Major review for town’s
first conservation area
by David Skentelbery
COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington have drawn up a wish list of key issues which need to be dealing with as part of a major review of the Town Hall Conservation Area.
These include a conservation management strategy for the Town Hall building and grounds, a strategy for the future use and maintenance of Bank Park and long term consideration of reinstating railings that at one time flanked the Golden Gates.
The review would also include careful consideration of the future regeneration of the former Warrington Baths site in Legh Street which, while not within the conservation area, has a major impact on it, say planners.
Measures to reduce the impact on unnecessary and poorly designed street furniture and signs and an investigation of unauthorised signs are also suggested.
The Town Hall Conservation Area was Warrington?s first conservation area, being designated in April 1972.
Designation does not prohibit new development, but developers must aim to preserve or enhance the area and generally there is a presumption against the demolition of buildings which contribute to the heritage value of the street scene.
Residents and businesses have been consulted but only one response was received ? expressing concern at the deterioration of Bank Park over the years.
Leader of the council Ian Marks said: “I think this review is to be welcomes. I hope we can do something to improve Bank Park.”
Coun David Earl said: “Bank Park is looking a bit jaded. Perhaps we could persuade some firm to help revive it by sponsoring a flower bed, or something like this. We could get schools to help with the work.”
Among other proposals suggested for the review is the development of a design brief for key sites where there may be opportunities for enhancing the conservation area, such as regeneration proposals for Hilden House and Priestley House.
Smash and grab
raid at supermarket
by staff reporter
A GANG of masked men has carried out a smash-and-grab raid at the Sainsbury supermarket at Culcheth, near Warrington.
The gang smashed a large display window to gain entry to the store shortly after 2am and grabbed a large quantity of cigarettes.
They are believed to have used a blanket or a duvet to carry the property from the building.
Staff were on the premises at the time, but no-one was hurt.
Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the raid on the Jackson Avenue store in the early hours of Friday morning.
The offenders were all wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.
Anyone who can help is asked to call PC John Tetlow on 0845 458 6390 or, anonymously, the Crimestoppers helpline on 0800 555 111.
A police spokesman said: ?Although, fortunately, no-one was hurt, this was an extremely serious incident.?
Local pair to compete
in Transplant Games
by Lesley Wilkinson
TWO Warrington men, who have both had kidney transplants, are travelling to Thailand in August to take part in the World Transplant Games.
Andy Knox, 35, of Meeting Lane, Penketh, and Steve Deakin, 45, of Ealing Road, Great Sankey, each have to raise ?2,000 to cover their trip and are busy fundraising.
They both received transplants at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and are members of its transplant sports team – with Steve being the manager.
Andy, who has a son Bailey, eight, was previously a cable jointer with Manweb but had to retire on health grounds when he was 34.
He had his first kidney transplant in 1998, donated by his mum Teresa, and a second one in July last year, donated by his dad Fred.
Andy said: “It is unusual for two family members to be a match, so I was very lucky. I am grateful to them for donating kidneys to help me.”
His sport is tennis and he trains regularly at the David Lloyd centre in Great Sankey.
To raise funds he is organising a sponsored American doubles competition at the centre on March 31.
“The games is a major event and I am really looking forward to taking part,” he said.
Steve, who lives with his partner Jane and three children, works for the Department of Work and Pensions.
He is a swimmer specialising in the butterfly stroke and distance swimming, 200 and 400 metres. He won a gold and two silver medals at transplant games held in Bath.
Steve, who had kidney transplants in 1984 and 1990, is a member of Prescott Swimming Club and also trains at Fordton Leisure Centre, Warrington.
He is planning a charity night at Bank Quay Sports and Social Club on February 24.
Anyone interested in helping the fundraising can do so via their websites www.justgiving.com/andrewknox or www.justgiving.com/stevedeakin.
Fond farewell to
talented sportsman
by Gary Skentelbery
HUNDREDS of mourners paid their last respects to well known Warrington sportsman Andy Phythian who died tragically aged just 47 from blood poisoning, after a four year battle with leukaemia.
Andy, who celebrated the birth of his only child Emily on Christmas Eve, played soccer for 10 years at Warrington Town and was also well known on the cricket field for his exploits with Warrington New Town and Rylands.
He was planning to marry his long term partner Janet this month.
The couple who lived at Penketh had been making the final arrangements for their wedding when Andy was suddenly taken ill with what he first thought was a ‘flu type virus.
But as his condition deteriorated rapidly he was rushed into Warrington Hospital where he was diagnosed with Septicemia and tragically died within just 12 hours of his admission.
During the funeral at St Mary’s Church, Great Sankey, his brother Jon paid tribute to the “larger than life character” who had touched the lives of so many people during his full life.
The fact so many had attended the funeral was testimony to how well loved and liked he was.
Colleagues at Jaguar Ford, Halewood collected in excess of ?1,100 for his daughter with other donations being made to Leukaemia Research.
Family floral tributes were in the shape of a cricket bat and a rugby league ball in the colours of his home town club Widnes.
Andy is survived by his parents Margaret and Jim, brother Jon and sister Janet and numerous nephews and nieces.
PCT will still pay out
grants totalling ?221,000
by John Hendon
GRANTS totalling ?221,000 will still be paid out next year to community and voluntary groups in Warrington by the Primary Care Trust ? despite cuts made to enable the Trust to ?balance its books.?
This has been revealed by the PCT following the news ? reported exclusively by Warrington-Worldwide last week ? that cuts could force the closure of the 152-year-old Warrington YMCA and the town?s Volunteer Centre.
The PCT say the grants to be cut total ?99,000 while those to be continued add up to ?221,000.
Groups that will lose their grants are the Volunteer Bureau (?22,000), Age Concern (?22,000), Warrington Advocacy (21,000), Council for Voluntary Service (?20,000), Ethnic Welfare (?8,000) and Care and Repair (?6,000).
Grants will still be made to the Deafness Supprt network (?6,000), Bereavement Support Counselling (?15,000), Warrington Disability Partnership (?4,500), Dysphasia Support – The Stroke Association ? (?27,000), Red Cross (?40,000), The Butterfly Project for very sick children (?33,000), The Centre for Independent Living (?57,000) and Crossroads (?39,000).
The PCT stresses that it has a duty to achieve financial balance and says its aim is to find savings which will have a minimal impact on clinical services.
Acting chief executive Jon Tomlinson said: “Part of the PCT’s budget historically has been allocated to a number of l
ocal voluntary organisations in the form of grant aid which contributes to their core funding. We have scrutinised these grants and have taken the difficult decision not to renew the grants of five organisations when the present agreements come to an end in April. We are continuing the grants for eight organisations.
?We have also looked very carefully at the discretionary funding we allocate to set up pilot projects with partner organisations. These projects, which predominantly do not provide direct health care, all receive short-term funding on the understanding that funding will not be renewed; the organisations have been expected to arrange continuation of projects from other sources. After much debate, and with much regret, we have decided to cease funding four of these short-term initiatives. Two initiatives will continue to be funded as short term projects and three initiatives have been given long term funding from the PCT.
?In line with Department of Health guidance, we plan in the future to budget to make a surplus so that there is money to invest in new services which meet the health needs of the population. A system to prioritise new projects is being set up which will be open, transparent and sustainable. Any organisation is welcome to bid for funding through this mechanism via our website from March 2007. We are committed to working with organisations across the town to secure services which have a real and positive impact on the health and well being of Warrington people.?
Susan bids for “business
mum of year” award
by business staff
LOCAL business owner Susan Moore, from Warrington, has reached the final of the inaugural ?Inspirational Business Mum of the Year Award?, a new category at the 2007 Prowess Awards.
Susan will join the other finalists at the Prowess Awards gala dinner in Brighton next Wednesday (February 7) when the overall award winner will be announced.
She beat off stiff competition from more than 125 UK women who entered the award, which aims to recognise mums who have ploughed their ingenuity, passion, commitment and energy into running their own business.
In 2004, Susan devised an idea for a children?s party business that, in addition to party planning, would deliver party entertainment with a team of trained hosts. Wanting flexibility in her career to look after her three children, Susan left her role as a sales director to launch her business – Party Crew – the following Spring.
To fund the development of Party Crew, Susan established four other small businesses and worked long hours to achieve her business goals. Since then, Party Crew has expanded to become a franchise which employs more than 26 women across the country, enabling them, in turn, to combine motherhood with running their own business.
The award judges were particularly impressed by Susan?s determination and her support for other women in business.
Susan said: ?I?m thrilled to be recognised as an ?Inspirational Business Mum? and to have made the final for this award. I?ve overcome some huge challenges to get the business to where it is today, including having to completely re-brand when another company trademarked my original business name! However, I can honestly say that it has all been worth it – my only regret is that I didn?t set up on my own sooner.?
Police probe
car fires
by John Hendon
TWO stolen cars were set alight by vandals at Warrington – within 10 minutes of each other.
One was in Nansen Close, Old Hall and the other in Clapgates Crescent, Bewsey.
The saloon cars were completely burned out.
Fire crews were called to both fires but were unable to save the vehicles.
Police are investigating both incidents but there is no suggestion they are linked.
Missing woman
returns home
by staff reporter
A 30-year-old Warrington woman who disappeared last Friday morning has been found safe and well.
Helen Davies has returned home after being missing for about 24-hours.
Police at Warrington had appealed for help from the public after the woman vanished after being last seen by an aunt at Orford.
They have thanked members of the public who responded to an appeal for help in tracing the woman.
[ 12.02.2007, 17:49: Message edited by: DS ]
