?48,000 face lift for
local beauty spot
by Lesley Wilkinson
WORK is expected to start next month on a ?48,000 environmental improvement package to beauty spot Ackers Pit, at Stockton Heath near Warrington.
The pond will be drained to allow excavators to dig out the silt – formed by leaf litter and other organic material which has collected at the base forming a thick, muddy layer.
Clerk of Stockton Heath Parish Council Peter Briggs said: “This must be removed to enable the pond to continue in its present format providing habitat for the fish, swans, ducks and other wildlife and a ‘green oasis’ for residents and visitors.” The silt will be deposited on site behind new pond edges. This will slightly reduce the surface area of the pond, but will allow development of new areas of open space and paths for visitors. Existing paths will be re-surfaced.
Improvements are being carried out by the parish council in conjunction with Warrington Anglers Association.
During the project, which is expected to be completed by summer, Warrington Anglers will transfer the fish to the Bridgewater Canal and on completion will organise re-stocking.
About 200 leaflets detailing the proposals are being distributed to nearby houses. During the work the area will be fenced off to ensure public safety.
Peter said: “Work is starting immediately to remove reeds at the pond, to prevent swans nesting, otherwise if nests were built work would have to stop.
The parish council has been working for some time to improve the site and has attracted a series of grants including ?15,000 from the Environment Agency, ?25,000 from an environment improvement fund and assistance from Warrington Anglers Association who use the site.
The project will be managed by TEP of Warrington, and anyone with technical enquiries can contact Graeme Atherton, design team manager, on 01929 844007. Any general questions should be put to the parish council on 01925 210558.
Bus company to reveal
the “journey so far”
by John Hendon
BUS users and others with an interest in Warrington?s public transport system are being invited to a special event to highlight progress being made by the town?s council-owned bus company.
Warrington Borough Transport, under its new name ?Network Warrington?, is achieving wide-ranging success, according to managing director Nigel Featham.
Passenger numbers are increasing, the town has a new ?8 million state-of-the-art bus interchange and the company has a fleet of new, easy access, low-emission buses. Levels of passenger satisfaction are at unprecedented levels.
The ?stakeholder event? will be at Warrington Town Hall on March 7 at 12pm. It will be hosted by Colin Sykes, BBC North West transport and environment correspondent.
Network Warrington?s slogan is ?Making Warrington Move.? But, according to Mr Featham, this is not just about taking passengers from A to B but also about taking the whole town forward with strong ambitions for the future.
?How we bring such plans to fruition will be a key area for discussion at the event,? said Mr Featham.
?Our work is very much ongoing and we realise the job is by no means done. We can increase passenger numbers further still by even better services and reducing congestion, but to achieve this we must work together ? the company, the council, stakeholders and the local business community.? There will be a question and answer session on the day the event, titled ?The Journey So Far? will provide an opportunity to outline the progress being made and look at the potential for further improvements.
Council concern over
closure of clinic
by Lesley Wilkinson
CLOSURE of Stockton Heath Clinic will mean that local people have to travel too far to alternative sites according to Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Members heard that the clinic in Whitefield Road is being closed and services will be provided at Grappenhall Clinic in Springfield Avenue.
Money raised by the sale of the Stockton Heath site will go to help clear debts of Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT). But the trust promises to re-invest in the area with future plans for a purpose-built clinic in South Warrington.
Coun Wendy Emsley said: “People in Stockton Heath do not have much choice. They will have to travel quite a distance for alternative services.”
Jane Spratley, of PCT Adult Nursing Services, told members: “Stockton Heath Clinic is an old building and it was never built as a clinic. There are problems with the stairway and children have to go upstairs for hearing tests.
“Improvements would cost a lot of money which we have not got because of debts. The most cost effective solution is to move services to Grappenhall Clinic.”
She said the PCT had checked there was a good bus service to Grappenhall, and that patients from Stockton Heath could use alternative clinics such as Woolston or the Halliwell Jones in Warrington, if they preferred.
Coun Marilyn Timmins asked why the services were not transferred to Stockton Heath Medical Centre. Ms Spratley said the PCT would have to pay to use the centre, which is privately owned, but that use of Grappenhall would be free.
Have-a-go man
assaulted by thief
by staff reporter
A MAN who challenged a thief who had just broken into his van at Birchwood, near Warrington ended up being attacked by the offender.
The 29-year-old was at his home in Dove Close when he heard a noise outside in the early hours of the morning.
He went out and discovered his van had been broken into and that a man was seated on a bicycle next to the van.
When he challenged the man there was an argument followed by a struggle during which the victim was knocked to the ground and suffered injuries to his face and leg.
The thief rode off on the bicycle towards Admiral’s Road.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident to contact PC Stephen Deehan on 0845 458 0000.
Road closures will
cause traffic delays
by staff reporter
ROADS will be closed for 12 weeks and diversions will operate as major improvement works are carried out in the Westbrook area of Warrington.
The work is designed to help make travelling around safer and easier for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
But while the improvements are carried out it is expected there will be delays and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
The work starts on Monday (February 19) when roads around Westbrook Centre will be closed and traffic diverted as the borough council carries out essential road works on Cromwell Avenue at the ASDA roundabout.
A new traffic signal junction with pedestrian crossings will be built in place of the roundabout at the junction of Cromwell Avenue, Westbrook Crescent and Ladywood Road. A new footpath and cycle way will be built along Cromwell Avenue to Westbrook Way, and parts of Cromwell Avenue will be resurfaced.
Diversions will be signposted and roads will only be closed when necessary.
Outhouse fire
FIRE engines from Warrington and Birchwood were called to Vulcan Close, Padgate when fire broke out in an outhouse. A hosereel was used to extinguish the blaze.
