Riverside tower blocks
given the go-ahead
by David Skentelbery
DEVELOPERS have won a lengthy battle for the right to build controversial tower block apartments along the Mersey waterfront at Howley, Warrington.
The borough?s development control committee has approved detailed proposals for 76 one and two-bedroom apartments in two buildings, varying from three to seven storeys.
Howley Residents Association, local councillors Yvonne Fovargue and Paul Kenny and a number of individual residents lodged objections to the scheme on the grounds they would dominate the local skyline, dwarfing the spire of St Elphin’s Parish Church.
But although a previous application for 97 apartments on the same site at Navigation Street had been thrown out, councillors decided the scaled-down plan could go ahead.
They were told an appeal against the earlier scheme had also been rejected ? but that the inspector who had heard the appeal believed buildings of up to 10-storeys high would be acceptable.
The scheme will to open up the river front for public access with a riverside walkway and cycleway with appropriate landscaping.
Five units of affordable housing are included in the scheme ? but the developer will make a financial contribution of ?390,440 for this to be provided elsewhere.
Planning officers said curved, glazed balconies would be an attractive feature. There would be a barrelled roof – unusual for a residential building – but would not be unduly dominant.
Coun Fovargue and Coun Kenny said the buildings would have an overbearing impact and would be harmful to residential amenity and the quality of life for nearby residents. They also believed there would be a harmful impact on the spire of St Elphin?s Parish Church.
Howley Residents Association argued that the scheme would not genuinely help regenerate the area.
After the meeting, Coun Fovargue said: “I am very disappointed with this decision, but we will not let this hamper our determination to campaign for traditional low rise development in this area.
“We have worked hard to ensure that 17 storey blocks which were first talked about in the Howley area no longer figure in developers plans but even a seven storey building will, in our view, be too imposing.
“The council has let down local residents. They have been happy to see developers submit plans on a case by case basis which has led to wave after wave of applications of this type. In the absence of a design brief, which should have been the starting point, residents will now face a tower block for decades to come.
“We have consistently requested a more imaginative approach, shunning tall buildings, but the developers has equally consistently ignored this in their wish to make an architectural statement – and, of course, maximise their profit.”
Making sure fire crews
don’t sleep on the job
by John Hendon
CONTROVERSIAL new reclining chairs are to replace beds at Warrington?s fire stations ? to make sure firefighters on night watches don?t go to sleep on the job.
The ?400 chairs are said to allow fire crews to rest during the night ? but improve turn-out times.
In Greater Manchester, where the chairs are already in use, they have caused considerable controversy.
Three firemen recently faced disciplinary action for allegedly sleeping on the floor instead of the new reclining chairs and the Fire Brigades? Union has described the situation as ?bureaucracy gone barmy.”
Traditionally, beds have been provided for firefighters working nights. But Cheshire is following Manchester by switching to the chairs.
A spokesman said: ?It has been shown that we can speed up night turn outs if fire crews use these chairs instead of beds.
?They are intended for rest rather than speed. Fire crews work a 15-hour night shift but have a ?restful watch? during that period. The chairs are being introduced following consultation and liaison with the Fire Brigades Union.?
Locally, it is understood firefighters are not happy with the chairs. They are to be introduced at Warrington and Birchwood ? but not at Stockton Heath which is not a 24-hour fire station.
World famous “Holy
Fool” to visit Lymm
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM village near Warrington is expecting a lot of clowning around at 10.00am on Sunday, July 1 during Lymm Festival week when Roly Bain, full-time, professional clown and Anglican priest will be paying a visit to St Mary’s Parish Church.
Roly’s gentle anarchy turns the church and the world upside down – so anything could happen! Roly’s clowning is rooted in the Gospel, and he combines humour, circus, pathos, slapstick and storytelling to amuse challenge, move and teach. He has clowned all over the world, adding slapstick to services to bring joy and delight to children of all ages.
Ordained a priest in 1978, he helped found Holy Fools, “a loose-knit network of loose nits” committed to clowning in ministry. He has appeared regularly on TV and radio and will be clowning in Australia in August.
The congregation at St Mary’s would love visitors to join them for Roly’s visit – the service begins at 10.00am. Heaven knows what could happen!
Anyone who would like to find out more about Roly Bain, can see his website www.rolybain.co.uk
Roly is supported by the Faith and Foolishness Trust.
Missing machinery found
on derelict factory site
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE first piece of historic machinery to ?disappear? from Stockton Heath?s Forge shopping centre has been found ? on a derelict site in Trafford Park.
It was removed prior to the start of the major refurbishment scheme on the shopping centre ? and local people understood it was to be kept in safe storage and eventually returned by Peel Holdings.
But the company never revealed where the machinery was being stored ? and when the remainder of the machinery which formed the centre piece of the shopping centre was also removed, residents feared it had gone forever.
Local people managed to track down some of the machinery to a scrapyard and it has been recovered. But the whereabouts of the first piece remained a mystery.
Now it has been found on a derelict factory site in Barton Dock Road, Trafford Park.
Patrick Mullee, a member of the Stockton Heath Alternative Residents? Council, produced photographs of the machine ? half buried in rubble ? at a meeting of the Parish Council.
The Parish Council agreed to write to Peel Holdings to establish what was going to happen to the machine.
Witnesses sought
after street attack
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked in Bridge Street, Warrington, in the early hours of the morning.
The 20-year-old was near the Best Kebab Shop, next door to McCauley?s bar, when he was punched in the face, suffering an injury to his jaw which required hospital treatment.
A man was arrested shortly afterwards and was later released on bail. But police are anxious to speak to additional witnesses.
The attack took place at about 2.30am on Wednesday (June 13). Anyone who can help should call DC Carla Hunter on 01244 614890.
News in brief
Walking Day
GRAPPENHALL Walking Day takes place on Saturday, June 23 when members of St Wilfrid’s Parish Church and Grappenhall Independent Methodist Church join forces for a procession through the village, following a united service at St Wilfrid’s at 1.45pm.
Church plan
PLANS have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council for the conversion of the Emanuel Church, in Bold Street, Warrington, into offices. The Development would involve refurbishment of the building and construction of a mezzanine floor.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 12,
13 and 16. One winner claimed the ?585 jackpot and a ?20 consolation prize was also awarded.
Pavement cafe?
A FLOODLIT outside seating area, catering for up to 80 people, could be introduced on the pavement adjoining the White Hart pub in Sankey Street, if planners approve a new application.
