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Gala Queen's
crowning glory
by Gary Skentelbery
GLAZEBURY gala celebrated its 80th anniversary when local schoolgirl Kate Leather was crowned Gala Queen.
Prior to her crowning ceremony, she rode in an open carriageway along Warrington Road from the Raven Inn.
A pipe band played outside the church where she was crowned by Mr and Mrs Mike Latchford.
The gala no longer features a procession because of road safety issues arising from the decision of the police to no
longer control traffic during processions.
Attractions during the afternoon included children's entertainment, dance display and pet show, pipe and drum band and
a rugby display. There was also be a fancy dress parade, African drum music, a bar and a variety of stalls.
For more pictures CLICK HERE
Carnival beats the showers
by Gary Skentelbery
CROFT Carnival managed to dodge the showers despite a bleak outlook at the start of the day.
But the parade from the Plough and through the village was not rain affected and proceedings on the
field only had one shower to contend with.
Culcheth High School pupil Melissa Robinson was crowned carnival queen.
Carnival Princess was Amy Brear, Rosebud Rebecca Martin and Carnival Grandma was Ruth Holt.
Croft primary School won "best float" with their theme of Children of the World.
For more pictures from the event click here CROFT CARNIVAL 2008
Muddy marvels!
by Gary Skentelbery
DESPITE muddy conditions and the threat of constant showers the annual Culcheth Community Day proved to be a great success.
Organised by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council the event was launched by Parish Council Chairman Coun Paul Campbell.
It helps local groups raise awareness of what they do in the local community.
Organisations taking part included Culcheth Art Group, Culcheth and District Horticultural Society, Churches Together, Newchurch Parish Church, Culcheth Methodist Church, local scouting organisations, Newton Jubilkee Rotary Club, Culcheth Lions, the Cats Protection League and many more.
Top picture shows parish councilllor Keith Bland clowning around with Trumble the Clown.
For more picture from the event click the link below.
CLICK HERE
Farewell to
bus chief
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Borough Transport's Culcheth based Managing Director Nigel Featham is leaving the company after eight years at the
helm to take a top position with Arriva in Yorkshire.
But Nigel, aged 43, will continue his "love affair" with Warrington, by continuing to live with his family in Culcheth,
while commuting to his new job.
Nigel said: "It has been an honour to be part of Warrington Borough Transport and Warrington for the past eight years and
while I will be sad to leave, this was just too good an opportunity to turn down.
"This is a mjaor new role and opportunity. I will be leaving Warrington Borough Transport on very good terms and
would like to thank everyone for their fantastic support over the years.
Croft based Borough Transport Chairman Les Hoyle said: "Nigel is leaving the bus company in very good shape and he will be
a very hard act to follow.
"The board and the borough council have been extremely supportive of him during his
time here and he will be sadly missed."
Nigel will be taking up his new role in May but will continue to watch with interest
the bus company in Warrington.
Picture shows Nigel with Croft based Warrington Borough Transport Chairman
Les Hoyle
Snowdrops were
blooming marvellous
by David Skentelbery
GARDENERS and nature lovers went on a "snowdrop walk" at Glazebury - to raise money for charity.
Bent's Garden Centre chief John Bent and near neighbour Delia Caswell opened their gardens to the public on two Sundays
to show off their huge snowdrop collections.
Mr Bent's garden is famous for the wide variety of the species he has, as well as a number of helibores, including
the Christmas Rose. Mrs Caswell's garden is equally famed for the sheer number of snowdrops.
This year has been a good one for snowdrops, although many arrived later than usual. Visitors to both gardens were able
to admire thousands of the tiny flowers - and at Mrs Caswell's enjoyed the added bonus of tea and crumpets.
A collection was be made at both houses with the proceeds going to McMillan Nurses, Glazebury Methodist Church and
Phakamisa, a charity that helps impoverished communities and orphans of AIDS in South Africa.
Chiropody practice approved
by staff reporter
PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a house in Common Lane, Culcheth to be extended and used as a chiropody
practice.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council , while not opposing the change of use or extensions, objected to a proposed
dropped kerb because the access would be too close to the junction with Jackson Avenue and worries about cars reversing
onto the main road.
But planning officers pointed out cars would reverse onto the road if the property remained a house.
The change of use would add to the variety of uses and support the vitality and viability of the village centre.
Can we end the
clamping menace?
by David Skentelbery
MOVES are afoot to try and bring an end to the general unpleasantness caused by aggressive tactics employed by
car clampers in Culcheth.
Former parish councillor Gordon Aspey is trying to arrange an informal round table meeting of people affected
by the clamping on the car parks serving the Lodge Drive shopping parade - including site owner Mrs Valerie Lythgoe
of LNL Properties, of Winwick.
This follows a number of further incidents of motorists being clamped on the car park late at night - long after
the Parade shops had closed.
Motorists have arrived after dark, not noticed the warning notices and been shocked on their return after a meal
at a local restaurant to find their vehicles clamped.
They are usually forced to pay the clampers £80 to have their vehicles released.
Signs indicate that parking spaces are only for people patronising the Lodge Drive shops and warn that misuse
will result in cars being clamped. But victims claim the clampers hide nearby, waiting to see where motorists go
and then clamp them. They make no attempt to warn drivers of what will happen.
Mr Aspey said: "I do not want a confrontational meeting - I want to find a solution to the problem that will
suit everyone.
"We are led to believe the clampers were originally brought in to make sure the car park was not taken over by
builders when the nearby flats were being built. I can accept that.
"I can also see the need to keep long-term parkers away during the day when the shops are open. But why the restriction
is needed in the evening when most of the shops are shut I can't imagine.
"What I would like is a friendly, round-the-table meeting so we can find out why the clamping is continuing. It
cannot be because of the builders now, nor can it be necessary at night when only restaurants and wine shops
remain open.
"We need to know the reasons behind the clamping and then we may be able to come up with a solution that will
suit everyone - shoppers, shopkeepers, landowners and motorists. There are other options, including waiting limits
or pay and display parking.
"If we can't come up with a solution, we run the risk of seeing our shops go into decline, with
some possibly closing."
Wine bar can stay
open until 2am
by David Skentelbery
CULCHETH'S new Bacchus wine bar has won planning consent to stay open until 2am on certain days of the week - despite strong objections from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
Borough planners agreed to vary the conditions of the existing planning consent which would have forced the establishment to close at midnight at the latest.
Previously the wine bar's opening hours were restricted to 12 noon until midnight, Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon until 11.30pm on Sundays, Bank Holidays and Public Holidays.
Now it will be able to open at 9am every day and from Sunday to Wednesday will be able to stay open until 1am and from Thursday to Saturday and on Bank Holidays will be able to stay open until 2am.
The longer hours will also apply on New Years Eve.
Planners also made some amendments to the layout of the premises involving the siting of tables and chairs at the front of the building.
The parish council had opposed outdoor seating at the front of the building which it claimed would be unsafe because the pavement is too narrow and the seating too close to the road. They argued that an application for a change of hours was premature as it would be the first wine bar in the village.
But wine bar owner Paul Wright told planners the outside seating area would be segregated from the pavement by a fence. It would not be used after 10 pm other than by smokers.
He pointed out that the premises was next door to the Cherry Tree pub, which as far as he knew, had never operated with any hours restriction.
Planning officers said the amended hours and other alteration would have no significant impact on the vitality of Culcheth Shopping Centre nor the living conditions of nearby residents.
Appeal launched over
post office closure
by David Skentelbery
CULCHETH based MP Helen Jones has launched an appeal against the decision to close Glazebury's unique post office in the Grey Horse pub.
Post Office bosses have revealed that the Glazebury branch, opened only 18 months ago after extensive alterations to
the pub - is one of 60 across the region to be closed in about a month's time.
The branch opened following a lengthy campaign to keep a post office in the village following the closure of the
original one due to the retirement of postmaster John Murray.
Ms Jones was one of those who campaigned against the closure when the proposal was first announced in November.
But the protests voiced during the consultation period apparently fell on deaf ears.
Parish councillor Delia Caswell. "We were very upset with the decision, particularly as it goes against everything
the Post Office has been advocating.
"They say post office services should be tried in various types of premises, but by putting it in the Grey Horse,
we showed we were ahead of the game.
"The post office has certainly been pretty well used, it is so convenient for the village.
"There are even people who come from Culcheth to use it because they find it more convenient.
"We hope the appeal will be successful, but if it isn't we have been told the post office could close by March l."
Vandals close
recycling centre
by David Skentelbery
THE Culcheth recycling centre on Common Lane has been closed permanently because of persistent vandalism at the site.
Following an incident in November, when the site was gutted by fire, the decision has been taken to shut the site and
relocate the facilities elsewhere.
Members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council had already raised concerns because the site had been temporarily
shut and people were still leaving bottles and bags there. They had appealed to members of the public to
use other sites.
Now borough council recycling chiefs have made the closure permanent and are looking at a number of other
locations for the recycling centre.
In the meantime they are urging residents to use sites at Bent's Garden Centre, the car park off Culcheth Sports
Centre, Charnock Road, or at Asda Birchwood instead.
For further information regarding recycling contact 01925 443 048 or log on to
www.recycleforwarrington.co.uk
Council quizzed
over youth club
by staff reporter
MEMBERS of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council were quizzed about the lack of youth provisions in the village.
A member of the public asked what was being done for youngsters following the closure of the youth centre in Church Lane.
Councillors responded by saying there were plans to move the centre to Shaw Street during its re-development.
Coun Delia Caswell commented: "There is no youth base at the moment, however there is a youth club every Friday at
the Methodist Church and the Rock Bus comes to the village every other Monday, so there are some facilities available."
School hands out
hope of Olympic glory
by David Skentelbery
CULCHETH High School could be producing the next crop of Olympic champions thanks to a national scheme being
piloted at the school.
English Handball Association has chosen the school to take part in the World Class Schools initiative in the hope
of producing future sporting greats.
Under the scheme, the school will pilot the National Legacy Strategy to develop the Olympic sport of handball
towards the 2016 games and beyond.
Handball has similar rules to football. It has opposing teams, made up of seven players, including keepers, who
compete to score goals using their hands.
England Men's team coach and former national team captain, Mick Hegarty, has been assigned to Culcheth to deliver
the programme to the Olympic hopefuls.
Mick is the driving force behind the plans to get more youngsters involved in the sport and is trying to make it
a popular choice for PE lessons.
He has already trained around 30 students as qualified coaches and is now busy running other junior leaders courses
across the town.
Mick said: "Handball is the easiest team game in the world. It takes five minutes to explain the rules, and then...play!
"You don't need any specialized equipment. All you need is a ball you can grip in one hand and posts for goals."
Culcheth High School already has its first group of players who are busy honing their skills in readiness for NW
schools competitions.
Mick added: "At its highest level it has plenty the drama, tactics, dynamic skills with professional leagues and
over five million women, men and children playing throughout the globe. Regular TV coverage means that anyone
can now see the world's best players in the likes of European Champions League on Eurosport. What amazes me is that
British people don't realize that the world's top soccer club's like Barcelona, Marseille and Benfica also have handball
teams competing at the top.
"Our current GB players are based in Danish Handball Academies and are now working full time, preparing for 2012.
This World Class Initiative will place Culcheth and Warrington's potential firmly on the future Olympic radar."
Waiting ban
by staff reporter
WAITING restrictions are to be extended in Lady Lane, Croft, near to its junction with Mustard Lane - subject to
a consultation process with local residents.
Croft Parish Council called for the yellow lines to be extended further away from the junction to stop cars parking
near the junction and causing a hazard for traffic turning right from Mustard Lane.
Coun Les Hoyle said: "There have been a few near misses at this junction and everyone seems to agree with the
restrictions being extended."
Minutes on
the web!
by Gary Skentelbery
THE monthly minutes of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and now available on the internet,
courtesy of www.culchethlife.com
Villagers wishing to see the minutes can simply log on to the website and download them from the what's on section
on the home page.
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