Armed raiders grab cash
and cigarettes from shop
by James Parr
ARMED robbers held up a Warrington convenience store and got away with cash and cigarettes.
The late night raid was at a shop in Capesthorne Road, Orford.
Staff were unhurt but were left badly shocked by the incident.
The ambush took place when three men entered the shop, two of them carrying small hand guns and the other wearing a black Nike hooded top with white lettering, demanding the cashiers open the tills.
All three made their getaway in a W registered, gold coloured 4×4, which was last seen heading towards Poplars Avenue.
Police are now appealing for people who were in the shop, or any witnesses to the incident to contact DC Julie Cassie at the Warrington Police Specialist Investigation Unit on 0845 458 0000.
Council bid to save
on legal costs
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being urged to link up with other councils to save money when they need to use external legal services.
Officers are recommended that the borough council join the Merseyside Consortium for the Procurement of Legal Services.
The council already uses outside solicitors and barristers on occasions when specialist advocacy skills are needed or when the in-house legal team cannot cope with the amount of work.
At present, the council provides written briefs of work and seeks quotes from at least three legal firms ? but the advice is often required urgently and the process is time consuming.
Officers say if the council joins the Merseyside Consortium ? which currently consists of Sefton and Knowsley, Halton and West Lancashire ? they will be able to purchase legal services at discounts of between 10-20 per cent.
Eight law firms are involved in the consortium, including Forshaws of Warrington. The others are from Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Leigh.
The council will be able to approach two or more of the firms to get the best deal ? and will still be able to engage firms from outside the consortium. They will also have access to free or joint training courses and access to library and research facilities.
Officers at Warrington believe joining the consortium will provide the council with a more efficient service.
Members of the council?s executive board will be asked to approve the move at their meeting on Monday, October 8.
MP drops in at World’s
Biggest Coffee Morning
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones dropped in at the ?World?s Biggest Coffee Morning? at Winwick.
The event was organised by local resident Audrey Braithwaite, who holds a coffee morning every year in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care.
It was originally held at Mrs Braithwaite?s home but has grown so much that it now has to be held at St Oswald?s Church Hall.
American pianist to
play at Walton Hall
by staff reporter
THE distinguished young American pianist, Andrew Brownell, will be giving a recital at Warrington?s Walton Hall tomorrow evening (Wednesday).
Andrew, who took second prize at last year?s prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition, is a native of Portland, Oregon andl began studying the piano at the age of four.
He is currently pursuing doctoral work under the guidance of Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
His programme at Walton Hall will include works by Handel, Schubert and Chopin.
Tickets are available at the door priced ?10 to include wine and refreshments. Further information from Norman Cutter 01925 265146.
The recital, which starts at 7.30pm, has been organised by the Friends of Walton Hall.
Temporary closures
at bottleneck bridge
by John Hendon
TEMPORARY closures are to take place at one of the Warrington area?s most notorious traffic bottlenecks ? Warburton Bridge Road ? from Monday, October 22.
The temporary prohibition of driving on the road between the A57 Manchester Road and Warburton Bridge are necessary because of structural maintenance work to be carried out by the Manchester Ship Canal Company.
Signs will be in place when the restrictions are in place and there will be an e alternative route via A57 Manchester Road, A50 Kingsway North, A50 Kingsway South, A50 Higher Knutsford Road, A50 Knutsford Road, A56 Stockport Road, A56 Camsley Lane, A56 Booths Hill Road, A6144 Eagle Brow, A6144 The Cross, A6144 New Road, A6144 Rushgreen Road, A6144 Birchbrook Road, A6144 Mill Lane, B5159 Townfield Lane and vice versa.
It is expected the closures will last for about five days.
Warburton Bridge – one of the few toll bridges in the North West – is already subject to lengthy tailbacks at peak periods.
MEP welcomes zero
farm set-aside
by James Parr
WARRINGTON based Euro MP and Labour’s Agriculture spokesman in the European Parliament Brian Simpson, has welcomed the decision to adopt a zero set aside in 2008.
The move to reduce set aside has been made to ease pressures caused by increasing global demand for grain and will give farmers and growers the flexibility they need to meet the demands of the worlds markets.
“With concern growing in regard to world grain shortages it is clearly ridiculous to have land set aside and the taxpayers paying for the privilege. I believe farmers will see the added value of retaining conservation land, further contributing to maintaining the increases we have seen in such things as wildlife” said Mr Simpson.
The Euro MP also welcomed the commitment by the NFU to work with the Government to demonstrate how areas of conservation importance can be included in future Environmental Stewardship scheme.
“It proves clearly that our farmers are committed to exploring all opportunities to show that agriculture can achieve not only prosperity and high productivity but can also encourage wildlife and protect the environment. If we can secure a fair deal for farmers on prices then everybody should be happy” Mr Simpson added.
[ 05.10.2007, 09:25: Message edited by: DS ]
