Estate agent fined ?1,000
for giving false information
by court reporter
AN estate agent has been fined a total of ?1,000 after being taken to court by Warrington Borough Council.
Fast Move Properties, of Cairo Street, Warrington, were also ordered to pay costs of ?250 at the hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court.
Company director James Chadwick pleaded guilty, on behalf of the company, to providing the council?s Property Renewal Service with false information and failing to complete and return a notice requiring disclosure of information within 14 days of the day it was issued.
The court was told the council investigated a complaint made by tenants living in a privately rented property in Penketh in October 2006 which was managed by Fast Move Properties.
An officer from the council?s Urban Renewal Service, inspected the property following the complaint and found that it was in a state of disrepair.
During the investigation in order to determine ownership of the property, Fast Move Properties provided the council with false information.
After contacting HM Land Registry, the council established that the property had been owned by James Chadwick since April 2006. A second notice was then served on Fast Move Properties, which was never completed or returned to the council. The Council then decided to prosecute.
After the hearing, Tommy Wallace, the council?s head of Housing Protection and Community said: ?There are clear messages from this case. Tenants? rights are important and will be enforced. There are standards and regulations that private landlords must meet and they need to be aware of these and comply with them. In this instance, the council was hindered in its efforts to enforce those standards.
?The council will not hesitate to take necessary action against agents or landlords that do not provide information when lawfully required to do so. Tenants or landlords who require advice about rights and responsibilities in relation to housing standards should contact the Urban Renewal Service on 01925 442448.?
Hearing is believing
for blind rugby fans
by Gary Skentelbery
VISUALLY impaired and blind rugby fans can now enjoy all the action at the Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium, thanks to a new “Vocal Eyes” project, which provides full match commentary.
The new system has been successfully trialed by Warrington Disability Partnership volunteer Tommy Somerset, who is also an executive member of the Warrington and Widnes Blind Society.
Thanks to new technology Tommy can now listen to home games with a real-time commentary, provided by the club’s video commentary team, through a head-set.
The wireless set up allows visually impaired fans to enjoy the atmosphere anywhere in the stadium.
Thanks to funding from WDP, The Blind Society, Warrington Wolves, Warrington Borough Council, and a number of individual donations, including one from the club’s deputy chairman Steven Broomhead, three head sets have been acquired at a total cost of ?2,500.
Commenting on the new system Tommy said: “Its great to be able to hear what’s going on but it is not quite as good as Eddie Waring was!”
WDP chairman Dave Thompson, who also tested out one of the head sets from the top of the Martin Dawes Stand, said: “Three systems are now available for all home games and we are looking for more sponsors so we can get more kits.
“We would like to say a big thank you to the stadium manager Bernie Lenihan, who assisted us in setting up the system and ensuring it worked properly,” added Dave.
The kit can be booked by contacting WDP on 01925 240064 and is free to use. There are also special concessions for disabled people attending matches, which allows a carer to go free.
Wolfie serves up
a hog roast!
by Lesley Wilkinson
BUSINESS tenants and visitors at the Genesis Centre, Birchwood, were treated to a hog roast at a Warrington Wolves themed fun day.
Guests were entertained in the reception area away from the rain, with giant games such as Jenga and Connect 4, and the chance to have their picture drawn by local artist Tony Bridge.
Outside, under the gazebos, tenants rolled coins to win bottle of champagne whilst queuing for their hog lunch and cakes.
A raffle in aid of St Rocco’s Hospice was drawn by prop forward Paul Rauhihi and Wolfie, and prizes included Wolves goods and vouchers for local stores and a cinema.
Bernie Spears, from the Genesis Centre, said: “Here at the Genesis Centre we are proud of the community spirit which exists and it is no surprise that although the rain didn’t stop all day the fun day was a success and we raised almost ?500 for St Rocco’s hospice.
“We wanted to do something to reward the loyalty of our tenants and as sponsors of Paul Rauhihi, we decided on a Warrington Wolves themed fun day. It was great that two of his fellow team mates, Henry Fa’afili and Vinnie Anderson, were able to join us along with, of course, Wolfie.”
Newts, bats, trees and
footpath block plan
by David Skentelbery
PLANNING bosses have thrown out proposals for a dormer bungalow in the grounds of an existing house at Appleton because it would involve providing access from an unsurfaced, country public footpath.
Members of Warrington’s development control committee were unhappy about increased use of the path – Old Pewterspear Lane – by vehicles.
The scheme involved land at the rear of Brook House and Linton House, in Cann Lane South, Appleton.
A plan to build a dormer bungalow on the site has already been approved and the only difference between the two schemes is that the approved proposal would provide access from Cann Lane South.
The committee was told the site was close to two ponds – one an ideal habitat for protected Great Crested Newts – and trees which provided a home for a colony of bats.
Appleton Parish Council opposed the scheme and there were objections also from a neighbour.
The committee was told Old Pewterspear Lane was narrow and unsurfaced and formed part of a public footpath.
Highways chiefs had no objection to the scheme, subject to improvements to the old lane, restricted access to construction traffic and provision of pedestrian visibility splays.
But ecologists warned that if the lane was surfaced it could have a damaging impact on the newts and on protected bats in nearby trees. A large mature oak on the site also needed protection.
The parish council objection was designed to protect the footpath and avoid setting a precedent for other similar footpaths.
Planning officers said there was no opposition from the highway authority and other properties already had access from Old Pewterspear Lane.
The site was not in the Green Belt nor a conservation area and the principle of a dwelling on the land was already established. The concerns raised by the parish council were insufficient to justify refusal.
The committee voted to refuse permission. Chairman Coun Les Hoyle said there were concerns for the safety of pedestrians if vehicles were allowed to use what was really a nice, country footpath.
Police clamp down on
town’s biggest worry
by Lesley Wilkinson
CRIMINAL damage is the policing issue that most worries people in Warrington, according to Cheshire Police.
But new figures reveal that local police are the best in Britain when it comes to dealing with the problem.
Last year people were invited to have their say on delivery of policing services. Criminal damage was the main concern raised with officers at Community Action Meetings in the Warrington area.
Figures show Cheshire Police is the best performing force in the country, achieving a reduction in the number of reports of criminal damage by 10 per cent, against a backdrop of rising levels nationally.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “We introduced neighbourhood policing becau
se that’s what local people wanted. We said we would talk to communities and let them contribute to local service delivery. Over the last year we have listened and responded to their concerns, with local officers setting criminal damage as high priority.”
He said Home Office statistics demonstrate that neighbourhood policing in Cheshire is working and that fewer households in the county fell victim to criminal damage.
ACC Shewan said: “Key to our success is the work we have done with other agencies. The crackdown on criminal damage concentrated the efforts of a variety of different agencies.
“We combined expertise and resources at a local level to tackle an issue that really affects peoples’ quality of life. Without the work of the housing associations, local authorities, community groups and other agencies this reduction in criminal damage could not have been achieved.”
“More investment need
in regional railway” – MEP
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CALL for more investment in the North West’s railways has been made by Warrington-based Euro MP Brian Simpson.
Mr Simpson, who is Labour transport spokesman in Europe, is to meet Railway Minister Tom Harris to push for more investment.
The MEP said: “I believe we need to get the message across to Government that investment in the railways of our region is essential if we are to improve reliability, ease overcrowding and replace old rolling stock.
“We are at a critical stage, where our railways are at bursting point at peak times and people’s satisfaction levels are beginning to dip.”
Research shows that people are dissatisfied with overcrowding, high fares, poor stations and lack of adequate parking at stations.
Mr Simpson said: “Here in the North West, we are burdened with what is the graveyard for punctuality, namely the approaches to Manchester Piccadilly, yet we seem to have difficulty in persuading Network Rail that we need a radical solution to the problem, not just tinkering here and there.”
He also plans to inform the minister of other issues including the need to electrify the Liverpool to Manchester line and to stop overcrowding on services.
