September 2017 www.culchethlife.com 1 2 www.culchethlife.com September 2017 Editor Gary Skentelbery Production Paul Walker Editor’s Comment Advertising IT is good to see the campaign to 14 years which have passed since James Balme save Culcheth Library gathering then is that nothing has changed. momentum. People still look forward to the Freephone little make-do and mend will suffice. The group of residents and magazine each month – many of 0800 955 5247 councillors who launched the The best way to prolong the life of them picking it up in the library, any building is to keep it heated Editorial campaign, after the library was incidentally – and, of course, 01925 623633 first earmarked for closure last year and in regular use. Culcheth must be one of the few So we urge local people to join have now launched the “Friends of villages to still boast a book shop. Email Culcheth Library” and are hoping the “Friends”, to use the library [email protected] We are told there could be and support the campaign to this will open up the campaign to problems with the library building, Websites the wider community. keep it open. It is a vital resource Information leaflets have been with restoration costs prohibitive, not only for Culcheth but also for www.culchethlife.com but we are sure these are not www.frodshamlife.co.uk distributed throughout Culcheth, all the surrounding villages whose www.lymmlife.co.uk Glazebury and Croft and a drop-in insurmountable. In the long term, residents would face a much longer www.warrington- session held at the library to enable perhaps, major work may be journey to a library if it were no worldwide.co.uk people to meet the organisers. necessary, but for the time being a longer there. www.warrington.tv Another is due to be held on Saturday, September 2 between Address 10am and 12 noon when residents Deadline for the October New Media Centre will be able to hear the latest news Old Road Warrington about the campaign’s progress. issue of Culcheth Life WA4 1AT Resource The main aim is to find a way to September 12 keep the facility open in its current location in the centre of the village and also to expand its use as a Culcheth Life is published community resource. monthly by Orbit News Ltd. A number of imaginative ideas The contents of this magazine have been put forward which would are fully protected by copyright result in the building becoming and nothing may be reprinted much more than a library and we or reproduced without prior are sure more will be forthcoming. permission of the publishers. These are welcome, but we still The publishers are not liable for believe the overriding need is for any statement made or opinion a library. expressed by third parties in this When we launched “Culcheth publication. Life” in 2003 we were welcomed Printed by TwentyFourSeven by numerous residents with the words: “Culcheth people love reading” and the evidence of the September 2017 www.culchethlife.com 3 Warning after children seen ‘playing chicken’ on rail crossing NETWORK Rail have issued a level crossing,” the later states. warning following incidents of “Children were observed playing children playing “chicken” on a chicken with an approaching train level crossing at Culcheth. which resulted in an emergency In one instance, a train driver brake application and a new miss. was forced to apply an emergency “Additionally we have received brake and there was a “near miss.” a report of children trespassing in The footpath crossing is on Leigh the vicinity of the level crossing.” Golf Club’s course at Kenyon Hall, Although the number of deaths Culcheth. on level crossings in this county is low compared to other countries Letter – 44 people have died in recent years. In a letter distributed among The letter also points on that householders near the crossing, trains on the line are powered by Network Rail say trains using electricity carried through overhead • Professional, approachable, affordable the line travel at speeds of up to lines. 90mph – and more than 200 trains • Accounts preparation & tax returns for individuals & use the line daily. Electrocuted companies The letter states: “It is imperative that all people crossing the line use “Overhead lines carry 25,000 • Bookkeeping, payroll & vat the crossing in a safe manner.” volts – that’s 100 times greater than • Capital Gains, Estate Planning & Probate Work It is not the first time nearby the power supply in your home. residents have been circulated by Electricity in overhead lines can • Business start up advice Network Rail. A letter was sent out ‘jump’ – you don’t have to touch the • First meeting free of charge in September last year. overhead lines to get electrocuted. But Network Rail say they have “It is very important that people now received a further report of never ‘play’ near the railway and Call Nigel Healey now on 01925 767222 “unsafe behaviour” on the level we would ask that any parents in crossing the area should raise this with their Abacus House, 450 Warrington Road, Culcheth WA3 5QX “We have received a further children to warn them of the danger www.hunterhealey.co.uk report of unsafe behaviour on the of level crossing misuse.” 4 www.culchethlife.com September 2017 Residents’ wishes come true at local care home RESIDENTS at Holcroft Grange in choosing a book to going up to the Shirley Paton, Home Manager driving our focus on person-centred Culcheth, have seen their wishes counter to check it out." at Holcroft Grange, commented: care. A big thank you must go to come true as part of a new scheme Other residents' wishes included "The Three Wishes scheme has at the home. being taken out to lunch with been a great success, and it has our fairy godmother, Nicola, for The scheme involves residents friends, having a freshly made latte been so moving to see the effect it all her efforts in organising the writing down their wishes on a every morning and seeing friends has had on residents. What may scheme - she always goes above piece of paper and posting it in a in another care home. So far, five seem like a small thing to you or and beyond to ensure our residents decorated wishes box to have them residents have had their wishes me can make a huge difference granted by Holcroft Grange's fairy fulfilled, with many more to be to someone's quality of life, and are leading healthy, happy and godmother. granted as the scheme continues. activities such as these are key to independent lives." The 'Three Wishes' scheme was organised by the home's Activities Coordinator, Nicola Newens, after a discussion during a residents' meeting. Joan Prescot, a keen reader who has lived at Holcroft Grange for eight months, recently had her first wish granted: a visit to the local library. She commented: "I have not been to a library for many years, and I was so excited to be able to visit. I loved every minute of it, from USWORTH’S FUERAL SERVICE Independent family owned Funeral Directors 489 Warrington Road, Culcheth Providing 24 hour personal care by Jackie Unsworth, Phil Done, Kevin Melling and Tim Hargreaves-Stead Tel: 766006 September 2017 www.culchethlife.com 5 6 www.culchethlife.com September 2017 Bents announced as ‘Best Destination Garden Centre’ BENTS Garden & Home has been named as the 2017 Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West by the Garden Centre Association (GCA). The announcement comes in a year when the family owned and run business celebrates its 80th anniversary since founders Alfred and Margaret Bent started to sell roses from their front garden just Left to right: Tamzin Bates, Heather Hiley, Tony Lewis, Emma Sadler and Matthew Bent from Bents Garden & Home with Roger Crookes, yards from the Centre’s current GCA Inspector and Keith Laird, GCA NW Chairman. location. GCA auditors and recorded one of as the Best in the North West, The GCA awards are significant The title follows a strict audit of garden centres throughout the the best scores in the country, which especially in what is our 80th within the industry as they are country with the results announced not only saw them awarded Best year; a great way to celebrate our based purely on quality standards on a regional basis. The GCA Garden Centre in the North West anniversary. throughout every area of the comprises over 200 of the country’s but also the regional title for Best “It is a credit to all of our centre. Garden centres don’t Restaurant and the Environmental colleagues who work extremely best garden centres and as a pay to enter the awards or put and Community Award. hard to ensure our standards remain member each undergoes a strict themselves forward; members are audit process with judges assessing Matthew Bent, Managing as high as possible throughout all every part of the centre from plant Director at Bents Garden & Home areas of the Centre and we would all visited by inspectors with no and product quality to customer said: “The GCA title is the one all like to say a big thank you to each previous knowledge of the exact service and innovation. garden centre’s want and we are and every one of them for their date to ensure standards remain Bents received a spot visit by the delighted to be acknowledged continued commitment and input.” high at all times. September 2017 www.culchethlife.com 7 Ladies’ Day raises £503 for cat charity A “LADIES Day” in the garden at Linda Miller’s home in Winwick raised £503 for charity group Kitten Karers.