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Share your memories of Wigg Island

Can you recognise any of these women who worked at Wigg Island?

9:37am Thursday 4th August 2011

DO you recognise any of the women in this photograph? They all worked at the Wigg Island chemical site in Runcorn, which has now been transormed into a nature reserve. The Wiggsters Reunited Project is now trying to trace these women and anyone else who was employed there in a bid to share their photographs, anecdotes and memorabilia. Louise Nulty, project co-ordinator for Halton Council, said: “We have had quite a few men come forward who used to work at Wigg, but we would love to include information from some of the women who worked there.” Friends of Wigg Island have secured £17,500 in grants to research the history and heritage of the site. The project will interview ex-workers about working conditions, social life, the decline of the industry, the role of women and the reclamation of the site in the 1970s. Their findings will be recorded in a DVD and booklet. If you can help, call Louise Nulty on 07930 388884 or Steph Davies on 07743 762625.

Interested to see if council approves Ineos' planning variation

9:27am Thursday 4th August 2011

I AM writing in response to the letter you printed from the ‘ICI Pensioner’ on July 27. Yes, I agree that jobs are important, but so is the health of ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and theirs. But my real point though is this. If you were building a football stadium and asked the council for permission for 5,000 supporters to attend every week, and were granted this permission, would you then go to the expense of building a ground capable of seating 40,000 and then trying to get permission for that 40,000 to attend every week, after the event? The simple answer is no. Not unless you were 110 per cent sure in advance that you were going to get that permission. It is obvious that Ineos just thought, first get your foot in the door, than you can force the rest of the body through no problem. I will be extremely interested to see what happens, and to read the council’s reasons of justification if it approves this variation. Oh, and by the way, this annual volume of 480,000 tonnes equates to the following: If each lorry can carry 30 tonnes of waste product, then this will be approximately one fully laden 30-tonne lorry every eight minutes, of every hour between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, 52 weeks of the year. Asthma sufferer

Do we need a new sixth form?

9:31am Thursday 4th August 2011

IN these times of public spending belt tightening, I was surprised to read the piece about plans to have a sixth form at Wade Deacon. There is already a sixth form for Widnes schools at Cronton Sixth Form College, which is no more than one mile away. Surely it would mean that Cronton would lose the majority of its Widnes pupils if this plan went ahead? The sixth form college in Widnes goes back many years, and was built so that different schools in the borough did not need to have their own sixth forms, thus duplicating facilities and staff. The college at Cronton is becoming one of best in the north west for provision and results due to the hard work of staff and pupils. Do we want to see it starved of its greatest resource – the pupils from Widnes schools? Dave Wynne Widnes

Someone could be hurt or killed

9:25am Thursday 4th August 2011

WHO is responsible for cutting the overgrown fields along Cronton Road? The grass is so long that you cannot see what’s coming when you are at the junction with Prescot Road. The speed limit is 50mph along this stretch of Cronton Road too, so even when the grass is shorter it is still a dangerous junction to get out of. If Halton Council is not responsible for the maintenance of these fields, please could it force whoever is responsible to take action immediately. Otherwise it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or killed. L Walker Hough Green

A tall tale

A tall tale

9:22am Thursday 4th August 2011

THIS picture of giant weeds was captured by World reader Beryl McWhan, of Carlton Avenue, Runcorn. She was cycling along the Manchester Ship Canal, from Moore nature reserve to Wigg Island, with her husband when she came upon these strange 7ft tall specimens. She said: “It was like the Day of the Triffids, we couldn’t believe what we were seeing.” If you wish to share a picture with our readers, e-mail it to newsroom@worldgroup.co.uk Remember to include your name, address and daytime telephone number, plus details of where and when your picture was taken.

Give this group your support

8:57am Thursday 28th July 2011

PLEASE check out and join this group: HAGATI (Halton Action Group Against The Incinerator.) Not only are they building a bypass to tear us in two, but they are building an incinerator too. Join the fight to keep Halton safe – it’s your health at risk. CATHY WIGNELL Runcorn

A tale of two towns’ spending

8:55am Thursday 28th July 2011

Regarding the ongoing series of letters regarding the lack of balance in council spending, I have some information which is in the public domain, but may not be too easy to access. Spending on the two town centres in Halton is as follows: Runcorn Capital expenditure, £134m to date and a scheme of £50m planned totalling £184m. There is a proposed spending of £29m proposed for Halton Lea. Widnes Capital expenditure (1998-2009) is £156m to date plus there is a further £80m scheme proposed for the period 2010-2013. Total £236m. Widnes Waterfront is £51.5m. Other information may be obtained from Halton Council or your MP. Stuart Jameson Runcorn

Three cheers to all our tea party fundraisers

8:47am Thursday 28th July 2011

As a local Marie Curie fundraiser I would like to thank everyone in Runcorn and Widnes for holding a Blooming Great Tea Party for Marie Curie Cancer Care this summer. There have been Mad Hatter’s tea parties, teddy bears picnics and even G&T parties. All of these gatherings of friends, neighbours and work colleagues have raised money to allow Marie Curie Nurses to continue to provide more free care to people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes. Every tea party, however big or small, has made a difference. There is still time for readers to hold their own party. The more parties that are held means the more nursing care we can provide to the people who really need our help. Anyone can register up until this Saturday to host a Blooming Great Tea Party, and all hosts will get a fundraising pack bursting with fabulous ideas. To help create the perfect party call 08700 340 040 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty. I hope readers enjoyed their tea parties as much as we have enjoyed hearing about them. Michelle Bate Marie Curie Community Fundraiser

Don't ruin this local industry

8:45am Thursday 28th July 2011

I AGREE with the Ineos Employee, jobs are important. I think most of the petitioners about Ineos are former ICI employees who took golden handshakes before it became Ineos, or they bought houses knowing it was near to a chemical plant. Weston Point is a safer place now than it was some years ago. There was more heavy traffic and ICI railway carried toxic waste in drums and chemicals through Weston Point. I am also thinking of the employees. Don’t destroy these chemical plants. Can’t the council see what these few petitioners are trying to do? They are trying to ruin another local industry. ICI PENSIONER Runcorn

Buzz off Mr Beetle

Buzz off Mr Beetle

8:43am Thursday 28th July 2011

THIS stunning picture of a red soldier beetle being buzzed by a hoverfly was captured by World reader Glynn McDonald, of Oxford Road, Runcorn. If you wish to share an image with our readers, e-mail your photograph to newsroom@world group.co.uk Remember to include your name, address and daytime telephone number, plus details of where and when the picture was taken.

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