Edition:22/06/2007 25chesterchron / Section:Chester Country Chronicle / Zone:Chester Chron Country / Page:3 / Proofed by:ssmith 3
NEWS
TheChronicle June 22, 2007
‘Imbeciles’ still turning across traffic despite six deaths in three years
NEWSfile
Drivers ignoring fatal blackspot markings
Zoo tour prize offer
DRIVERS are still ignoring road markings at an accident black spot that saw six fatalities in two years. Six people died in three crashes at the junction of Chester Road and the A54 in Kelsall between May 2005 and November 2006, when they tried to turn right up the hill into the path of oncoming traffic. The junction has now been narrowed
By Rebecca Taylor to stop cars turning right against the traffic, but at least one driver has been seen ignoring the restrictions. Cheshire county councillor for highways and transportation Cllr John Burke said: ‘Some imbecile has been seen driving around the chicane to turn right. ‘Anyone who does that doesn’t give a
Jail for woman who set fire to her teddy bear shop EXCLUSIVE by Rebecca Taylor A WOMAN who torched her teddy bear shop then blamed it on an internet chatroom pal has been jailed. A jury last month found Janet Crossley (51) guilty of using accelerants to set fire to Harlequin Collectibles in Northgate Street. A trial at Chester Crown Court heard she owed £28,000 in rent arrears to landlord Chester Cathedral and had £40,000 credit card debt. While arguing with a bailiff who came to assess her stock value, she said: ‘I might as well torch the place, I would get more on the insurance.’ On Monday Crossley, formerly of Oakdene Way, Tarporley, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Knutsford Crown Court heard on Monday that Crossley still claims the fire was started by a man she befriended on a cricket chatroom. She told last month’s trial that Paul Hallett, of Surrey,
first contacted her in November 2005 via the BBC Test Match Special forum, which she visited regularly using the name Fireybadgirl. She ended the friendship after Mr Hallett pestered her for nude photos. He lost his job at Ordnance Survey after Crossley complained about emails sent on his work address. When she called his pregnant wife to tell her what he had done, Mr Hallett sent her threatening emails and text messages. But the jury discredited Crossley’s claims after Mr Hallett appeared as a witness to emphatically deny setting fire to the shop or hiring someone else to do so. Defending, Matthew Corbett-Jones said: ‘This was an incident that didn’t result in significant damage and occurred at a very unhappy time in this defendant’s life when she was not conducting herself as she had in the past.
damn about themselves or anybody else on the road. It is a short cut to a serious accident.’ Parish Cllr Noel Dutton said most residents now leave the village at the next junction with the A54 if they wish to head towards Northwich. Cheshire Highways made plans to alter the junction after the first two crashes in May. 2005, but there was a third collision on November 1 last year – two weeks before work began.
On June 8 an inquest took place into the deaths of Leonard and Patricia Bewley, of Ash Road, Penketh and their friend Joan Oliver from Rainhill. Mrs Oliver’s husband of 50 years, Raymond, was also in the Honda Civic on November 1 last year but survived the collision with a taxi driven by Colin Windras from Eastham, Wirral. The inquest heard the two couples had gone for a pub lunch in Tarporley and a walk before setting off home. Mr Windras said the car pulled out in front of him and he was unable to avoid it. Deputy Coroner for Cheshire Janet Napier recorded verdicts of accidental death, adding that driver Mr Bewley tragically misjudged the time he had to cross the junction. In November, 2005, Deputy Coroner Robert Hunter wrote to Cheshire Highways about the junction layout after the death of Thomas Rimmer, of Frodsham, in similar circumstances. Kelsall Parish Council chairman John Leather, said the council is satisfied the new layout should stop drivers pulling out into oncoming traffic. Cllr Dutton added: ‘We just wish the work could have started a few weeks earlier so it could have prevented lives from being lost.’ C ty Cllr Burke said the department plans work based on the number of serious accidents on a road. He added: ‘As long as people use the road correctly there shouldn’t be GUILTY OF ARSON: Janet Crossley has an accident there, but been jailed for setting fire to her teddy bear you cannot say there will shop. never be another one.’ Picture by VICTORIA TETLEY VT230507SHOP-004 rebecca.taylor @cheshirenews.co.uk
CHESTER Zoo is asking its supporters to support its important conservation work through its Small Miracles appeal – and in exchange they will be entered into a prize draw for a behind the scenes tour. The tour will include a look at Islands in Danger, home to the zoo’s two female Komodo Dragons, Flora and Nessie, and five baby dragons. Anyone wishing to make a donation and be in with a chance to win the behind the scenes tour can contact the Zoo’s Development office on 01244 650229 or visit www.chesterzoo.org/ donate. The closing date is June 30.
Flyover revamp WORK has begun on a £1.5m project to waterproof, reconstruct and resurface Chester’s inner ring road flyover at St Martins Way. One lane will be closed between the Fountains Roundabout and the City Walls. The four lanes will also be narrowed at the location of the underpass beneath St Martin’s Way, which provides access to the Princess Street car park. From Monday at night time only, one lane will be closed in each direction at the underpass site. The scheme is expected to be complete by the end of November.
Jobs lost at printers MORE than 170 workers at a Deeside Industrial Estate print company have been made redundant. Graphoprint went into administration last Friday and workers were given the news ‘out of the blue’ on Tuesday. A small group of about 20 has been kept on to assist administrators KPMG. Katy Broomhead, of administrators KPMG, said, ‘We have been speaking to prospective buyers. However, we are extremely keen to hear from any other parties who may be interested in buying the business.’
Teachers on patrol A TEAM of teachers is patrolling a Chester estate at lunchtimes to make sure pupils do not drop litter or wander the streets. The move comes after complaints about littering and anti-social behaviour blamed on Blacon High School pupils. In a letter sent out to parents by headteacher Ella Brett, children are banned from going to ‘other people’s homes or wandering up to the shops or the park.’ Parents have to sign a pass for those who want to go home which makes them responsible for their children. The scheme has won praise. Rosemary Burns, of Australian Roads Residents Association, said: ‘I used to avoid going to the shops at lunchtime so I think they’re doing Rosemary Burns the right thing.’
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