Tributes flood in for Neston crash victims

TRIBUTES have been paid to four friends who died when their car crashed into a tree at Neston.

The blue Vauxhall Tigra Coupe collided with the tree as they were travelling along the A540 Chester High Road, Neston, in the early hours of Sunday.

The car was severely crushed upon impact which has delayed formal identification of the bodies.

Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman Jo Preihs said they believe the driver was 19-year-old John David Aston, an employee of the Brewers Arms in Neston and the front passenger to be former Neston High School student Michaela Louise Favager, 19, who worked in Iceland in Neston.

The rear passengers were Gillian Fowle, 43, who also worked in the Brewers Arms, and Edward Thomas (Eddie) Smith, 19, a builder.

All were from Neston.

A tribute group in memory of the four friends has been set up on social networking site Facebook.

One message read: “Such a tragic loss of four lives. May you all rest in peace.”

Another read: “So tragic, my thoughts go out to all the families. Rest in peace to the four of you."

Another: “So sad, so tragic...RIP.”Miss Preihs said details of the four friends would be released shortly.

“Police are still investigating the cause of the collision and witnesses are still being sought,” she said.A roadside tribute has been set up by friend and family, naming the victims as “Eddie”, “John”, “Jill” and “Michaela”.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and anyone with information should contact Cheshire Constabulary on 0845 458 0000.

BREAKING NEWS: Motorcyclist seriously injured in Flintshire crash

A MOTORCYCLIST has been seriously injured in an accident in Flintshire.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene on the A548 Shotwick Road, Deeside to reports of a collision between a motorcyclist and a lorry at around 1pm this afternoon.

Paramedics treated the motorcyclist at the scene, before he was rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

A spokesman from Welsh Ambulance Service said that the man is still undergoing urgent medical treatment.

Flintshire town gives green light to new homes plan

PLANS to build nearly 60 homes on Saltney High Street have been given the thumbs-up by town leaders.

But Saltney Town Council members have raised concerns over access to the housing development, and are suggesting a one-way system be introduced.

Goldrock Investments Ltd has applied for planning permission to build 58 two-storey homes at 142 high street.

Asked for its observations at a recent meeting, the town council welcomed the application but expressed reservations over access.

Cllr Veronica Gay said: “This could be a godsend because we are desperately short of housing in this area, but my only reservation is that the designs only show one access route for 58 homes.

“This isn’t enough, and I’m concerned it could create a Shotton or Connah’s Quay-type traffic situation on the high street.

“Other than that, I think it’s a fantastic scheme.”

Town clerk Alan Thorniley said: “We are suggesting a one-way access system off the high street.”

The town council’s comments will now be passed to Flintshire Council’s planning department.

Morrisons says it is “hopeful” it will get planning permission for a new 65,000 sq ft supermarket on Saltney high street later this month.

The store would be based on the site of the old GT Owen and Bramall Quicks stores.

Flintshire school bids to go green with plan for windmill

By Laura Jones and Kate Forrester

A SCHOOL is hoping to become the greenest around by setting up its own windmill to generate electricity.

Huw Jones, headteacher at Ysgol Glan Aber, Bagillt, is keen to make his plans to build a windmill in the school field become a reality.

He claims the venture would reduce the school’s electricity bills by between 50 and 100 per cent – but the school needs to overcome several hurdles before the project takes off.

Mr Jones said: “We are currently looking around for funding to get it off the ground, but the idea is still in the very early stages of development, there is funding and planning to consider yet.

“There is a fantastic spot on the top of the school but we have a consultant coming soon to see if it is a viable option for us.

“We would love a windmill here. The cheapest one we have seen is about £30,000, so we are looking for sponsorship for about £15,000 so we can get match funding from the Welsh Assembly.”

Mr Jones says the school might even be able to make a profit on the project, by selling its unused electricity back to the National Grid.

He added: “The windmill would be a great educational resource for the school and it would teach our children about the importance of green energy and there will be a digital screen to show them how much energy the windmill is producing.

“The school is on its third eco award and this would be a great addition for us.”

Bagillt councillor Mike Reece says Ysgol Glan Aber is leading the way in eco-friendly technology and hopes other schools will follow its example.

He said: “I will be doing all I can to help and I really hope the project gets the green light.

The staff are children at Glan Aber are really ahead of their game.”

Any businesses who want to sponsor the school can call Mr Jones on 01352 711995 or visit www.glanaber.org.uk.

Flintshire street’s parking issues may go to court

by Laura Jones

A SOLUTION could be in sight for residents of a street which has been plagued by parking problems for more than a decade.

People living on Bistre Close in Buckley have fought for years to stop drivers who do not have allocated parking putting cars on the roadside and blocking the close.

The road, which falls between two Buckley council wards, Mountain and Bistre West, is made up of sheltered accommodation bungalows occupied by elderly residents.

Concerns have been raised by those residents about access for fire engines and ambulances to their properties.

Now, Buckley Mountain Cllr Carol Ellis and the council’s executive member for estate management, Cllr Helen Yale, have started a legal battle to have residents-only parking put in place on the street.

Cllr Ellis said: “We have been trying to get something done for years and we have finally started what will be a lengthy procedure to get the problem solved.

“Bistre Close was allocated as an ‘adopted road’ when sheltered accommodation complex was built 30 years ago and it’s accessible to anyone who wants to park there.

“Flintshire Council do not have any legal powers to change the parking in the street to residents-only unless they go through a legal procedure which could take months to pass.

“But as it stands, access to the road is a great concern and I wouldn’t like to think what would happen if there was a fire.”

Cllr Ellis added: “This is the only solution that we have come up with that will resolve the problem.”

Joe Bennett, 81, has lived in Bistre Close for more than eight years, and said the situation has ‘got out of hand’.

He said: “It is about time something was done.

“We are pensioners and we really don't need this. It is not our fault that people buy houses that don’t have parking.”

Wrexham Lager Club fundraiser to benefit Olivia’s fund

WREXHAM Lager Club will be holding a special charity evening on Friday to raise money for Olivia’s Fund, set up in memory of Olivia Wood.

Julie and Darren Wood, of Gwersyllt, set up the fund through Hope House Hospice for their six-year-old daughter who died in a road traffic collision in Merseyside along with four other people, including grandmother Linda Wood.

The evening will feature a soul night featuring Denzil on Disco, as well as fun and games for everyone to take part in.

There will also be a charity raffle taking place on the night, featuring a number of prizes.

Julie said: “Hope House and all their staff have provided enormous comfort to us over the past few months.

“The service they provide is amazing and we will continue to do all we can to raise money for Hope House.

We’ve planned a fun evening and would encourage everyone to come along to support a worth cause.

We would like to thank the Lager Club for letting us use the venue for free.”

The event kicks off at 7.30pm, with tickets available on the door for £3.

Cats feeling crunch as recession hits protection charity

THE credit crunch is starting to bite hard at a Wrexham animal charity.

The town’s Cats Protection branch, which runs an adoption centre in Madeira Hill for stray and abandoned felines says in its latest newsletter that it is being overwhelmed with calls from desperate owners, who are being forced to quit their own homes and move into rented property where landlords do not allow pets.

The article in Cat’s Cradle also reveals that the branch is being asked to care for a growing number of abandoned cats - as its own income slumps because of the recession.

For the first time ever, it has had to dig into its reserves to make ends meet.

Lynn Gay, who is in charge of the adoption centre, said: “At the start of the year we didn’t seem to have been too badly affected by the credit crunch but now it is really starting to bite.

“Not a day goes by when we don’t receive a number of calls about cats and kittens being abandoned outside homes that people have been forced to move out of.

“At a recent open day we had at the centre we even had someone bring along a kitten in a box.

“We are also having a lot of pregnant female cats being brought in whose owners have not been able to afford to have them neutered.”

Lynn added: “We have also seen our own income go down. People used to come in and give us a donation of £20 or £30 but that is just not happening any more.

“When we arrange an adoption, it has been our policy to ask for a donation of £30-40 towards the full medical check and tagging we give to every cat before it is re-homed.

“But it is getting to the stage where we are wondering about reducing this.”

One piece of good news for the branch is that the recession has brought a surge in business at its charity shop in Wrexham town centre as people go hunting for bargains.

But this means that stock levels have become very low, with the branch particularly short of women’s wear and bric-a-brac.

It is also short of volunteers to help look after cats at the adoption centre between 9 and 11am on Saturdays and Sundays.

For details of volunteering opportunities, call the centre on 01978 313574.