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Local charity receives
national award
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM based charity Steps has won a major national award - the 2005 Patient Information Award commended from the BMA
(British Medical Association) for its leaflet on Baby Hip Health.
The award coincided with the celebrations of the charity's 25 anniversary year in which it has helped over 20,000 UK
families.
Sue Banton from Cheshire set up the charity when her son was born with Club Foot in 1980 - now she reveals her plans
for the next 25 years.
It all began when Sue gave birth to her Son Daniel. She said: "My son was born with Club Foot, and even though this
is one of the more common physical birth defects, there was a huge lack of both support and information.
I set up the charity steps to help other families and children like myself and my son."
Steps was awarded the BMA Patient Information Award for its leaflet on Baby Hip Health. Sue added: "Being given
the right information at the right time is so important to parents of children with lower limb conditions.
Our goal is to help and support them to make an informed decision about their child's future."
In 2005, the charity staff offered support and information by answering more than 1000 enquiries. Over the year,
its website has had 165,000 visits and the chat-forum membership number has tripled.
-Steps campaigns for children with lower limb conditions such as Club Foot and 'Baby hip problems'. When set
up in 1980, it provided support and information to both families and children suffering of these conditions.
Today it has grown with its members and helps thousands of children, families and young adults every year.
Sue added: "We found, as our children grew up, that there was a huge gap in knowledge and provision of care regarding
young adults.
"Our vision for the next 25 years is to expand our work with young people and develop support groups around the world.
Our work has only just begun."
Park becomes new
village green
by David Skentelbery
LYMM has a new "village green" - the Ridgway Grundy Memorial Park.
Designation of the park as a village green means it is legally protected from any development.
Land that has been used for "lawful sports and pastimes" for at least 20 years can be registered as a village green
under the Commons Registration Act 1965. This means that it can only be used for recreation.
Kieran Walshe, of the Ridgway Grundy Memorial Park Association, said: "We applied to register the park because,
although the land is owned by Warrington Borough Council and you might expect them to look after the park,
we felt it needed the statutory legal protection it gets when it's a registered village green.
"Now that the park is registered, we plan to work with both the borough council and Lymm Parish Council on some
improvements. The future status of the park is assured - but it desperately needs investment to make it a park
that we can all be proud of."
Several years ago, Lymm's May Queen Field, off Pepper Street, was designated a village green after a campaign by
the parish council and local residents worried that it might be used for housing development.
There is more information about the Association and how to join it on its website at
http://rgmpa.bravehost.com, or
by calling Kieran Walshe on 01925 759687.
Ex Police chief opens
new look day centre
by Lesley Wilkinson
USERS of Cotebrook House Active Day Centre, Lymm, celebrated a new look to their premises when it was re-opened by former
Greater Manchester Police deputy chief constable John Stalker.
Inmates from Appleton Thorn Young Offenders Institution redecorated the premises, and new carpets were laid.
Guests and regular users were invited to the opening ceremony with a celebration buffet and drinks.
Suzanne Margerison, craft instructor, said: "It looks beautiful and everyone who uses the centre is really pleased
with it."
The centre provides a host of activities for physically disabled people from the adjacent house and the community
including crafts, courses in conjunction with Warrington Collegiate, entertainment and meetings.
Volunteers from the community and pupils from Lymm High School help organise events.
International award
for high school
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE Department for Education and Skills presented an International School Award to Lymm High School for outstanding
development of the international dimension in the curriculum.
Foreground left, Abbey Horn with the certificate and Deborah Clayton with the Award with head teacher Roger Loundes
and B tech year 13 sports students.
Looking for
gorgeous gardens
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM Open Gardens intend to repeat their highly successful Open Garden Afternoon, which raised over £3,500 last year
for St Roccos and other charities.
Organisers are now looking for 12 more "gorgeous gardens" and their owners in the Lymm area who are happy to devote a
Sunday afternoon to the event during Lymm Festival.
Small or large, modern or classic, unusual or with a special feature, please contact Imogen Sawyer on 01925 752618.
Trees given protection
by David Skentelbery
BOROUGH planners have confirmed a Tree Preservation Order in respect of seven trees in the grounds of a house
in Church Road, Lymm - despite objections from the owner.
Members of the development control committee were told the site was visited after the council received a planning
application for a home extension. The council's arboricultural officer, Gordon Haslam, decided the trees were worth
preserving and an order was served on the owner.
Later the owner withdrew his application after learning it was likely to be refused because of an unacceptable loss
of trees. But he subsequently objected to two of the trees being protected on the grounds they had structural defects
and were screened by other trees.
However, Mr Haslam believed the two trees contributed to the local amenity and enhanced the Lymm Conservation Area.
The defects described did not affect their structural integrity.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt said: "This was a good decision - we don't want trees being chopped down unnecessarily in Lymm."
Students in shoebox
collection frenzy
by Lesley Wilkinson
STUDENTS at Lymm High School collected over 300 shoe boxes, gifts and toys for the Rotary Christmas Shoebox scheme,
led by the students of Arley Hall.
Every pupil in Arley either brought a gift or a donation towards the transport costs to their Christmas Collection Assembly.
Simple gifts such as pens, paper, teddies and toiletries were donated and boxed and the pupils really enjoyed working together, packing and distributing the boxes.
Michael Scott, the shoebox project co-ordinator said; "It has been a privelege watching students from across the school working together on such a worthwhile project.
After seeing a video of the shoeboxes being delivered to orphanages and day centre centres in Eastern Europe, the
harshness of their lives at Christmas really hit home and we are all delighted with the response to our appeal."
The shoeboxes were transported to countries including Romania, Moldova and Albania in time for Christmas.
Students loading the van from left, Rebecca Lord aged 16, Hamish Miller aged 12 and James Forman aged 12.
Dickens of a day!
by court reporter
THOUSANDS of people flocked into Lymm village for the annual Lymm Dickensian Day which proved to be a huge success.
An estimated 5,000 people packed into the village centre to watch the festive parade which included steam traction
engines,local school children, a wide variety of vintage cars and vehicles, morris dancers, marching bands and the Rotary Club of
Lymm float.
Many thousands more visited the village during the day as local tarders turned back the clock to the days of Charles Dickens.
"Great Expectations" were certainly met as everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion.
It was a grande finale for festival organiser Peter Critchley who announced it would be his final year in charge.
Photographs from the event can be seen by cliking here
LYMM DICKENSIAN DAY PICTURE SPECIAL
Men jailed for life
for callous murder
of shy neighbour
by court reporter
TWO Lymm men have been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering their quiet, reclusive neighbour.
William Collins, 36 (left) and his step-son Gary Collins, 22, (right) of Rushgreen Road, had both denied murdering 64-year-old Alan Holt Bell.
Angela Collins, 42, wife of William and mother of Gary, was found guilty of assisting an offender and jailed for four months.
Judge John Rogers made a recommendation at Chester Crown Court that the two men should serve no less than 15 years.
The court heard Alan Holt Bell (below, right) was a shy and reclusive man, who having retired from his job as a gardener, enjoyed walking, listening to music, and watching television.
While his neighbours would recognise him by sight, he would not engage in conversation or pass the time of day. He preferred to keep to himself and would actively avoid contact with all but a very few casual acquaintances.
A single man, he regularly spoke on the telephone to his brother in Lancashire and it was is brother who called police on February 21 this year when he had not received an expected phone call.
Officers entered Mr Bell's home in Rushgreen Road and found his body, which had lain undiscovered for several weeks.
A post mortem identified he had suffered an assault resulting in a fractured thyroid bone in his throat, had a bleed to the brain, and showed evidence of hyperthermia - although it was not possible to say conclusively which had killed him.
During the trial, the jury heard William Collins and his step son, Gary, believed Mr Bell had scratched their car. They chased and attacked him in his garden, punching, kicking and stamping on him. Mr Bell was then carried into his house where the assault continued. He was left helpless and gravely injured while his attackers looked around his house.
Police believed Mr Bell lay dying for some time, possibly days, during which at least one of the two men returned to steal property from their helpless victim. It was also believed possible that Mr Bell was attacked again during the burglary before his assailants left with his television and video.
Mr Bell was left to die slowly and alone on the floor of his home in freezing temperatures. William, Gary and Angela Collins were arrested on 17 March following police enquiries.
At the end of the trial Det Chief Insp Guy Hindle said: "It is difficult to imagine what Alan Bell suffered as he lay dying for hours in the cold in his own home. His attackers left him there to die without giving him a second thought, despite seeing how gravely ill he was when they returned to steal valuables. Their actions are beyond contempt.
“Mr Bell was a quiet, inoffensive and private man whose brutal death shocked the community of Lymm, who will no doubt be re-assured to learn that those responsible have been brought to justice."
Judge Rogers commented on the prolonged and callous attack carried out on the helpless man in his own home. He also commended Det Chief Insp Hindle and his team on the thoroughness of their investigation.
Skatepark
now open!
by Gary Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL new skateboard area has now opened in Ridgway Grundy Park for skateboarders and BMX riders.
Thanks to Landfill Tax credit funding of £14,000 from the Waste Recycling Group Ltd administered by WREN and a grant
of £2000 from Warrington Borough Council Environmental Improvement Fund, Lymm Parish Council has been able to proceed
with the project and are contributing £9000 towards the cost of the equipment.
Richard Smith, Project Manager at WREN said: "WREN is delighted to be involved in this exciting project to provide a
skating facility in the Ridgway Grundy Park. We aim to spend the landfill tax money of Waste Recycling Group Ltd on
projects that offer the greatest benefit to communities. This project will not only provide a recreational resource for
the young people of Lymm it also promotes the adoption of a healthy life style through sports."
Coun Mrs SheilaWoodyatt, who has been involved with the scheme since it was first suggested by the young people of Lymm
in 2002 commented: "I am delighted this scheme has come to fruition at last. This was a project which young people
asked for, they selected the site and it will improve the existing facilities in the Park. I hope we can now look to the
future and work with local residents of all ages to ensure the Park is fully used for the benefit of all the people of
Lymm as was the intention when the Park was given to the community many years ago."
The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme gives waste management companies the opportunity to invest up to 6.8% of their Landfill
Tax bill into community projects in their immediate area.
Projects applying for grants from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd), who distribute the Landfill Tax credits of
Waste Recycling Group Ltd, are assessed by an individual panel of locally based experts in each county for their
suitability, sustainability and community benefit.
Community Groups looking to find out more about funding through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme can contact WREN on
01953717165 or visit www.wren.org.uk for more information.
Picture shows local youngsters and members of the parish council celebrating the opening of the new skateboard park.
"Auschwitz" housing
gets the go-ahead
by David Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL housing scheme – condemned by a councillor as “looking like Auschwitz” – has been given the go-ahead by a planning inspector.
Warrington Borough Council had refused consent for the 220-house development at the junction of Oughtrington Lane and Longbutt Lane, Lymm.
Hundreds of local residents had opposed the scheme – in fact some had been fighting plans for housing on the site for 30 years.
But the inspector who heard a latest in a series of public inquiries into the proposals has ruled that the development by Wilson Connolly Homes will be attractive, with its own identity and sense of place and compatible with the immediate locality and of Lymm as a whole.
Coun Mrs Sheila Woodyatt (left)– who had earlier this year described the scheme as “looking like Auschwitz” – said she was bitterly disappointed.
She said: “We will now probably get the worst of all worlds. The developer has submitted new proposals which have yet to be considered but which would probably have been accepted. They were a big improvement.
“We can hope he will now proceed with the new scheme, but he can go-ahead with the old one if he likes and that it probably what he will do.
“It will have three-storey blocks totally out of character with Lymm. It will turn a semi-rural area into an urban area.
“There are some good points about it. There will be some affordable homes which local people will be able to buy. There will be new people moving into the area, who will be welcomed. But I would like to see the developer press ahead with his most recent scheme which would have been acceptable to everyone.”
Coun Ian Marks (right) added: "I am bitterly disappointed that the inspector has taken so little notice of the concerns of local residents and councillors. He has given the green
light to the designs in the early schemes which contain the worst aspects.
“He admits it will become a dominant feature of the locality making the
area much more urban in character. I fundamentally disagree with his view
that the design of this development is acceptable. It is a massive kick in
the teeth for local residents who worked so hard to persuade the developer
to improve the design.
“What makes a mockery of the whole planning process is that we were not even
allowed to bring to the appeal the issue of highway safety. This is a huge
worry for local people because of the close proximity of the site to Lymm
High School with its 2,000 pupils."
The inspector said he had attached little weight to the arguments of the Lymm Village Design Group, who had opposed the scheme and said it was inevitable the appearance of the site would change dramatically.
He said the central feature, with a tower – the part dubbed “Auschwitz” – would be in keeping with the Victorian and Edwardian theme of the development and, seen at a distance, would add interest to the skyline.
Janice puts charity
in the picture
by Gary Skentelbery
A SPECIAL calendar has been produced by local photographer Janice Hardman using images she has taken around
the village to help raise funds for charity.
Janice, who is a member of the Lymm Artists group, has regularly exhibited in the village and surrounding areas
since 1999. She has twice been awarded The British Professional Photographer Association Digital Photographer
of the Year in 2002 and 2004.
The calendar has been sponsored by local businesses, and copies are been sold through a number of premises in
the village at the cost of £5 each, or by phoning the Genesis office on 08700 62 3000 option 4.
All the proceeds raised from the sale of the calendar will go directly to the Genesis Appeal. The charity is
unique within the UK as essentially, the Genesis Appeal is the only breast cancer charity concentrating on prevention.
The aim is to fund and build Europe's first purpose-built breast cancer prevention centre, which will provide one
of the most ambitious and comprehensive breast cancer training, research and clinical programmes in the world.
The centre will be based at Wythenshawe Hospital, and work has now started on the site with the hope that it will be
open to the public in summer 2007.
Thankfully, the cure rates for breast cancer are improving slowly and steadily, but, despite many new discoveries
and new drugs, over a third of those who develop breast cancer will not be cured. That is why breast cancer
specialists and scientists in Manchester believe that prevention and early diagnosis may hold the key to improving
prospects for the next generation.
The work has already started in temporary accommodation at Manchester's Nightingale Centre Withington, with Europe's
largest programme of research into prevention and early diagnosis strategies, including the UK's only Professor of
Cancer Prevention. It has the UK's largest experience of cancer-causing genes and volunteers working in research
projects to reduce their risk and one of the UK's largest screening programmes.
The team behind the project has ambitious plans for future research.
It will be a large £14.5 million project involving the NHS (South Manchester Primary Care Trust,
University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Christie Hospital), the University and the people of the North West.
In March 2005 the Strategic Health Authority pledged £12.5million.
The appeal has now raised £1.7million and fundraisers are hopeful that by the end of 2005/early 2006 they will
have the £2million, which they have pledged to raise.
Fund raising will continue for all areas of research and prevention, which are so important in the understanding,
and conquering of breast cancer.
The foundations for the build started in September 2005 with a turf cutting ceremony at which athlete Diane Modahl patron and fundraiser, cut the turf.
For more information visit www.genesisuk.org
Would you like to
help with Festival?
by Gary Skentelbery
ORGANISERS of next year's annual Lymm Festival are on the look out for volunteers
who would like to get involved.
The event will run from Thursday June 29 to Sunday July 10.
As well as many of the regular events, the Festival committee are developing
several new ideas, some of which are quite ambitious.
As the Festival has grown so much in recent years, the committee would like
to invite more people to become involved in an organisational capacity.
This does not mean that these volunteers would need to join the committee,
but they would be part of a team dedicated to various specific events.
For one event in particular, two or three reasonably fit people are needed with
one person acting as team co-ordinator.
The Festival already has many wonderful volunteers who act as stewards,
programme distributors, box-office staff and general helpers, and they are
highly valued and instrumental in helping the Festival run smoothly and
successfully.
If you would like to offer your services in any capacity, and
particularly as part of the special event team, please contact Festival
Director Honor Giles on 01925 758856. It is one of the best ways to feel
part of the community.
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