February 2014 February 2014 PB www.village-life.co.uk www.village-life.co.uk 1 February 2014 February 2014 Jazz concert for charity THE annual concert by the Chicago national charity dedicated solely Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band in aid to tackling loneliness and social of charity group Contact the Elderly isolation among older people. takes place at Grappenhall Community The Lymm and Thelwall branch Centre on Friday, February 14. organises monthly afternoon tea Always a sell-out, the evening parties for the Over 75s and special includes a two course supper and events such as a canal boat trip, an startsWhites at 8pm.Sports Dartboard 43 x Easter1: tea at Statham Lodge Hotel, Contact the Elderly is the only Lymm and a Christmas dinner at the Lymm Hotel. All the events are run by volunteers. Branch chairman Colin Melrose Whites Sports said: “Our tea parties are a real Warrington Market lifeline of friendship for our older 1901 - 2001 – 100 YEARS OF EXCELLECE members, who have little regular Specialists in: contact with family or friends. They Darts, Bowls, Snooker, Air Guns, bring together people of all ages, Walking Sticks, Warrington Town develop fulfilling friendships, and Merchandise, Rugby, Cricket, Football give everyone involved something to look forward to each month.” GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE Anyone interested in attending Telephone/Fax: the concert or who would like more 01925 631531 information about the charity should contact Mr Melrose on 01925 756742. 2 www.village-life.co.uk www.village-life.co.uk 3 February 2014 February 2014 Editor Gary Skentelbery Production Opinion Paul Walker Account Executives HS2 continues to divide opinion in the meantime we hear disturbing It is good to see such an initiative James Balme across Cheshire. Major councils, stories of people already experiencing and praise is due to all involved, Nick White such as Warrington and Cheshire difficulties in selling properties. particularly the residents who did Tony Record East are keen to accept the Society changes rapidly these days not just sit back and complain about economic benefits we are told will and with the growth of the internet, the problem but were prepared to get Advertising flow from construction of the high video conferencing and e-commerce, involved – even if it meant raising Freephone speed railway but are concerned coupled with the need to reduce some money to pay for the work to 0800 955 5247 about the environmental damage carbon emissions, surely we should be done. likely to occur in rural areas. be looking to reduce travel – not Editorial increase it. 01925 623632 Parish councils in areas likely IN this column last month we to be affected, such as High Legh, drew attention to the proposals Email Pickmere, Lymm, Warburton, Rixton- JUST how seriously it is being taken, for an “open café” to serve users info@warrington- with-Glazebrook, Culcheth and we cannot pretend to know, but the of the Broomfields Youth Project worldwide.co.uk Glazebury, etc., are understandably possibility of using the Grade 2* at Appleton and the opposition more exercised by the damage to Listed Knutsford Sessions House as mounted by nearby residents who Websites local communities and the need for a much-needed medical centre for feared it could result in an increase www.culchethlife.com adequate compensation for displaced the town has been discussed at a in anti-social behaviour and www.frodshamlife.co.uk residents. Town Council meeting. criminal damage. Of course, for some people there www.lymmlife.co.uk can be no adequate compensation. Well, it is true that it is an iconic Our view was that the fears www.village-life.co.uk Someone with a family home, building in a convenient central of residents were unfounded – www.warrington.tv perhaps handed down through several location which needs to be used. But particularly as the whole purpose of www.warrington- generations, will not feel adequately it is nearly 200 years old and was the Youth Project was to keep young compensated by any amount of built at a time when style was more people off the streets. worldwide.co.uk money. All they want is to be left important than future maintenance We are pleased to now be able to Address alone. needs. No court hearings have taken report that planners have approved One cannot but feel sympathy, for place there for several years so we can the proposals and to note that, with New Media Centre instance, for residents of High Legh, expect the building to have suffered incidents of anti-social behaviour in Old Road, Warrington who face the possibility of their from all the problems associated with the area down by 63 per cent since Cheshire WA4 1AT quiet village, which boasts a thriving disuse. the Youth Project was established, it community even though it does not We would love to see such a seems to be achieving its aims. Distribution even have a shop, being decimated prominent building restored and put not just by HS2 but also by proposed to good use – but not at the expense Village Life is distributed freely A556 road improvements. You cannot of our cash-strapped health service. to selected homes throughout expect these people to welcome such the area as well as being disruption because of the possibility Elsewhere in this issue we report on available to pick up from various of a boost to the economy of a town a promising partnership between as far away as Crewe in 20 years’ time. two councils, a housing trust, the outlets, some of which are listed We don’t actually believe the Environment Agency and a group of below. economic case for HS2 has been residents at Stockton Heath. Appleton: proved and think there is a very real possibility that it will never Lengthy negotiations have led to Village Hall, Co-op happen. But it won’t be stopped by an agreement which should result Grappenhall: councils arguing that they should in a neglected, eyesore site being Co-op, Community Centre have their cake and eat it too – and transformed by the planting of trees. High Legh: Garden Centre, Village Hall Knutsford: Fryers Garden Centre, Library, Heritage Centre, Shaw Heath Social Club, Rare chicks hatch at zoo Mr Chips Lower Walton: Spar Shop Mere: Village Store, Parish Club Mobberley: Rajar Building The Victory Hall Stockton Heath: Co-op, Library Stretton: Beehive Stores Stretton Newsagents Thelwall: Post Office Village Life is published monthly by Orbit News Ltd. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. WALTON Hall & Gardens zoo keeper Peter Cookson is celebrating the arrival of some rare chicks at the popular Warrington The publishers are not liable for any visitor attraction. statement made or opinion expressed The Marsh Daisy chicks were born earlier this month and will be on show at the childrens zoo next summer when they are by third parties in this publication. fully grown. Printed by TwentyFourSeven They will also be paired with unrelated birds to boost the gene pool at the zoo. 2 www.village-life.co.uk www.village-life.co.uk 3 February 2014 February 2014 Passion for photography pays off APPLETON based photographer Satish Lad His work has taken him across the world and has transformed his hobby and passion for recently completed an eight day shoot in Sri Lanka photography into a business – including a where he was commissioned to photograph a high commission to photograph a high profile profile wedding. wedding in Sri Lanka! On a more local level he has been commissioned to produce artwork for the walls of the new offices He has always had a great passion for for First Recruitment Group in Birchwood. photography from childhood. As an ongoing personal project he has been He trained as an international award winning photographing different parts of Warrington graphic designer and art director where he over the last few years to build up a collection directed professional commercial photographers of photographs showing the town through the to help them gain a more creative edge to their seasons. work. He said: “ For me photography is simply about Using his skills as an art director his own work the sheer joy of seeing and my work connecting took on a unique style and creativity which lead with people on all levels. Coming from a design to creating satishlad.com. background enables me to be to produce striking Four years on he is now working with a diverse images which can then be reproduced and range of clients. His work includes portraits, presented in very creative ways that have a real weddings and unique wall art for private clients wow factor.” and businesses. He also sells some of his own personal work as limited edition prints. One of Satish Lad’s photographs of Warrington. Law firm unifies as FDR CHESHIRE law firm Forshaws Davies consolidating all our legal services Ridgway (FDR) has decided to rebrand under a single name. FDR has a long all its private client legal services established history and excellent under one unified ‘FDR’ brand. reputation in north Cheshire. The decision has been prompted by We believe we offer a first class, the arrival of a new chief executive, professional service in all departments Oliver Burton, who has carried out and are confident we have sufficient a thorough review of the business, expertise in-house to respond to which has offices in Warrington, today’s challenging markets.” Stockton Heath and Frodsham. All the previous branding and He and the firm’s 16 partners have signage will be replaced by FDR’s decided that the future interests of distinctive bright blue in readiness for the law firm and its many loyal clients will be best served by trading under a the firm’s re-launch at the beginning single brand for all services.