Music and dancing
ban at nightclub
by John Hendon
A WARRINGTON nightclub has been effectively banned from operating by Town Hall licensing chiefs.
The borough council?s licensing committee took the decision to remove some activities from Club Casi?s licence after hearing of complaints of a noise nuisance from members of the public.
Excluded from the licence are exhibition of films, performance of live music, playing of recorded music, performance of dance, entertainment of a similar nature and the provision of facilities for music or dance.
Environmental health officers were responsible for investigating complaints from the public about noise issues at the Mersey Street club.
They collected evidence on claims that a number of licensing conditions were being breached.
Members of the committee considered the evidence and decided to remove several licensing activities from the club?s premises licences including, crucially, live music, recorded music and dancing.
But the club can still open, still sell alcohol and serve late night refreshments.
Tommy Wallace, the council?s head of service for Housing Protection and Community, said: “This is the first review of a licence in Warrington resulting from entertainment and noise issues and demonstrates we will take a firm line on enforcing conditions to protect residents.”
Club representatives were present at the licensing committee hearing.
Canal road closure
to be reconsidered
by David Skentelbery
HIGHWAYS chiefs are to reconsider the controversial decision to permanently close Stockton Lane, Grappenhall – the road where two teenagers died when their car plunged into the Bridgewater Canal.
Warrington Borough Council’s traffic committee will discuss the issue at a meeting on March 21.
The road has been subject to a temporary closure since the deaths of 17-year-olds Gemma Biggin and Stephen Abbott in 2004.
But last year, the council decided to make the closure permanent.
A number of residents have objected – and some councillors are also opposed to the idea.
They say the road should be made safe – not closed.
Coun Mike Stansfield, a member of Appleton Parish Council, is strongly opposed to the closure.
He said: “It was a terrible tragedy and I feel terribly for the parents of the young people who died. But the road should not be closed – it has been there since at least 1842 and is a valuable and attractive asset.
“It’s closure will mean more traffic will be forced to use Stanney Lunt Bridge where, in places, only a hedge divides the road from a steep drop onto the towpath. That could be even more dangerous.” Other councillors have pointed out that the closure makes access more difficult to Grappenhall Village Sports Club and its new floodlit tennis courts.
Residents have pointed out that Chester Road, on the opposite side of the canal, is just as dangerous and that cars have, in fact, plunged into the canal from that side too.
The council employed consultants to study installing crash barriers on the bend where the fatal accident happened, but they concluded barriers would not be effective due the angle of impact and limited space. Objectors said the road should be moved further from the canal at that point – but the council believes the cost would be prohibitive.
If the council decided to press ahead with the permanent closure, a public inquiry may be necessary.
Nine years on, police
still seek baby killer
by David Skentelbery
NINE years on from when a man walking his dog made the tragic discovery of a new born baby’s body dumped in a bin bag, police still believe they will one day track down the killer.
Today (Wed) marks the anniversary of the gruesome discovery near the Gulliver’s World theme park at Callands, Warrington.
Detectives believe they will eventually solve the mystery of how and why the baby boy who came to be known simply as “Callum” died within a few short hours of being born.
It may be new technology that tracks down the killer. Major advances in forensic science mean police today often solve murder mysteries many years old Or it could be someone’s conscience that finally persuades them to come forward with information.
As preparations go on for Mothering Sunday this weekend, police hope someone will be prompted to end their silence.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rumney of the Cheshire Police Major Inquiry Team, who was involved in the original investigation said: “Our files will remain open until we have established how and why this baby lost his life nine years ago.
“All developments in science and forensic technology are considered to determine whether they are suitable and appropriate to bring us closer to an understanding of the events leading to his death.
“Events are bound to have left a mark on Callum’s mother and I feel sure that she must have spoken to friends or relatives about this traumatic time in her life.
” I am convinced there are people who know of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and I would appeal to those people to come forward now. It is never too late for information to be offered to the police and for the mystery surrounding this young life to be laid to rest”
Callum is the name on a simple cross at Warrington’s Manchester Road cemetery – that was the name detectives gave the tragic baby because his body was found at Callands on the day before Mother’s Day in 1998. But his death certificate refers to him as “unidentified male.”
Police have been able to build up a DNA profile of the baby’s mother, but they need information about his father.
Tests showed the baby had been suffocated and a major police hunt followed the discovery of the body. A ?30,000 reward was offered and the case was featured in a special television programme.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0845 458 0000. Alternatively, information can also be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.
Students see the horrors
of the “Final Solution”
STUDENTS from Warrington took an emotionally charged trip to Poland where they experienced at first hand the true cost of mass genocide carried out by the Nazis during World War II.
Religious Studies and Sociology students from Priestley College saw evidence of how the country was invaded and conquered in 1939. Poland became integral to the Nazis “Final Solution” – the term used to describe Hitler’s plan to exterminate the Jewish population.
The group travelled from Liverpool to Krakow and among other activities on day one they were able to visit the pre-war Jewish area and the ghetto at Kazimierz. This area later became well known for the work of Oscar Schindler, who ran a factory in the town and employed Jews, saving them from the concentration camps.
On their final day in Poland the students took part in a trip to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps, which they said brought home the true cost of the Holocaust. It was at these camps that European Jews were executed on a huge scale.
During the trip the RE students benefited from studying aspects of Judaism while the Sociologists were able to look at topics such as social control, gender and power roles.
Sociology tutor Claire Ward said: “Some of the students were deeply emotionally moved by the visit. It was a very upsetting experience for some of us, and made us appreciate how much we take for granted and how lucky we are.
“During the tours the sense of the crimes committed against ordinary people was brought home to us on a personal level. We saw one room which was full of household implements taken into camp by people thinking they would be starting a brand new life, little knowing of the horror awaiting them.”
Trainee chefs face
up to 30 VIP diners
by Lesley Wilkinson
STUDENT chefs from Warrington faced a big challenge when they had to come u
p with the concept of a new restaurant and serve 30 VIP lunchtime diners.
The catering students from Warrington Collegiate are taking part in a national contest to find the country’s budding chefs and restaurateurs.
Head of hospitality and catering at the collegiate, Lesley Wilson, said: “It was a huge challenge. There were no tutors to step in, the students literally had to work on their own preparing and serving the meals.”
To reach the semi-finals they had already created a restaurant concept, called Platform Seven, located next to Warrington Bank Quay Station and serving meals inspired by the towns visited on the rail link between Scotland and Warrington.
The lunchtime service was the latest test in a series of trials facing the students. Civic and business leaders were invited and had to score the students on their performance.
A professional judging panel, organised by contest sponsors Nestle, will decide whether the students will reach the national finals in April where winners will cook for 100 guests including celebrity chef James Martin.
Martin Webster, events manager at Nestle, said: “This is Warrington’s first attempt at this title. We are delighted Warrington is a part of this competition as this proves it is not just the big college names competing. The students have reflected enthusiasm in their entry and it is good to see the railway theme coming through in their menu.
“If they are a success they will no doubt be looking to open up restaurants all along the West Coast mainline.”
Pictured: (left to right) Collegiate catering students Chris Cullen, Christian Bradley, Sandra Pyrah, Ian Ellison, Andrew Cooper, Paul Corbett.
MP backs nurses
over pay award
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has called on the government to pay nurses and other public sector workers the full 2.5 per cent pay rise recommended by the pay review body rather than stagger the award as they currently plan to do.
She said: ?Nurses are an integral part of our NHS and, along with other public sector workers, I believe merit the full pay increase recommended by their pay review bodies at the start of the financial year.
?The current plan to stagger the pay award means they will not get the recommended award I think they are entitled to. I hope the government will rethink its decision.?
MEP speaks up
for the Gurkhas
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON-based Euro MP Brian Simpson has praised the Gurkhas ? and welcomed the Government?s decision to pay them the same pensions as other soldiers in the British Army.
Mr Simpson, as supporter of the Gurkha Welfare Trust which looks after ex-Gurkha soldiers in their native Nepal, said the decision was good news and long overdue.
He said: “Our soldiers, in my mind, are the best in the world and none more so than our Gurkha regiment. They have served with great distinction over many years and yet on retirement, they have been given a pension of one-fifth of that received by other soldiers.
?That has now been put right – and about time too.”
Now the MEP wants the Government to address the problem of existing pensioners who served in the Second World and Korean Wars who are now back in their villages in Nepal.
“There are still many veterans and the families of veterans who live off a meagre pension in what is the tough environment of the Himalayan foothills. While congratulating the Government on its pension decision, we have to be careful we do not create a two-tier system back in Nepal.
?To avoid that I would like the Government to increase existing pensions also.?
Anyone who would like to help the Gurkha Welfare Trust can contact at them at PO Box 18215, 2nd Floor, 1 Old Street, London ED1V 9XB or www.gwt.org.uk
Mr Simpson added: “This is a wonderful charity, working hard in Nepal to help these loyal people who have served the British Army for nearly 200 years and won no less than 12 Victoria Crosses. They deserve our support.”
[ 16.03.2007, 10:54: Message edited by: DS ]
