Ford Foundry - ticking time bomb

FUTURE generations of Leamington children need to be safeguarded from a ticking “time bomb” of potentially devastating pollution.

That’s the warning from a concerned local councillor, who fears the clean up of Leamington’s Ford Foundry site could lead to disastrous effects, like those faced by youngsters in Northamptonshire.

It also emerged this week that redevelopment plans for the Leamington site have come to a grinding halt.

Corby Borough Council has been found negligent in its redevelopment of a former steel works, which may have led to birth defects in 16 children.

Warwick District Council is being warned not to let the same mistakes happen when the Ford site redevelopment finally gets underway.

At a council meeting last week, Councillor Elizabeth Higgins (Cons, Warwick West) put forward a question to Cllr Felicity Bunker, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, asking: “Now that the High Court has ruled that the group of 16 families in Corby can sue Corby Borough Council for failing to clear up toxic waste left behind by the demolition of the town’s old steelworks in the mid-1980s; please could WDC ensure that the demolition and clearance of the Ford Foundry site, with investment by AWM, is carried out in a clean and secure manner.”

The High Court ruling means the way has now been cleared for the Corby youngsters to try and prove their particular disabilities were caused by the council’s failings, with compensation to follow if they succeed.

Mrs Higgins added: “I was worried about the demolition, and clear up of Ford Foundry that something similar to Corby might happen. So much of the land there is polluted, we’re sitting on a time bomb.

“The Corby situation horrified me, but I’m assured the law is so different now, and I’m told that closed containers will be used at the Ford Foundry site, so there will be no white cloud of asbestos.

“Environmental health laws are much stronger now too, so there should be no problem. We don’t even know when the clean up is going to take place yet. But the Corby ruling was so high profile – the thought of something like that happening here was just ghastly.”

It is just over two years since 400 workers at the foundry site clocked out for the last time, after six decades of production.

Last year a draft planning brief was put forward to transform the 50 acre station area in Leamington. It was to include the Ford land, plus the wider area around the station, including the former Quicks garage site.

The Ford site was earmarked for offices, a hotel, and flats.

The motor giant has yet to sell the site, which it bought in 1940.

Oliver Rowe, company spokesman, said: “While the company has been in a series of negotiations with interested parties, the economic situation has had a huge impact on the Leamington property market, which explains no sale to date.”

A spokesman for Warwick District Council added: “Currently there is no interest in the development market. The whole thing has stopped. Unless Ford have a plan – it’s up to them, and whoever buys the site. But at the minute, it’s dead in the water.”

The draft plans also suggested building a technology park on land along Old Warwick Road, as well as car parking for the railway station, and environmental improvements.

Mrs Higgins said: “There are big plans for the future, it’s just a lack of finance, which is a shame because there are 45 acres of brownfield land in Leamington, which is just amazing.”

Mini-tracker aids dementia victims

DEMENTIA sufferers’ movements are being tracked using satellite technology – to help them live independently for longer.

The pioneering ‘mini-tracker’ is being trialled in Warwickshire, and works using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to monitor people’s movements, and map them through a secure website.

Warwickshire County Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to try the tracking technology in this way – and the first Warwickshire family to trial the scheme, say the results have been life changing.

Pete, the son of a dementia sufferer, was becoming increasingly concerned by his 71-year-old father John’s wandering.

He said: “Five months ago we were in a position where we felt that we could no longer cope. Dad always loved to take the dog for long walks, but he started getting lost in other parts of town. It’s a particular trait for people with dementia to keep moving; it’s as if they are walking away from the problem.”

Although Pete visits his father regularly, he found that juggling his job – which involves working away from home – and having two young children meant it was impossible to help his Father 24 hours a day.

He said: “I felt really torn, and thought the only way forward would be to give up my job, or to consider a residential home for dad.”

But one day John wandered up to the local adult social care offices, and staff there suggested he try the tracking technology.

A community care worker developed a care package for John so that he could be supported to stay at home and maintain his independence.

Every morning care workers help John with his morning routine, such as helping him clean his teeth and shave, before making sure his ‘mini-tracker’ device is fitted to his belt.

The ‘mini-tracker’ means John’s movements can be monitored on a map through a secure website.

Pete said: “We talked to Dad about the GPS, and he is happy to be wearing it because he feels that he is being looked after, even if we are not there. It means he can go for walks, or stay at home, without being wrapped up in cotton wool. It has been like a breath of fresh air for Dad, and it has given us better peace of mind.”

Warwickshire’s older population is growing significantly, and the number of people with dementia in the county is expected to rise by more than 37 per cent over the next 17 years.

Decision awaited over tanning salon proposal

A GRADE II listed building in Leamington could be turned into a tanning salon if plans are given the go-ahead.

Leamington Town Council’s planning committee is considering proposals submitted by Exposure Tanning to change the use of 84 Warwick Street to a tanning, nails and beauty salon.

A final decision will be made by Warwick District Council next month.

The application was originally considered by the town council planners on August 6 but was rejected by councillors who said: “As the proposal was not to be entirely for A1 retail use it was felt inappropriate for this application to proceed.”

But Exposure Tanning are asking the committee to reconsider at this week’s meeting.

In a letter to the council, Geraint McCarthy, managing director, said: “The current planning classification for 84 Warwick Street is A2 office; this was granted in 2007 without objection. With this in mind we are not removing any retail space from this parade of shops.

“Our planning classification is Sui Generis as we are outside normal planning classes, however we have a large retail area and displays in each of our salons, which accounts for 35 per cent of our total business.”

Mr McCarthy also said the company planned to make a large investment in the building. He added: “The unit has been vacant and in a deteriorating state for three years, with the adjoining unit at 82 Warwick Street also vacant for some time; the property has a considerable and worsening damp problem due to it lying empty.

“We intend to make considerable investment into this Grade II listed property and have extensive experience in doing so. Each of our other three salons operates from Grade II listed properties.”

He said moving the salon from its current, smaller premises on Regent Grove would create an additional three full-time jobs, bringing the total number of people employed to six.

The committee will reconsider the plans at Thursday’s meeting.

A spokesman for Warwick District Council said: “We haven’t made a decision on the application yet. Leamington Town Council is a consultee - the final decision lies with us which will take place by September 9.”

Warwick Hospital rakes in more than £700,000 in car parking in just one year

MORE than £700,000 was raked in by Warwick Hospital in car parking charges in just one year.

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats – under the Freedom of Information Act – revealed the hospital made £599,253 from visitors, and a further £103,952 from staff, bringing the total to £703,205 in 2007/08.

A spokesman for Warwick Hospital said: “The charges for the patient’s car park have not increased in over three years.”

She said the car park must be self-financing: “As we would never spend money
dedicated for patient care to subsidise it.

“Therefore we will be increasing the cost to park for longer periods.

“Around 50 per cent of our visitors and patients stay for less than one hour, and only just over five per cent stay within the time bands that we have increased. So, for 95 per cent of people these changes represent a reduction, or a freeze.

“Our evidence is that the people who use the car park for such extended periods of time are not associated with the hospital; they are not visitors, or outpatients, and inpatients usually should not be driving from the site for medical reasons.

“We know for example that people have parked at the hospital as a cheaper option than all day parking at Warwick train station. If any patients do need to visit on a regular basis, then we offer a concessionary £15 weekly ticket.

“There is currently no room to reduce these charges further, due to the money being used to maintain and secure the car park.”

The new charges mean parking is free for the first 15 minutes. Those staying up to an hour will be charged £2.50, and people staying between six and 24 hours will be charged £9. Hospitals across the UK have been accused of slapping a “tax on the sick,” after the figures revealed the amount collected by hospitals, nationally, soared to £111 million in 2007/08 – up from £102 million the year before.

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat shadow Health Secretary, who was behind the research, said: “This is a staggering amount of money for the NHS to be making from car parking charges.

“Many hospitals are still not offering real discounts to those with chronic illnesses and are effectively operating ‘a tax on the sick.’

“No one is denying the need for hospitals to cover their costs, but that doesn’t mean they can use hidden charges to help themselves out of financial black holes. We need an urgent review into whether hardworking doctors and nurses, and the chronically ill, should be paying these charges at all.”

Local war link in French grave?

THE bodies of three First World War soldiers from Warwick could be among those found in a mass grave in northern France.

DNA tests have started on the remains of hundreds of World War One soldiers discovered in a number of burial pits at Pheasant Wood, near Fromelles.

Genetic samples from living relatives have been taken to try and identify the remains of the soldiers taken from the site of the famous battle.

The Battle of Fromelles began on July 19 1916 and was the first major battle on the Western Front to involve both British and Australian troops.

The British 61st Division, featuring the 4th (City of Bristol), 5th and 6th battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment alongside men from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the Worcestershire Regiment, were heavily engaged in the attack.

The division suffered losses of 1,547 either killed, wounded, taken prisoner or missing and the Australians suffered 5,533 losses.

A list of British casualties who may be buried at Fromelles has been released. It includes Private William Henry Barnett and Sergeant Albert James Blakemore, both of Warwick, who fought with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and Private George Alfred Castle of Warwick who fought with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.

A full archaeological excavation is expected to be completed by the end of September and an identification board will meet in March 2010. The exhumed bodies will be buried with full military honours. Anyone who believes they may be related to a soldier killed at Fromelles can telephone 01452 712612, extension 6303, or email Fromelles@spva.mod.uk.

Hero sailers

AFTER battling stormy seas and relentless rip tides to save the life of a pilot whose plane had plunged into the Irish Sea, a teenage Warwickshire boat crew sat down to celebrate - with a Pot Noodle.

The boys - Will Homer, aged 19, of Bridge End, Warwick, former Warwick School pupils Nick Bevan and Rob Pickering, both 19 and from Stratford, along with 33-year-old Londoner Oliver Dudley - were eleven days into their attempt to row around Britain in record time when they saw the plane plummet from the sky.

Despite knowing it would cost them valuable time, the team, since hailed as heroes, thought nothing of abandoning their charity fundraising record bid to race to the rescue of the pilot.

Nick, currently on a gap year, said: “It was Will who saw the plane crash and told the rest of us. We all got out on deck to have a look but we were in the middle of a really bad storm and were finding it hard to row through it.

“We put out a mayday signal but we didn’t think anyone on the plane would be alive until Oliver spotted a guy waving.

“Will and I rowed as fast as possible for about two miles to reach him - I think it was the fastest we’d ever rowed.”

When they reached the plane, the team found pilot John O’Shaughnessy on the wing of the sinking aircraft and waited with him until the rescue helicopter arrived.

“The coast guard said the helicopter would be there in about 20 minutes,” Nick added. “We carried on talking to the man but we couldn’t get too close - we were getting smashed around in the sea and it would have been a disaster if we’d hit the plane. It was sinking but we made sure he was OK.

“When the helicopter got here it was fantastic, it swooped over and lifted the pilot up and took him away straight away, we were really impressed and we were told we’d done a good job in directing them to the plane.

“Afterwards we sat and treated ourselves to a Pot Noodle, something we usually saved for reaching a landmark in our journey.

“We were all stunned - the whole thing was over in about 20 minutes but it was an amazing feeling to save someone’s life.”

The GB Row team is only the second in history to attempt to race against the clock around the British Isles.

They began their record-breaking attempt from Dover on August 1, sailing anti-clockwise around the country in their boat, the British Orchid, and had been hoping to complete the challenge in 25 days - beating the current record of 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes.

But their first ten days were spent battling ferocious storms before narrowly avoiding being killed by a container ship after losing power to their warning transmitter.

After their heroic rescue mission on the eleventh day, the boys decided to abandon their goal after realising they had lost valuable time.

Nick said: “It was frustrating because we were on target to beat the record. But the good thing is we’ve raised a lot of money for the charity Orchid, one of the reasons we were doing the sail. We were able to sell the footage we’d filmed of the crash for about £5,000, which is going to the charity.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to try and beat the record again next year, if we can get sponsorship.

“We know we can do it, we were on track. There are a few things we need to change but we’ll go out there stronger than ever.”

To sponsor the team and donate to Orchid go to www.gbrow.com.

Rise of anti-social behaviour in Lillington

A CRACKDOWN on anti-social behaviour is taking place in Lillington after a rise in reports of youngsters causing trouble.

A dispersal zone covering Crown Way, Mason Avenue, Valley Road and adjacent streets was due to expire last Sunday, but police in Leamington successfully applied for it to be extended for a further three months until November 9 after an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Dispersal powers are granted under section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and allow officers in uniform and Police Community Support Officers to order people to leave the area and not return for a specified amount of time if they are believed to be causing trouble.

Officers from the Leamington North Safer Neighbourhood Team said they had seen a seasonal rise in reports of anti-social behaviour in recent weeks, coinciding with the start of the school summer holidays. They had been using powers under the existing dispersal zone to try and combat it.

PC Jon Belcher, of the neighbourhood team, said: “The dispersal zone is not intended to act as an exclusion zone to prevent people from accessing the facilities within it, but to ensure that they do so in an acceptable way so that others don’t have to suffer from anti-social behaviour.

“There has been a history of anti-social behaviour within this area and until the start of the school holidays we were pleased with the overall reduction in issues being reported to us. Officers can now continue to use proportionately the powers granted by this order to bring levels of anti-social behaviour back down.”

He added that the extension meant officers will be able to carry on using dispersal powers for the remainder of the summer holidays, as well as during bonfire night and Hallowe’en.

Police vow to put an end to the Bash

POLICE have vowed to do everything they can to stop next year’s Bulldog Bash going ahead – despite the four-day festival passing without serious incident.

More than 20,000 motorcycle fans flocked to the 23rd Bulldog Bash at the weekend, held at Long Marston airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Police had been concerned about violence between rival biker gangs following the 2007 murder of Hells Angel Gerry Tobin and a riot at Birmingham Airport last year.

Top officers had initially tried to revoke the festival’s licence.

But organisers said the event was a huge success and passed without trouble.

Event organiser John Britt said: “Everybody had a great time and there was a really good atmosphere.

“It was a family event and there were lots and lots of kids running around.”

Each day, 450 officers and staff from Warwickshire Police and five other surrounding forces were on duty.

Figures released showed 448 people were searched and 11 were arrested for offences
including assault and suspected drug offences.

Nine lock knives were surrendered and small amounts of substances believed to be cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine were also recovered.

There were 13 street cautions for drugs offences and one for possession of an offensive weapon.

Chief Constable Keith Bristow said: “While the policing operation did result in a number of arrests, I am relieved that
no one was killed or seriously injured this year as a direct result of having attended this event.

“However, we have been unable to prevent an organised crime group from holding a fundraising event in the county and we will therefore continue to explore all legal opportunities available to us – both criminal and civil – to achieve this outcome before August 2010.

“I know that the vast majority of people attending the Bulldog Bash were decent law-abiding motorcyclists or music fans and also that some members of the Hells Angels are not involved in criminality.

“However, the Hells Angels are designated as an organised crime group and are, without doubt, involved in extreme violence both in this country and abroad.

“We would be failing in our duty to protect communities from harm if we did not do everything possible to remove their ability to fundraise in Warwickshire in support of their criminal activity elsewhere.”

Mr Bristow added that Warwickshire Police would welcome and support a well organised and safe motorcycle event, not operated under the influence of an organised crime group, in the county next year.

But bikers attending the festival criticised the heavy police presence.

One of the event’s organisers, who calls himself ‘Echo’, said: “It’s unnecessary. They put on a big police operation last year. It cost £1.4million and they only stopped 500 people and they only ended up with three prosecutions.

“It’s a completely over the top reaction. We accept that the police have a responsibility, but we police the site, there’s never any problems.”

Could a coffin be key to a mystery?

A MONUMENT at a Warwick church could hold the answer to an age-old Shakespearian mystery.

An application has been made to examine an ancient sarcophagus – and the clues inside could finally solve the riddle of who really wrote the plays of William Shakespeare – Warwickshire’s most beloved son.

The application has been made to Coventry Diocese by historian AWL Saunders to examine a 17th century sarcophagus at St Mary’s Church.

The stone coffin was built by Fulke Greville – a writer and contemporary of Shakespeare who some believe is the actual author of several of Shakespeare’s works. Greville is buried in the crypt below the monument and Saunders said there are clues in Greville’s writings that suggest he had several manuscripts buried at the church, including a copy of Antony and Cleopatra.

But in typical Shakespearian fashion, trouble is brewing for the hapless seekers of the truth.

The initial search was approved by the parochial church council but is being resisted by Coventry Diocese, which says there is not enough evidence to give the search the go-ahead.
Canon Mervyn Roberts, speaking for Coventry Diocese, said: “If someone wishes to have a monument or something in a church removed or looked into, they have to put in and obtain what is called a faculty. It’s very detailed and is an important check and balance against inappropriate requests.

“This particular case was considered by the Diocesan Advisory Committee but they have not approved it at the present time.

“It wasn’t approved because it was felt there wasn’t enough concrete evidence to disturb the monument yet but this doesn’t restrict a person from appealing or re-applying.

“The next step is for the chancellor, who is like the final judge of the diocese, to decide whether he agrees with the current decision or whether he wants to override it. At the moment it’s still not sure what the outcome will be.

“This is not the first time that links to Shakespeare at this church have been suggested but there are all sorts of conspiracies, anyone could make a claim really, which is why we have to consult widely to make a decision.

“It’s a serious issue to disturb a monument, particularly as this one is over a grave. And when someone is laid to rest and they request things to be put in their tomb, one would assume they don’t want them to be removed."

Saunders claims there are several clues suggesting Greville is responsible for writing a number of Shakespeare’s works.
He said Greville’s life and writings closely match those of Shakespeare, suggesting they could be the same person – the two lived in the same street, had the same friends and were members of the same literary circles.

He also claims to have found hints in Greville’s The Life of Sidney that suggest the author wrote Antony and Cleopatra and that he had it and other works, including a biography of Elizabeth I, placed in the sarcophagus.

A spokesperson for St Mary’s Church said: “The final decision is between Mr Saunders and the diocese. We’re happy with whatever they decide. All the church has done is said we won’t withhold our assent.”

Are Tasers fair?

TASER GUNS were used by Warwickshire Police to arrest three men in just one day - a week after more officers than ever before were trained to use them.

In total 100 officers - equal to 10 per cent of the workforce - are now trained to use Tasers, including eight sergeants and two inspectors.

But human rights groups have questioned the widespread use of the weapon.

The guns were originally only used by the force’s firearms officers, but since the beginning of August officers from Warwickshire Police’s Operations Task Force, which provides back-up for patrol officers dealing with violent incidents, have also been able to use them.

Officers took Tasers to a suspected burglary in the early hours of Wednesday August 5.

Two 18-year-olds were arrested at a house in Coten End, Warwick, after a member of the public called the police reporting noises coming from the rear of the property.

Although the Tasers were not deployed, officers said the sight of the device, which can emit a 50,000 volt charge, was enough to bring the situation under control.

Later that day police also used a Taser to arrest a violent man at a home in Stratford.

The man, who was thought to be drunk and had suffered a cut to his arm, was described by police as being extremely agitated with dramatic mood changes.

Officers used the stun guns to arrest the man.

He was taken to Warwick Hospital for treatment to the cut to his arm, before spending the night in police custody.

The man was assessed under the Mental Health Act the following morning.

Inspector Alf Berridge, head of firearms support, said: “The Taser is a well proven and effective piece of equipment which will provide officers with another way of dealing with violent incidents.

“During trials in other police forces the use of the Taser has already been proved to show that its presence alone can de-escalate a violent situation, thus reducing the potential for members of the public and for police officers to come to harm.”

The decision to train more officers follows extensive national trials and authorisation from the Home Secretary.

But a human rights group has condemned police for using the gun in a burglary and said they should only be used when the lives of police or members of the public are at risk.

Mike Blakemore, spokesman for Amnesty International, which has a mid-Warwickshire branch covering Kenilworth, Leamington and Warwick, said: “Tasers are potentially lethal and should only be used where strictly necessary to avoid loss of life or prevent very serious injury. Only a limited number of officers who’ve been trained to the same high standards as firearms officers should be equipped with Tasers.

“Amnesty International’s research shows that 346 people have died after being shot with Tasers in the US since 2001. In many of these cases the coroner listed the use of the Taser as a contributory factor or was directly linked to the death. In 2008 alone, 59 people died in the US after being tasered.”

What do you think? Comment or email kat_baldwyn@mrn.co.uk

Welcome

Welcome to the blog for the Warwickshire Times series of newspapers, covering Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth.
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