning inspector halted the hearing into plans for the recycling centre in Winwick Road, Warrington because, between the time the council originally refused planning consent and the appeal was heard, regulations were changed to bring the UK into line with EU rules.
As a result certain medical wastes previously classed as non-hazardous were re-classified as hazardous.
The changes should have been known to the appellants because the council notified them in a proof evidence sent to them three weeks before the hearing. But they ignored the information – and the inspector ruled this was “unreasonable.”
Councillors, backed by local residents, have been battling to block plans for the recycling centre for years. It was the second inquiry held into the issue.
The council lost the first appeal but the scheme never went ahead because part of the site involved is owned by the council. The second plan was scaled down so it could be accommodated on land not owned by the council.
Even so, if the smaller scheme were to go ahead the centre would treat up to 10,000 tonnes of clinical waste a year from hospitals, health centres, GP surgeries, etc across the North West.
Work halted on ?48,000
lake improvement scheme
by David Skentelbery
WORK has halted on the ?48,000 improvement scheme at Ackers Pit, Stockton Heath near Warrington.
Contractors working on the removal of years of silt accumulation in the lake have discovered a greater quantity of silt than initial surveys indicated was present.
On the advise of the design manager, work has been suspended while Stockton Heath Parish Council takes advice on options available to take the project forward within the remaining budget.
The works are required to enable the pond to continue to provide valuable habitat for fish, swans, ducks and other wildlife and a ?green oasis? for residents and visitors.
A Parish Council spokesman said: ?An engineer?s survey guided the initial works but the situation beneath the surface is more difficult than the surveys indicated.
?We are reviewing the options presently available. Our priority is to ensure the project is taken to a safe and successful conclusion for this key area which is valued so highly by local people.?
Cyclists get on their
bikes for Poppy Appeal
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM and District Royal British Legion held their seventh annual sponsored cycle ride from Lymm to Tatton Park and back in aid of the Poppy Appeal.
A total of 20 cyclists took part, with the youngest being eight-year-old Beth and enjoyed fine weather during the ride.
Parish council deputy chairman Tim Harwood is pictured starting the ride at Lymm Cross with Raymond Massey Lymm Royal British Legion President.
Kitchen appliance firm
announces ?20m turnover
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON-based kitchen appliance designer and manufacturer has announced a ?20.8m turnover in its fourth year in the business.
Premium Appliance Brands chief executive Guy Weaver said: “The team has worked particularly hard over the last 12 months and we’ve been rewarded with fantastic financial results.”
A new board of directors has been appointed and the company now employs 40 staff.
Peter Brazier, co-owner and new managing director, said: “”The company’s financial results have been a fantastic indicator of its success year on year as it has doubled its turnover in each of its trading years.
“PAB recorded figures of ?3.05m in 2003, ?5.63m in 2004, ?11.3m in 2005 and now ?20.8m in 2006 and because of this rapid growth we felt that it was time to take the company to the next level.”
He said the restructuring would allow himself and Guy to focus on the strategy and spend more time with major customers.
Good Citizen Awards
WARRINGTON’S Mayor Linda Dirir held a special awards evening at the town hall in recognition of some of the town’s “good citziens.”
Those receiving awards included former borough councillor Mick Curran who has continued working hard in the local community despite battling illness.
Another to receive an award was community worker Alf Clemow, who was worked on numerous community projects, including tidying up Warrington Cemetery and campaigning for the Older Peoples Forum.
Disabled swimmer Aidan Walker was another to receive recognition for his charity swimathons.
Volunteers wanted for
police “citizen’s panel”
by Lesley Wilkinson
CHESHIRE Police are looking for Warrington people to have a say in the service they provide.
Volunteers are needed to join the force’s Citizens Panel ? originally set up four years ago ? to help police listen to local people’s opinions.
The panel currently has more than 750 members who take part in surveys, focus groups and other forms of consultation on a variety of issues. But it is short of younger members.
Anyone interested in joining should send their name, address, telephone number and email address (if available), to Cheshire Constabulary HQ, Management Information Unit, Oakmere Road, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2UA or telephone 01244612489.
Panel members will be contacted up to four times a year by post, telephone or e-mail to consult about policing issues. Contacts range from a questionnaire to complete to an invitation to attend a local meeting.
Recent issues tackled by the panel include treatment of crime victims, gender equality, neighbourhood policing and police re-structuring.
People have the choice to take part in each issue, and panel members are kept in touch via a newsletter.
Organisers are particularly keen to hear from young people who are currently under-represented on the panel.
Bridge to close
for repair work
by staff reporter
PART of Chester Road, Warrington, over the swing bridge, will be closed from Saturday June 2 to allow structural work to be carried out.
The bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal will be closed both to vehicles and pedestrians. It is expected the work will take two days.
If the works cannot be completed over the weekend of June 2 and 3, the closure will continue on Sunday June 10.
The alternative route will be via A56 Walton Road, A49 London Road, Wilderspool Causeway, A5060 Chester Road and vice versa.
17 children chosen
as Wolves’ mascots
by staff reporter
SEVENTEEN local children have been chosen as official mascots for Warrington Wolves players when they take on Harlequins at the Halliwell Jones Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
The children, aged 4-13, were chosen through a competition run by club sponsors Lloyds TSB, where child season ticket holders were invited to draw pictures of club mascot Wolfie to win one of the specially-extended mascot places.
Pictures were judged by Wolves prop Adrian Morley.
Included in the winners are siblings Joshua (8), Ben (5) and Chloe (4) Thwaites from Orford and brothers Joshua (9) and Jacob (8) Goodrum from Thelwall. And for young artist Jacob Healey from Runcorn, it will be double special occasion as he will celebrate his ninth birthday on the same day.
Adrian said: ?It was really difficult to choose the winners of this competition.
Being a mascot for us is a great experience for our young fans, I was delighted that so many kids wanted to get a place and took the time and effort to draw Wolfie.? The 17 winners also got to go behind-the-scenes at a training session at the Halliwell Jones stadium, where they met players.
The winners are: Niamh Talbot, aged 4, from Oakwood, Jack Wormald,7 from Latchford, Joshua, 8, Ben, 5, and Chloe, 4, Thwaites, from Orford, Daniel Smith, 9, from Appleton, Scott Turton, 6, from Great Sankey, Lucas Edwards, 6, from Padgate, Liam Clark, 7, from Dallam, Eliza Paige Seddon, 7, from Warrington, Michael Reynolds, 13, from Great Sankey, Joshua, 9 and Jacob, 8, Goodrum,from Thelwall, Jacob Healey, 8, from Runcorn, Lauren Spencer, 12, from Warrington, Philip Rice, 9, from Great Sankey and Kian O?Brien, 5 from Penketh.
News in brief
Homes plan
PLANS have been submitted for the conversion of existing buildings on the ex-military camp in Lady Lane, Croft near Warrington into 15 dwellings.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 8, 11 and 14. There was no winner and the ?717 jackpot prize will be rolled-over to next week. A ?25 consolation prize was awarded.
Council donation
APPLETON Parish Council has agreed to donate ?200 to the Warrington Association for Special Children towards the cost of providing play facilities.
Wall proposal
PLANNING chiefs have been asked to approve construction of a brick boundary wall and front gates at Barondale Grange, Stockport Road, Thelwall, Warrington.
