6.8.2000 News from Wigan

News Report Archive 6th August 2000

News reports from Wigan Observer, Wigan Reporter and Wigan Evening Post

SCOUT ASSOCIATION AND CIVIC TRUST CLASH OVER TOILET BLOCK

A sex abuse row has flared between Wigan Scouts and the guardians of one of the town's most famous stately homes.
As Britain rages about the paedophile murder of eight year-old schoolgirl Sarah Payne, the Scout Association has announced plans for new seperate adult and children's toilets just 100 metres away from 440 year-old Bispham Hall in Crank Road.
Grounds of the Grade II listed building are now a Scout Association camping centre used by thousands of children every year. The Scout Association says that the building is needed because of the expected clauses of the forthcoming Child Protection Act which aims to guard against child sex abuse.
It has been advised by Greater Manchester West Scout County Child Protection Advisor that future legislation under the Child Protection Act is 'likely' to include the requirement for seperate toilets.
But architectural guardians Wigan Civic Trust are demanding that the scheme be thrown out, saying the design will detract from the stately home, built for the historic Bispham family at the time of the English Civil War.
A spokesman for WCT said, "The plan drawing is poor, the scheme is poor and generally well below the standard of the new climbing frame for which we gave an award. It is in close proximity to Bispham Hall and the scheme should be rejected in it's present form."
But chairman of the management committee at the scout estate, David Astin, said "I'm surprised by these comments because the toilets will not be visible from the hall because of the trees. They have been designed because of the new Child Protection Act and basically will seperate adults from children.
"This will be a significant investment for the association and we are anxious to guard against a situation where we are caught up retrospectively with legislation and find out that we have to start redesigning things later."
Bispham Hall was rebuilt with the aid of the historic buildings charity the Vivat Trust in the 90s after largely being destroyed by a huge fire in 1978. It is now owned by former Latics chairman Bill Kenyon.
Metro borough planning officer John Sloane said that the new building wouldn't be 'detrimental' as it would be seperated from the historic hall by mature woodland and existing buildings from the scout estate. He said that the design of the building represented it's function.

MAN JAILED FOR SEX WITH SCHOOLGIRL

The devastated family of a Wigan schoolgirl who was the victim of a sex beast have spoken of their relief after her attacker was finally put behind bars.
The family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they had been through a nightmare, and were glad that John Farrimond had been jailed for his actions.
Farrimond,40, of Railway Street Springfield, was jailed for fifteen months at Bolton Crown court after he was found guilty of unlawful sex with a child under 16 years of age. He faced two other charges of indecent assault in addition to the unlawful sex charge. He was found not guilty on the indecent assault charges but convicted of unlawful sex after a trial.
But as he spends his time behind bars, the victim's family said the horrific ordeal has ruined their daughter's life and they desperately want to put the nightmare behind them. The stepfather of the 15 year-old victim told The Observer how Farrimond manipulated his daughter and took advantage of his vulnerable little girl in November last year. He said Farrimond, who he knew through his business, "played with her mind, flattered her and conned her into wagging school."
The events of the last eight months nearly ripped the family apart, he said, "We have been through so much that we are relieved to finally put an end to this case, it has devastated us all.
"Farrimond has made my daughter's life a misery and he deserves everything he gets. She was manipulated by a man who was so much older than her. He flattered her and she was taken in by it all. My stepdaughter has been through so much, she had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence and even though it was via video, it was traumatic for her.
"It has ruined my daughter's life, he tarnished her because he knew she was a vulnerable young girl and she never deserved that. We are pleased that he now faces 15 months behind bars and although we would have wished for a lot more, we now want to put those days behind us. Unfortunately, the nightmare still lives with my stepdaughter and probably will do for the rest of her life."

KILLER ELEPHANT SET TO PERFORM AGAIN

A memorial concert has been held in memory of Wigan girl Andrea Taylor who was killed by a rampaging elephant.
The concert, at Birchley St Mary's Club in Billinge, took place because Andrea had booked the hall for the weekend to celebrate her 21st birthday.
It featured musicians from four local brass bands of which Andrea was a member, St Helens Youth, Pemberton, Golborne and the JJB bands, and the proceeds will go the Student Nursing Foundation.
It has been revealed this week that the bull elephant which killed student nurse Andrea may be back performing before the public within weeks.
Her father Geoff, who also suffered serious goring injuries in the attack at a Thai animal park in April, says he will be complaining in the strongest possible terms to the tourism authorities about the proposed reinstatement of the animal.
He said, "We were reassured by the park that the rampaging elephant would never be used in public again but now it seems that they are going back on their word. I know they have erected some barriers now to protect the crowds but are they really going to work? We saw how powerful this animal was. It has also been tied up in a field since the attack, so I imagine it will be even more hostile now."
Mr Taylor, of School Brow, Billinge, is already locked in a compensation battle with the visitor attraction at Suan Nongnuch, not only over Andrea's death and his own injuries, but also the wounds inflicted on his other daughter, Helen.
He says if they do not get proper redress and the elephant is not kept away from the public he will then complain directly to the Thai minister for tourism who visited him and Helen when they were in hospital.
Helen, who lives in St Helens said, "How can they contemplate using that animal in front of human crowds again? It is beyond belief. Our family has been devastated by what this elephant did and I dread to think that this could happen to someone else."

SEARCH FOR 60S SHOP OWNER

Wigan Pier staff are asking the public for help in tracking down a local shopkeeper from the 1960s.
Miss Winkleman, who had a boutique on Rowbottom Square, Wigan, could provide vital information that would aid talks, workshops and activities as part of the Pier's award winning lifelong learning programme.
New workshops for the lifelong learning programme are currently being designed which relate specifically to Opie's Museum of Memories.
A Design and Technology workshop which is suitable for students aged 11 years and over, will include 60s fashion design. It is for this workshop that staff are so keen to track down the local boutique owner.
Sue Maiden from Wigan Pier Heritage Interpretation Scheme said,"We expect our 60s fashion workshop to be a big success with young people. I'm sure that Miss Winkleman's memories could be used to make the workshop even more interesting.
Anyone with any information should write to Sue Maiden, Wigan Pier, Wallgate, Wigan, WN3 4EF.

VIADUCT TAKES ON NEW SIGNIFICANCE

Adam Viaduct, which carries the Wigan/Kirby railway line over the River Douglas at the Saddle, looks set to become a major attraction for industrial historians.
The anonymous looking structure is, it has been revealed, the FIRST pre-stressed concrete bridge in the world!
And now the government culture and arts (DCMS)Minister Alan Howarth has announced that he is considering making the viaduct a Grade II listed structure to protect it for posterity. The news has delighted Metro planning department's conservation officer Philip Powell who says that the council pointed out the viaduct's historical significance to the government almost seven years ago.
The viaduct was constructed by the former London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1946 and was the result of 'pioneering research' into pre-stressed concrete, where concrete is poured over an already manufactiured and tightened iron skeleton.
Mr Powell said: "We are aware of the historical importance of the bridge and it is very good news that the DCMS is in the process of recognising it by listing."
The listing means that Railtrack would need full justification and explanation for any move to replace the bridge with a more modern structure, rather than repair it, should work become necessary.
It also outs the bridge into the same historical importance as the rather more grandiose Glenfinnan Viaduct built of un-stressed concrete by 'concrete Bob' Robert McAlpine on the majestic west Highland railway line between Fort William and Mallaig in the North West of Scotland. This magnificent structure from 1900 contains 21 arches is 416 yards long on a continuous curve of 792 feet and still in regular use today.

LOUISE MURDER-ACCUSED ATTACKED IN PRISON

The man accused of murdering Wigan teenager Louise Sellars has been subjected to a vicious beating by fellow inmates.
Darren Ashurst was battered during the Forest Bank Prison riot in Salford at the weekend after inmates kicked in his cell door.
The Evening Post was told that the 25 year-old from Back Lane Appley Bridge was left hospitalised by his wounds.But prison authorities have played down the incident, saying the injuries were only minor.
After the attack the prisoners, who had barricaded themselves into D wing in protest over the breakdown of their telephone system, let their victim out in order for him to undergo treatment.
It is understood that this is not the first time that Ashurst has been assaulted since he was remanded in custody at the new jail, having been subjected to a hate campaign by prisoners over several weeks.
The wing was vandalised during the riot, which ended in the small hours of Monday morning, so all prisoners have been relocated to other parts of the building.
A Home Office spokeswoman said, "I can confirm that a prisoner has received minor injuries in an incident at Forest Bank over the weekend. It is understood that he was attacked on D wing and then prisoners allowed him through the barricades for treatment."But the Evening Post learned that the lorry driver was much more seriously hurt than the authorities suggest. He had a cell to himself and when the trouble broke out, his door was broken down and he he was taken out and beaten before other prisoners stopped it going further.
A spokesman for UKDS, the private firm which runs the prison, confirmed that Ashurst was being kept in Forest Bank's hospital wing "for observation" but again said his injuries were minor. An investigation has now been launched.
Ashurst is on remand awaiting trial in October when he will stand accused at Manchester Crown Court of murdering 15 year-old Louise five years ago.