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Cable-making to
return to Helsby
by Terry Johnson
THE return of cable-making to the former BICC site at Helsby has been applauded.
It is almost five years since BICC's roots at Mere's Edge were torn out and with it the local economy dealt a crushing blow.
Now international company, Heat Trace Ltd., is bringing cable manufacturing back to the 16-acre Helsby site where it plans to grow a business operating in more than 30 countries.
The Stockport company, which has been making cables for three decades, has been welcomed by Vale Royal Council's regeneration chief, Coun Arthur Wood.
A return of cable manufacturing would greatly benefit the area, he said.
Heat Trace Ltd is the only UK company with the technology for making semi-conductive heating cables.
Company chairman Neil Malone said: "We saw a significant international growth opportunity - provided we could identify larger premises and, more importantly, obtain the Electron Beam which is an integral part of our production process.
"It is great to be able to take this site back to cable-making".
A giant Tesco store has also been built on the site and is due to open in September.
Deadline set to raise
£125,000 to save wood
by staff reporter
A TOTAL of £125,000 is needed to save historic Frodsham Hill Wood for the local community - and the money is needed by the end of October.
The Woodland Trust - the UK's leading woodland conservation charity - has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to enable it to purchase the wood and carry out essential maintenance work.
A target of £40,000 has been set for a local appeal which, says the Trust, is essential to the success of the campaign.
Pledge forms will be distributed throughout the area from the middle of August to enable local people to contribute to the fund.
Woodland Trust spokeswoman Sara Lyons said: "Time is of the essence and we need to move quickly to ensure the future of this beautiful, ancient woodland.
"It's fantastic to be fundraising for a project that has the support of such a passionate and enthusiastic local community. We are confident that with the support of local people and organisations in the area we can reach our target."
The Trust says anyone who can help in any way, by spreading the word, making a pledge or suggesting potential sources of funding should contact Sara on 0151 734 3730 or email saralyons@woodland-trust.org.uk
Cholmondeley Estates have put the 26-acre Frodsham Hill Wood on the market for £75,000 for Frodsham Hill Wood and are also asking for £30,000 for the eight-acre Harmer's Wood at Helsby.
Both are offered with sporting rights and are described as having scope for more active management, sporting and private leisure.
The Woodland Trust is only interested in acquiring the Frodsham wood but local residents are trying to raise money to acquire the Helsby wood.
There are fears both woods could be acquired by organisations promoting shooting, paintballing, motor cycle scrambling, etc.
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. Its aims include halting the loss of ancient woodland, restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods, increasing new native woodland and Increasing people's understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Frodsham Town Council is collaborating with the Woodland Trust to try and ensure the Frodsham Hill Wood is retained for community use.
Warning after girl, 3,
seen with mystery man
by John Hendon
POLICE have issued a warning to parents at Frodsham after an incident involving a three-year-old girl and a mystery man.
The girl wandered from the garden of her home into the St Lawrence Field playground where a neighbour saw her with a man, who appeared to be holding her by the hand. The neighbour called out and the girl ran to her, leaving the man to walk away.
Police say they are treating it as a suspicious incident and are appealing to the man to come forward.
They are also asking local people if they know the man or saw him in the area on Thursday, August 4.
The man is described as being of skinny build, about 6ft tall in his late teens and with dark brown hair tied in a shoulder-length pony tail.
He was wearing a black baseball cap with grey trimming, a loose fitting black track suit and black deck shoes.
Anyone who can help police is asked to call Detective Sergeant Ian Morgan on 01244 612544.
Planning battle looms
over housing scheme
by David Skentelbery
A PLANNING battle is looming over controversial proposal to build 15 town houses at The Rock in High Street, Frodsham.
Borough planners threw out an application to build the properties, a new access road and communal courtyard on the grounds the development would result in a loss of amenity for neighbouring residents.
They also said there would be a damaging impact on an adjoining Listed building.
But the developers have indicated they are to appeal and force an inquiry into the decision.
Planning chiefs have also rejected proposals for four timber stables and a storage building on land on the south side of Bradley Lane, Frodsham.
But they have indicated that if the scheme were moved to a different location it might be favourably considered..
Campaign to save
woodlands gathers pace
by staff reporter
THE CAMPAIGN to save more than 30 acres of attractive woodland at Frodsham and Helsby from being sold off for paintballing, shooting or motorcycle scrambling is gathering pace.
The Woodland Trust is asking people to sign pledge forms to raise money ton enable the 26-acre Frodsham Hill Wood to be purchased for the local community.
And the newly formed Friends of Harmers Wood at Helsby has put in an application for a circular footpath within the eight-acre wood to be designated as a public footpath.
For this to be successful they have to be able to prove the woodland has been used by the public for at least 20 years before "no access" signs were erected by present owners Cholmondeley Estates about three years ago.
Audrey Davies, one of the founder members of the Friends of Harmers Wood, said: "In fact we have found five people who can recall using the woodland regularly for at least 50 years - and one 83-year-old lady who used the wood as a Girl Guide 70 years ago."
Cholmondeley Estates are asking for £75,000 for Frodsham Hill Wood and £30,000 for Harmer's Wood. Both are offered with sporting rights and are described as having scope for more active management, sporting and private leisure.
Mrs Davies said: "A group of residents have put in a bid to buy the wood but if we can get the main, circular footpath designated as a public path it could change the entire picture.
"I met a man in the wood the other day who say he had put in a bid of £40,000 to buy it for a pistol shooting range. He said there was also interest from a paintballing organisation and there has even been talk of moto-cross. But there are four quarries in the wood, one of which is dangerous.
"There are houses next to the wood, plus National Trust property on Helsby Hill. I would have thought a shooting range would be hazardous.
"The footpath we want designating is well defined and up to six feet wide in places. But the process of designation, even if successful, could take up two two years and could even involve an appeal."
Helsby man flies out
on research mission
by David Skentelbery
A UNIVERSITY researcher from Helsby has flown out to the United States to take part in vital research into the impact of exercise on metabolic disease and, in particular, HIV.
Dr Dominic Doran - who has lived in Helsby and, before that Frodsham, for 10 years - is a senior researcher in Exercise and Health Physiology at Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moore's University.
He will be working with Professor William Stringer at the Biomedical and Life Sciences facility at the University of California in Los Angeles.
Dr Doran said: "This is a massive opportunity for me as Professor Stringer is carrying out research not being done anywhere else in the world."
The trip has been made possible as a result of Dr Doran gaining a
prestigious Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship for study
abroad.
He will be in America until September when he will return to teaching duties at Liverpool John Moore's University. But in mid-October he will be returning to America to do research work at Washington State University until Christmas.
Dr Doran said: "The focus of my fellowship is to examine the impact of exercise on metabolic disease and in particular HIV. The fellowship is awarded in order to learn from current practice overseas and implement ideas and
concepts in the UK that may aid in community development - in this
specific case, lifestyle and exercise related interventions."
Exercise is known to help counteract the side-effects of drugs used to treat HIV and other diseases.
The research Dr Doran is working on is still in its very early stages, but the Americans are at a more advanced stage. He will be able to contribute to work in the States and also bring back knowledge to the UK.
"It really is a great opportunity for me and I hope to make the most of it," he said.
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