NEWS FLASH
Armed gang raid jeweller
FOUR men armed with sledgehammers got away with jewellery from the shop of A Baker and Sons in Walton Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington. Police are searching for a silver Skoda Octavia used as a getaway car.
16,000 extra jobs needed
to meet Government target
by David Skentelbery
AN extra 16,000 jobs have to be found across Warrington and Cheshire to meet Government targets on employment.
The area already has a relatively high employment rate, at 77 per cent.
But the Government target is 80 per cent of the working age population – which equates to 16,000 more people in work.
The figures are revealed in a report by the Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA) Irrespective of the target however, Cheshire and Warrington’s economy is growing faster than the North West average and additional workers are essential to meet the increasing demands of businesses to ensure the ongoing prosperity of the area.
Warrington, with the glittering jobs prospect offered by the Omega project, is seen as a likely major contributor of new employment.
A study produced by economic development consultants Regeneris makes recommendations for actions in meeting the targets having identified “unemployed groups” – those without work but actively looking for work – and “economically inactive” groups – those without work and not actively looking.
David Horstead, director of strategy and intelligence at CWEA said: “Cheshire and Warrington’s existing employment rate is relatively high at 77 per cent, but there are still areas we need to work on.
“Pockets of unemployment across the sub region, an 18,000 shortfall in the target number of workers over 50 and higher than average Incapacity Benefit Claimants. This report makes recommendations on how all the main agencies and local authorities can work together to tackle these issues.
” Jobcentre Plus district manager Mark Wilson said: “Through partnership working Cheshire and Warrington has made excellent progress towards achieving the Government’s targets of 80 per cent employment and eradicating child poverty.
“This report will now enable us to focus on those areas where we need to concentrate our efforts and indicates the support programmes that provide the best opportunities for priority customers to progress into sustainable employment.”
Can town produce
another tourism victory?
by staff reporter
CAN Warrington produce another winner for this year’s Cheshire Awards for Tourism Skills?
There are high hopes that top achievers from Warrington’s tourism economy will be among the top awards when they’re announced by the judges at a high-profile ?swinging sixties? party at Tatton Park in November.
Nomination forms are out and the borough’s visitor attractions, accommodation providers, educational establishments and other tourism-related businesses are being urged to put forward their most enterprising employees and top performing teams.
Last year, the Warrington area scooped four awards. The borough council won the Tourism for All Award for the new Warrington Visitor Centre and Bus Interchange off Winwick Road.
Hollies Farm Shop at Stretton was named the Best Supporter of Regional Food and Drink, Corks Out, was voted best retail business for its branches in Warrington and Chester and Arley Hall and Gardens took the prize for the best tourism website.
Organised by local tourism board, Visit Chester & Cheshire (VCC) and now in their seventh year, CATS includes 12 awards categories. Accolades include Excellence in Customer Service; Unsung Hero; Most Outstanding Young Tourism Manager; Most Up and Coming Cheshire Chef; Most Valuable Volunteer; Most Promising Tourism Student; Award for Commitment to Industry Most Impressive Tourism Trainee, Tourism Team of the Year and Best Practice in Tourism Training.
The presentation will take place during a pre-Christmas extravaganza to be hosted by VCC in the 1,400-seat Grand Marquee at Tatton Park on November 22, with special discounts on ticket prices for VCC members.
VCC head of business development Emma Clarke commented: “CATS 2007 is the ideal opportunity for the area’s many tourism operators to reward talented, committed and enthusiastic young people already working in the industry.
“The awards also help set the top standards and attract the best individuals needed to keep pace with the continuing growth of our visitor economy.”
This year’s awards are being sponsored by Search Consultancy.
Details and application forms are available from Emma Clarke. Tel: 01244 405612, or download from www.visitchesterandcheshire.co.uk
Woman attacked and
robbed near park
by John Hendon
A YOUNG woman was attacked and robbed from behind as she walked towards a park at Warrington.
Two men attacked the 22-year-old in Wilkinson Avenue, near Orford Park.
She was pushed to the ground and suffered minor injuries. Her purse, containing a quantity of cash, was stolen by the men who then ran off.
The woman suffered minor injuries but was left badly shaken.
Police say one of the men was in his late 20s, with a grey, gaunt face with stubble. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers. The second man was also wearing a black track suit with a black baseball cap and black trainers.
The attack took place at about 5.30pm on Sunday, July 29.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information about it is asked to contact DC Emily Cole on 0845 458 0000.
School sports hall
to become offices
by David Skentelbery
PLANS to convert a disused school sports hall into offices have been given the go-ahead by Warrington planners ? despite objections from nearby residents.
Meadowside Primary School ? the former Long Lane Junior School ? in Clough Avenue, Longford will carry on as usual.
But the disused sports hall will be used to provide a health visitor services operated jointly by the borough council?s Children?s Services Department and Warrington Primary Care Trust.
Worried neighbours argued that additional parking needed for the development would being closer to houses on Clough Avenue and Fisher Avenue than existing provision, leading to an increased security risk.
Planning officers conceded that cars parked close to rear boundaries could give the potential for ?ready escapes? by offenders.
But they pointed out that access for cars from the site to the road network would be physically barred out of hours. They claimed proposal would not pose a seriously increased security risk.
The offices will be open between 9am and 5.30pm, but the service will be a low key operation.
Landscaping will be carried out and trees retained on the site, the borough council?s development control committee was told.
WI member threw
coffee at speaker
by Lesley Wilkinson
MEMBERS of Lymm?s Heatley Women?s Institute were stunned when they were invited to throw a cup of coffee over a guest speaker.
They were visiting the Daresbury Laboratory, near Warrington where after refreshments they were given a talk on Nano-technology – the technology of the future.
The lecturer demonstrated this by inviting a WI member to throw a cup of coffee over him. Everyone gasped with surprise when the liquid slid onto the floor and left his suit stain free.
Members were also impressed with the idea that windows that never need cleaning, could be a thing of the future.
Hedge cutting was
“sheer carnage”
by John Hendon
MEMBERS of Lymm Parish Council have condemned the cutting of a high hedge in the village centre as ?carnage.?
Workmen arrived early one Saturday morning and cut back the hedge at the corner of Pepper Street and Rectory Lane ? reducing its height by more t
han half.
Although the men cleared up some of the cuttings, many were left in the street and had to be negotiated by shoppers and traffic on a busy Saturday morning.
The matter was discussed at a meeting of Lymm Parish Council but, members were told, there was nothing they could do about it.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: ?An appalling mess was left behind. It was sheer carnage ? a health and safety hazard and a desecration of the Lymm Conservation Area.
?It affects everyone in Lymm ? residents and visitors.?
The site at the corner of Pepper Street has been at the centre of a controversy over plans to demolish it and replace it with a block consisting of shops and flats.
