Model wins
student title
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON model Holly Ikin is celebrating winning another title after being crowned Miss Student 2007.
Holly, who has featured as a Warrington-Worldwide covergirl, collected a ?10,000 prize and a holiday for two after winning the competition held at the Birdcage Club in Manchester.
Holly from Culcheth near Warrington, who was crowned Miss Warrington earlier this year, also helped launch the search for a model campaign to promote the opening of the new mutli-million pound Golden Square shopping centre development says she is “on cloud nine” after winning the event.
She was one of 25 girls who won through to the final and made the last 12 following a text vote.
Her other titles include current Miss Hawaiian Tropic GB winner after coming out on top in the competition held in Antigua last year and also Miss England Earth after representing England in the “Miss Earth” competition in the Philippines – the third largest contest in the world behind “Miss World” and “Miss Universe”.
She is currently studying English at the University of Manchester and intends to carry on with her studies leading, hopefully, to a degree.
Holly almost quit her modelling career earlier in the year to concentrate on her studies and is now glad she had a change of heart!
Walk-out councillors
explain their action
by Lesley Wilkinson
LABOUR councillors who walked-out of a meeting of Warrington Borough Council leaving Lib Dem and Conservative members to approve a resolution which will eventually formalise the introduction of a new logo, have explained their action.
They claim the council may have acted unlawfully in making the decision to replace the traditional coat-of-arms with a logo.
Labour leader Coun Terry O?Neill (pictured, left) said his motion requesting a formal audit of the decision making process was defeated without any debate or challenge from the ruling parties.
He said: “We are very unhappy that the ruling groups have chosen to shy away from debate on this issue of huge significance to the town.
“Despite our best efforts, the payroll vote of Lib Dems and Tories has steamrollered through a change without consultation, without a formal decision of the council and in our view they have acted unlawfully.”
He said it was a major issue as more than 150 years of civic history was being “consigned to the dustbin.” Labour’s Coun John Morris, who is a solicitor, said: “It is our view that the council has acted unlawfully. The council was unable to provide specific references from its own rule book which gave them the authority to make the decision they have arrived at.
“They chose, in our view, to circumvent procedure and ignore legitimate concerns about the way in which they had arrived at this decision.”
In the absence of the opposition, Lib Dem and Tory councillors voted unanimously in support of a resolution that further work on the roll-out of the logo be suspended pending consideration by the executive board, which would be requested to ask officers to carry out the planned implementation of the new logo.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of the council, said: ?There has never been any intention to do away with the coat-of-arms. It will still be used for civic and ceremonial purposes.
?Many councils have introduced new logos and brands to unify the services they provide. That is exactly what we want to do.
?We want to portray this council as forward looking, ambitious and businesslike with the needs of the citizens being the driving force of everything we do.
?The current situation is a mess. Sometimes we use the crest and coat-of-arms on its own, sometimes we use an earlier version with a box around it. Sometimes we don?t use it at all.
?The colour schemes are also varied. The new design captures the traditions of the town by using the image of the goddess Nike, which is on our Golden Gates. Nike is the goddess of victory and we want this town to be a winner.?
Witnesses sought
after street fracas
by staff reporter
POLICE have appealed for witnesses of a street fracas in Warrington about six weeks ago.
The reason the incident has only just been reported is that police hoped CCTV pictures would have provided vital evidence. But, in fact, the footage has proved inconclusive.
However the CCTV does reveal that large numbers of people were around at the time of the incident outside McCauley’s bar in Bridge Street at about 3.10pm on March 18.
Three men were involved in a dispute outside the bar and one, aged 23, was knocked unconscious and left bleeding heavily from the mouth.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call DC Victoria Tate on 01244 613837.
Security stepped up
at giant truckstop
by David Skentelbery
SECURITY is being stepped up at a giant motorway truckstop near Warrington in a bid to reduce crime.
Police are co-operating with management and staff at the Poplars 2000 truckstop at Lymm to make the facility safer for motorists.
New security measures include an Advanced Number Plate Reading system (ANPR) which not only reads number plates but provides clear images of the vehicle and its occupants.
The CCTV system is also undergoing a major review to improve picture quality.
Signs are being erected to inform visitors of the increased police activity and the site owner?s measures to focus on crime reduction and detection.
The improvements are intended to make parking on the site more secure, deter most criminals and detect those who are still intent on committing crime.
Thousands of lorries and cars use the truckstop every day and in recent times there have been a number of thefts from HGVs and damage to curtain sided vehicles where thieves have slashed the curtains to see what loads they are carrying.
Inspector Stuart Woodcock, of Warrington Police, said: “I am really pleased with the improvements being made to security on the site. This is another example in the area, which demonstrates police and businesses working together to reduce crime and detect offenders.
“Our aim is simple and that is to make the area an improved safer site for vehicles to be left unattended at all times of day and night.
“This partnership will continue and become even stronger as additional methods are introduced over the coming months.”
Site manager John Wilkie said: “It is good to have such great support from the local police. We are keen to address any criminal activity and the improved pieces of equipment will help to reduce crime and give the police the ability to clearly identify suspects.
“The equipment, combined with our security guards on site, will improve the stay for all legitimate users. We shall continue to offer some of the finest facilities available to our customers.”
Some of the first trucks to benefit from the improved security were vintage vehicles attending a rally showing how transport has changed over the years.
Lymm minis tour
to Middle East
by Gary Skentelbery
FOLLOWING Lymm Rugby Club?s former player David Strettle winning his first caps for England, the Club has given its young players some early international experience with a tour to Bahrain in the Middle East.
An invitation to play in the Bahrain International Mini Rugby Tournament, has resulted in 163 members, including parents and 65 players from the Club?s Under 7?s to the Under 10?s heading out for the 5 day trip.
Other teams competing will be clubs and schools from the Gulf region, principally comprising ex-patriate children but Lymm is the only club from the UK taking part.
The tournament will take place over two days with games played in late afternoon and early evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
This is Lymm RFC’s first Intercontinental tour in its 47 year history and the response by the Mini section of the Club has been overwhe
lming, according to Simon Plumb, from Lymm RFC.
?The idea of taking our kids out to play rugby against teams from other countries is seen by club members as an opportunity that is too good to miss,? commented Simon.
?Lymm has had a great rugby year. Lymm High School became U15?s Schools Champions, winning at Twickenham, and the Club?s First Team is in the Divisional promotion play-off. As a club it really feels we are going places, in more ways than one.?
Residents to fight on
in battle to save school
by staff reporter
RESIDENTS fighting to save Stockton Heath Primary School from demolition have fired an eve-of-election salvo at Warrington Borough Council.
Sharcs ? the Stockton Heath Alternative Residents? Council ? say they are to ask the Government to intervene and order a full inquiry into the processes which led to the borough?s development control committee granting planning consent for the demolition of the century old school to make way for a new building.
Spokeswoman Julie Kueres said: ?The fight is not over yet.?
Local resident Patrick Mullee, a member of Sharcs and a former parish councillor at Stockton Heath is standing as an independent in tomorrow?s elections.
He said: ?The fight will go on. The vast majority of people in Stockton Heath have been against demolition since the beginning. Councillors are elected to work for the people who elect them and should do so.?
Julie Kueres said a barrister funded by Stockton Heath business people and residents had advised that a legal challenge was possible. But to prove the case by judicial review would cost more than ?30,000 and although offers had been made of further funding, SHARCS felt it would be unfair to expect them to donate more.
She accused the borough council of acting unethically by overturning an earlier decision of the development control committee to refuse consent.
The development control committee and the schools organisation committee had made decision based on misleading information, she claimed.
?Stockton Heath has no need for a new school. There are already about 2,000 surplus primary school places in Warrington, over 800 of which are in South Warrington. These surplus places cost the public a great deal of money each year. There can be no logical reason for creating additional places unless there are plans for massive housing developments or plans for some primary schools to close.
?So what is the real agenda? Why haven?t we been told? It is about time the people supposed to represent us acted openly and honestly. We are thoroughly disillusioned with our local and town councillors.?
Teenage girl robbed
by woman in street
by David Skentelbery
A TEENAGE girl was threatened and robbed by a woman as she walked along the road at Warrington with two friends.
The incident was in Church Street, close to the Sainsbury store at about 8.30pm on April 13.
Three girls, aged 14 and 15 were walking along Church Street when they were approached by a woman aged about 20.
She asked if any of the girls could lend her some money – and one of the girls offered a ?1 coin.
The woman then threatened her and demanded more money – forcing her to hand over about ?15.
Police say the street was crowded with shoppers at the time and someone must have seen what was happening. They are asking witnesses to contact DC Tracy Shaw on 0845 458 0000.
The offender was aged about 20 with long, dark brown hair. She was about 5ft 3 inches tall and wore a white skirt.
Police warning on
doorstep thieves
by John Hendon
POLICE have issued a warning about heartless doorstep thieves preying on elderly people at Warrington.
Two incidents were reported in the town yesterday (Tuesday) both apparently involving the same offender and only a few minutes apart.
An elderly resident of Cabul Close, Orford answered a knock at the door and was greeted by a man of ethnic minority appearance who said he had called to check the gas and water. He was allowed into the house but was never left alone and eventually left empty handed.
A few minutes later a man aged 20-30 of similar description called at a property in Allen Street and said he had called to ?check the pressure.?
The resident refused him admission and shut the door before ringing the authorities.
Police say the man was seen to join another man, of similar age. The pair walked off in the direction of Froghall Lane.
A police spokesman said: ?We believe these were attempts to burgle houses while distracting the occupant and we warn residents, particularly the elderly, to be on their guard.
?If you admit anyone to your house ask to see the caller?s identity and, if in any doubt, check with the company. Alternatively, call the police.?
