widnes local - sept & oct 2012

Please mention Widnes Local when responding to any adverts July & August 2012 | Widnes Local 1

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Sept & Oct 2012Issue 40

Lamb & Aubergine Curry Recipe

Beware of the Evil Weevil

Wonderful Wet Rooms

Local Groups & Events

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4 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607A note from the team

hello reader...

Advertising Deadline for the next issue, is Friday 12th October.

The Local Magazines are published by Hawk Publications Ltd. Hawk Publications Ltd, C3 Frodsham Business Centre, Bridge Lane, Frodsham, WA6 7FZ. tel: 01928 739607 | email: [email protected] | web: www.thelocalmags.co.uk

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Hawk Publications Ltd does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publica-tion. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

Win £50 Cash! This sun is hidden in the magazine somewhere! To enter, we need:

1. Your name? 2. Your postcode? 3. Your contact number? 4. Which advert it’s hidden on?

Email us your answer to: [email protected] or call us on 01928 739607 to enter (office hours only, please.)

The winner will be chosen at random will be notified by 12th October 2012.

Last issue’s winner was Janet Brewer - well done Janet - £50 is on its way to you!

...and welcome to the very latest edition of Widnes Local.I can’t believe that there’s so much of the year gone already! The next magazine will be our Christmas edition! I don’t know about you but I have to say I was on the cynical side of the fence when it came to the Olympics… but WOW… after that amazing opening ceremony followed by our athletes overwhelming performance, I completely, utterly and totally changed my opinion. How blinking amazing were we? I don’t want them to go to Rio – I want to keep them for us!

We get 100’s of entries to our competition every time, and although our winners are chosen completely at random, we always seem to pick someone lovely to win! This time it was Janet Brewer – well done Janet. Remember you can email your entry or phone us to enter – as Bob Hoskins used to say in that 80’s ad… It’s good to talk! Do you remember it?

This month I’m ending my introduction with YET another inspirational message, I love both the design, colours and sentiment of this one.. one to look at and remind ourselves of when we’re feeling a little bit undervalued! What motivates you?

Until next time…

The Local Mags Team x

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STUDENTS who have offered advice and support to others in Priestley College have been rewarded for their efforts.

Nine members of the College’s Graduate Enrichment Programme – designed to support applications for Russell Group universities – received certificates and vouchers to mark their achievements.

Senior Tutor Mark Salmon presented the prizes to the graduates who have advised fellow students on writing personal statements, university life and preparing for interviews.

“All of you have been role models for the first year students and the support you have offered them and the College has been really excellent,” said Mark. “We hope you will remain in contact with us and that we can visit you at university.”

Priestley College’s Graduate programme is designed to raise students’ aspirations as well as help develop independent learning skills that are highly valued by employers and universities.

Among this year’s successes was 18-year-old Jamie Farrington, from Latchford, who is going on to study Ancient and Modern History at the University of Manchester.

The former Sir Thomas Boteler student wrote a blog for the College website offering advice on what to expect from university.

Rebecca Rowlands, 17 and from Penketh, was rewarded for winning a great debate after successfully arguing why suffragette Emily Pankhurst should be saved, if there was a chance to save only one person from history.

Also honoured during was Sophie Fleming from Warrington. The 18-year-old was a constant support to other students during her time at Priestley.

“I wanted to get people involved and make sure they were happy at College and excited about university if that is what they wanted to do,” said Sophie.

All the graduates are going to study at universities including Manchester, Warwick, Leeds and the London School of Economics.

Mike Wrench, 18 from Latchford, helped other students with personal statements and preparing for university. He is now heading to Warwick University to study Classical Archaeology and Ancient History.

“It felt like the right thing to do and was very rewarding,” Former Penketh High School pupil Joe Brown’s blog also offered advice on best practice in interviews. Joe has been offered a place at Oxford University studying law.

Runcorn’s Conor Bennett, 18, offered support to countless students during his time as President of the College Council. He wanted to be involved in the council because it had supported him during his first year at Priestley.

Finally, Jenny George, 18 and a former Bridgewater High School pupil, was rewarded for offering advice on graduate presentations and interviews.

“I always loved Priestley and wanted others to have as good an experience as I did,” she said. For an application pack, you can contact Priestley’s Admissions Team on 01925 415415 or visit their website at: www.priestley.ac.uk

Graduates rewarded for achievements and words of wisdom...

Priestley College’s graduates who offer support to others while working towards a university place.

Untitled-79 1 16/08/2012 13:41

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WetRoomsJust what is a wet room anyway?

In a conventional wet room, the whole bathroom is, potentially, the shower area. There’s no step up into the shower cubicle – in fact, there’s no shower cubicle; instead, the room is tanked (treated to make it completely waterproof ) and given a floor drain and a decent-sized shower head. Add a conventional loo and basin, and bingo, you have a wet room.

Why would I want one?

Wet rooms done well are stylish, contemporary and seen as the last word in luxury, and some say they add value to a property – though it must be added that this seems to apply mainly to high-end, urban homes rather than your average suburban semi or country cottage. If you enjoy an indulgent shower then a wet room gives you an

unparalleled sense of freedom and space (you can even design it so you have a view); and if your bathroom is on the small side then removing the bath will give you loads more room. Wet rooms should be easier to keep clean, too – no fiddling around the screen or tray, just a mop over as necessary, which is especially easy if you fit a wall-mounted basin and WC. Finally, wet rooms can be better for older people or anyone with impaired mobility, as there’s no step up into the shower to negotiate.

What can go wrong?

It’s not advisable to convert your only bathroom into a wet room – potential buyers tend to want at least one bath and, what’s more, you do need access to a dry loo and basin, especially if there’s more than one of you in the household. In a family bathroom a wet floor may

create problems for small children. As with all home improvements, adding an inappropriately over-the-top wet room to an otherwise ordinary house is not a good idea. Without good ventilation a wet room can all too quickly become musty and mouldy. And, last but by no means least, there’s every wet room owner’s nightmare – a failure in the tanking resulting in leaks and damp patches.

Can I have a wet-room without the potential problems?

Absolutely. You can create a walk-in shower, which is larger than usual, at floor level for ease of access, and just as streamlined and chic. The advantage is that it has its own below-floor drainage area and is enclosed by a good-looking glass panel: thus the water is contained in one area (so no soaked loo roll), and the room won’t need such

They’re hip, they’re hot and they’re wet, wet, wet – and no, we’re not talking about an Eighties pop band, but the aspirational trend for bathrooms. Katherine Sorrell looks at what you need to know before installing a wet room or walk-in shower.


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extensive preparation with regard to drainage and tanking. The risk of leaks is reduced – though there are no guarantees. The disadvantage is that a walk-in will take up more space than a standard shower cubicle.

What are the technicalities?

Wet rooms are often recommended for ground floors and basements, where the sub-floor is more likely to be solid. In a first-floor installation it’s more tricky. You may need to strengthen joists in order to bear the load of heavy stone tiles; you’ll certainly need to ensure that the floor is stable, as wooden joists that flex could create cracks in tiles or waterproofing. In all cases you need to create a suitable drainage slope, either with a ‘former’ and suitable levelling compound, or a pre-formed tray set into the floor. To accommodate waste fittings, you may need to raise the entire floor level of the room, which could mean having to re-size the

doorway.

Really good tanking is vital. It may be in the form of impermeable sheeting or a trowelled-on sealant, and should be applied to the entire floor of the wet room or walk-in, the walls that are likely to become wet, and extend beyond by 50cm each side. Another option for walls is to use prefabricated water-resistant boarding. In both cases it is necessary to seal vulnerable areas (corner joints and pipework penetrations) using a special sealing strip. Then there’s your water supply. If you have low water pressure or a small tank, for example, you may need to fit a bigger tank or add a pump. Finally, ventilation. Fit a really good extractor fan, following building regulations religiously (ask advice from your local planning authority), and avoid condensation by also having some form of heating in the room, whether underfloor or radiators.


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Pippa Greenwoodby

The vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is notorious, especially for gardeners who concentrate on pots, and always feature in any gardening poll of ‘top pests’. Both the adults and their grubs do damage, but it’s the innocent looking grubs that give the vine weevil its bad reputation. They’re an immensely successful pest; there are only females and each one is capable of laying about 1,000 eggs during the summer. Now that they’re being controlled successfully commercially, they’re perhaps less of a problem to gardeners than they once were but if you have them in your garden, whether you like it or not, you probably need to get to know.

Do You Have Vine Weevils?

The adult vine weevil is just under 1cm long, matt black with tiny gingery brown flecks on its wing-cases. They’re a classic weevil shape with elbowed antennae and a phenomenal ability to grip on to nearly any surface; a brilliant feature as, despite the wing-cases, these pests cannot fly, so rely on their climbing to access the foliage on which they feed. You’re likely to notice the notches around the leaf margins before you see the weevil itself. They tend to feed in the evening or at night, usually doing most damage on the lower, most accessible leaves.

The young stage weevils or grubs are about 1cm long, creamy white

in colour and often curled into a ‘C’ shape, with no legs but a gingery brown head. You’re likely to find them in the compost or soil, usually close to the roots or tubers that they’ve been feeding on. They eat the roots, burrow in to tubers and on woody plants may even eat the tissues at the stem base and on larger roots. Unless you’re removing a plant from its pot, or digging one up you’re unlikely to notice the grubs; it is when a plant suddenly starts to wilt or die, or you realise that something is no longer firmly rooted that alarm bells ring.

What Do Vine Weevils Attack?

Vine weevils will attack nearly any plant you try to grow, particularly in containers, probably because it’s easier for them to move through compost than garden soil. They’re a greater problem on perennial plants and those with fleshier roots or tubers. Alpines, cyclamen, primulas, fuchsias, hydrangeas, begonias, rhododendrons, euonymus, and strawberries seem to be particularly prone to attack.

The adult beetles emerge mostly between March and May, but also at other times in greenhouses. The eggs are tiny and dark brown, each less than 1mm diameter and are placed close to a suitable host plant. The eggs hatch to produce the creamy coloured grubs which feed and grow until they reach full size. The grubs pupate in the soil or compost where they have been feeding and within the pupae, if you look carefully you can see adult features developing – the antennae, the legs and the wing pads are often clearly visible. The adults then appear, start to feed and lay eggs.

What Can You Do?

Try to avoid getting vine weevils in the first place. Check plants carefully for foliage damage and check the roots before you introduce anything new to your garden. Buy plants only from reputable sources. Avoid re-using compost in containers as it might

contain grubs or eggs, which are impossible to spot.

As vine weevils cannot fly, making barriers is relatively easy. Put a ring of non-setting glue around the rim of containers as this should prevent the female from reaching the compost surface to lay her eggs. Similarly a gritty mulch may reduce the number of eggs that are laid and hatch. Try creating miniature moats around the legs of greenhouse staging, by standing each leg in a bowl of water. Vine weevils can’t swim and won’t be able to access the plants provided the staging doesn’t touch the sides of the greenhouse.

I’m a fan of the biological nematode controls. They’re available from mail order suppliers (including www.pippagreenwood.com) and some seed catalogues and are applied as a compost or soil drench. To work effectively the area must be kept constantly moist, so that the nematodes can move through the compost to attack the grubs. They enter the grubs’ bodies and produce a bacterial infection which kills them. The nematode controls need to have a soil or compost temperature of 5-21C and you’ll have the best effect if you use them during the coming months.

The Evil Weevil

Visit the new products area on Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for a great selection of products - signed copies of Pippa’s books, Grower Frames, cloches, pop-up plant cloches, raised bed kits, delightful terracotta herb planters and wall plaques, Nemaslug and other natural pest controls and lots, lots more! You can also sign up for Pippa’s newsletter and receive a free ebook on organic gardening.


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The Meaning of Luxury...For some it’s a pair of Jimmy Choos or a Louis Vuitton handbag. For others it’s a weekend shopping trip with friends or a home cooked meal lovingly prepared by your other half. For me, it’s got to be a brand new bathroom – my own sparkling clean private dreamland where I can enjoy a long, hot heavenly soak, away from the stresses of everyday life.

As time goes by though, your bath time pleasures will be spoiled when you notice the deteriorating condition of the silicone and the grout; black spots and mould will appear. And even when you put some serious elbow grease into scrubbing away at the grotty bits, you’ll get that ‘painting the Forth Bridge’ feeling - the work never ends, particularly if you’ve got more than one bathroom.

Now you might think that the only solution to this is a costly new bathroom every five years or so, but you’d be wrong! We’ve discovered a local company called Total Bathroom Restoration, who can justly claim to put the gleam back into your bathroom at the fraction of the cost of a new one!

Since launching in March 2010, Ian Read, the owner of Total Bathroom Restoration has seen his business thrive to become one of the North West’s premier bathroom restoration companies. Ian believes that almost any bathroom can be rescued from the damage caused by unsightly mould and mildew that occurs naturally over time.

Ian, who used to present a home makeover show on the Discovery Home and Leisure TV channel, is passionate about the services his company offers. From his experience in property management he realised that most bathroom problems showed a consistent pattern; leaks,

grout failure, mouldy silicone, chipped bath trays and cloudy shower screens, and he subsequently embarked on a period of research and development with the aim of offering a complete bathroom restoration service to home owners.

And the result is a series of tried and tested methods, carried out by a skilled team that can restore any bathroom to its original state whilst causing you the minimum amount of disruption. Ian says “We’re genuinely passionate about what we do and we’re eager to show you exactly what can be achieved without replacing fixtures and fittings”.

As well as traditional baths and tiles, Ian and

his team can tackle almost all bathroom related problems that some tradesmen would shy away from. These might include problem shower trays, shower cubicles and screens, natural stone tiles and more recently they have expanded their services to include other problem areas around the house such as kitchen worktops, sinks and tiles/grout.

Think ice-white silicone & grout, perfect tiles and a bathroom to be proud of; that’s the service that Total Bathroom Restoration can offer to you. If you don’t want to fork out thousands for a new bathroom but want to breathe a new lease of life into the one you have, just call Total Bathroom Restoration now on 0151 345 0362 or 0800 542 9984 and for more details visit their website at: www.totalbathroomrestoration.co.uk

This is what our latest customer had to say…Mr Murphy of Rainhill told Local Mags, “My sister saw my new bathroom makeover and said how she wishes hers was so clean because her shower cubicle was black with mould and the old silicone was coming away.“I decided to give my sister a bathroom makeover for Christmas, Ian was very friendly and informative, looked at the job and agreed a date and time. He and his team cleaned out all the old mouldy silicone and grout; they worked very professionally and expertly with all the correct tools and materials. Every single detail was scoured and by the end of the day the shower cubicle had been transformed and my sister and her husband were amazed!”

And here are some of our other recent testimonials…“Ian and his team made a massive difference in the our shower room, I could not believe that it was the same bathroom.” Al Elliott, Widnes

“Professional job and completed in a day. Very Impressed!” Caroline Moss, Runcorn“Fantastic job, cant recommend them enough!” Paul Williams, Rainhill

“…looks like a brand new bathroom!!!” Joe Anthony, Ormskirk Road, Wigan“…as good as new” Chris & Allan Birchall, Rainford“…value for money” Rita & Barrie Critchley, Eccleston

“…surpassed all expectations” Jerry Rowlands, Rainford“…fast, clean and reliable” John Hunter, Eccleston, St Helens

“…would definitely recommend them” Angela Taylor, Rainhill

Total Bathroom Restoration0151 345 0362

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Shower Before

Shower After

Bath Before

Bath After

Total Bathrooms DPS Jan 2012.indd 2-3 15/08/2012 22:03


Whatever the weather, one thing is certain - grass grows! From town house mini-lawn to school playing fields to stately home green acres, every patch has been mown time after time through the summer. Now imagine that task undertaken with scythes and hand shears and we begin to appreciate an undervalued invention, the lawn mower!

Formal lawns with short cropped grass first appeared in France in the early 1700s and the idea quickly spread to England, across Europe and the world. Lawns were first kept neat by animals and servant gardeners armed with scythes, sickles and shears.

By the 1800s, progress in mechanical engineering produced machines with revolving blades.

The first patent for a mechanical lawn mower was granted in August 1830 to engineer Edwin Budding of Stroud, Gloucestershire. Budding’s design was based on a cutting tool used for trimming carpet, with a series of blades arranged around a cylinder. An unpatented 17” grass cutter designed to be pulled by a pony was built by Scotsman Alexander Shanks in 1841.

The first chain driven mower was produced by Thomas Green in 1859 and mass production followed in the 1860s. In 1870, Ellwood McGuire of Richmond, Indiana designed a lightweight hand-pushed machine which was an instant commercial success.

The basic design of the cylinder mower has changed little since the 1930’s although a light,

Inventions: Lawn Movers

efficient rotary mower was developed in the 1950s. Petrol driven mowers were improved with smaller more powerful engines, but the problem of maintenance and pollution remains. Electric mowers are now popular, but for limitations by cable length to the power source.

Today, as we give our lawns that last autumn cut, let’s thank Mr. Budding for his foresight.

© Leon F. Jones. 2011.


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Mr and Mrs Dickens of Appleton were delighted to receive a call from local furniture retailer Branches of Warrington to learn they had won the top prize of £1000 worth of furniture of their choice from the Warrington store. The competition was part of Branches Anniversary, celebrating ten years in their premises on Wilderspool Causeway. The prize draw was open to visitors to their store and website www.branchesofwarrington.co.uk over the last six months.

Mrs Dickens commented: “It was a lovely surprise to receive the call from Branches to say we had won the prize and to be able to make our choice from such a wide

selection of oak and pine furniture. We are really looking forward to furnishing our living room with the Normandy, French style, oak furniture.”

Howard Ashwood, owner and Director of Branches also commented: “During our year of celebration we wanted to say thank you to the people of Warrington and Cheshire for their support over the years, by offering a genuine chance to win a fantastic prize. We are delighted that Mr and Mrs Dickens will make their selection from our extensive range of dining, bedroom and occasional furniture. We hope they have many years of enjoyment using the furniture in their home”.

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Oak Bedroom Furniture

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Oak Bedroom Furniture

Pictured in Antique Wax finish

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• Easy-access town centre location

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furniture in a wide range of fi nishes

• Wide selection of beds and furniture to suit all tastes.

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Visit us today at:5 Albert Square, Widnes, CheshireWA8 6JWTel: 0151 257 8028

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THE UNICORN GALLERY LTD

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Opening Times: 9am - 5pm, Closed Sundays & � ursdays38 Victoria Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 7RJ, Tel: 0151 495 1194

One of the UK’s leading Fine Art Galleries, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

A family business run by Peter Hart and daughter Rebecca. � e Unicorn Gallery o� ers a unique selection of the highest quality paintings by the most talented artists.

Original ‘Blue Horizon’ £695 Framed

Michael Ashcro� , as seen on BBC‘Show me the Money’

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THE UNICORN GALLERY LTD

www.originalpaintings.com

Opening Times: 9am - 5pm, Closed Sundays & � ursdays38 Victoria Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 7RJ, Tel: 0151 495 1194

One of the UK’s leading Fine Art Galleries, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

A family business run by Peter Hart and daughter Rebecca. � e Unicorn Gallery o� ers a unique selection of the highest quality paintings by the most talented artists.

Original ‘Blue Horizon’ £695 Framed

Michael Ashcro� , as seen on BBC‘Show me the Money’

Mark Spain,signed limited edition

‘Breeze III’ £420 Framed

Nigel Cooke, original ‘Morning in Amsterdam’ £695 Framed

FRAMING

We o� er a bespoke framing service to conservation standards.Whether it’s reframing a painting you have seen in the gallery to suit

your decor or a precious family photo, we have the expertise along with a large variety of mouldings to help you pick the perfect frame.

Braaq (Brian Shields), Original ‘Siblings’ £2250 Framed


01928 58099132 Regent Street, Runcorn, WA7 [email protected]

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This month’s selction of great

books...The Curiosity Bookshop in Runcornhave kindly supplied us with a listof fi ve great reads for this month...

Haunted Liverpool 18 He’s done it again! Tom Slemen’s latest offering, Haunted Liverpool 18 will send a shiver down the most sceptical of spines. From unseen terrors confronting night workers to the nightmares proving to have more substance than imagination, these supernatural stories raise far more questions that they answer. “Its face was grotesque: bulbous, white as porcelain, with no nose, just four gaping black nostrils… and a ghastly odour of death and decay.” Dare you walk down Hanover Street at night? (£6.99)

Narrow Dog toWigan PierClose on the heels of Narrow Dog to Carcassonne and Narrow Dog to Indian River comes Narrow Dog to Wigan Pier. A little nearer to home and just as funny. “We’ll start with Liverpool,” said Monica. “Wirral. Manchester Ship Canal, the Mersey… It will be a good start for your book.” There’s no book for me in the North… No one will be interested…” He’s wrong. They will! From the electro-convulsive therapy to Jim, the whippet with the broken ear, the journey from madness to Wigan Pier is pure entertainment. (Terry Darlington, £14.99)

Wiggsters Reunited

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Halton Borough Council’s Area Forum, Wiggsters Reunited is a ‘must have’ addition to every collection of local books. Packed full of photographs of Wigg Works workers and memories of working lives now a thing of the past. The main product was sulphuric acid – not a pleasant environment to spend time in, but as the book shows, the workforce managed to enjoy many a laugh, especially the Jelly Girls of the Gelatine Plant! This very limited edition also contains a DVD featuring children from Woodside Primary School. (£4.99)

Cheshire’s Favourite WildlifeCheshire’s Favourite Wildlife has been produced to support the conservation work of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Commissioned by David Norman, the book contains fi fty examples of wildlife to be found within the boundaries of Cheshire, each suggested by individual enthusiasts and conservationists to celebrate the Wildlife Trust’s fi ftieth anniversary. From the scarlet Corn Poppy to the mighty Marton Oak of East Cheshire, aged at least 1,200 years old, the sleepy dormouse in his nest to the bright red eyelash fungus and the nation’s favourite robin, these personal stories and full colour pictures illustrate the wealth of nature that surrounds the inhabitants of Cheshire. (£9.99)

All Teachers Great & SmallJames Herriot meets Gervase Phinn in ‘All Teachers Great and Small’ by Andy Seed. Moving from town to countryside as a newly qualifi ed teacher, the scenic environment was everything he and his new wife anticipated. But Primary School children, not to mention builders, threw up more than a few surprises. All the anecdotes and events are real, though the names may have been changed too protect the innocent, producing a heart-warming and humorous memoir for teachers and ex-pupils alike. £7.99)

Health, Beauty & LifestylePlease mention The Local Mag when responding to any adverts 39

If you venture away from the High Street and look for a more ‘homemade’ approach to beauty, you’ll find cheap and surprisingly effective natural solutions that don’t rely on fancy packaging and big promises. Instead, they inspire you to start reaching into your kitchen cupboard rather than your bathroom cabinet whenever you fancy a beauty treat.

There’s no need to give up on your favourite products, but trying out some homemade hair, skin and body treats from time to time can leave you looking and feeling great and help with the budget too.

Because they’re all created with completely natural ingredients, homemade face-masks, scrubs and treatments make use of what nature has to offer and what’s more, they smell good enough to eat.

Try out our selection of the best...

Fresh Faced Peach and Honey Face-mask Reap the rewards of this totally nourishing and revitalising natural

face-mask that smells good enough to eat. You’ll need: 1 peach 3 teaspoons of honey 2 tablespoons of natural yoghurt

It’s really easy to create the mask, simply skin the peach and mash the flesh with the honey and add the natural yoghurt. Work the ingredients in to a smooth paste and apply to a cleansed face and neck. Sit back and relax for 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Your skin should be left feeling soft, supple and nourished.

Luscious Locks - The Natural Way Thanks to its natural conditioning and moisturising properties, coconut oil is the perfect treat for damaged hair. It has a soothing and softening effect on both the scalp and lengths of hair.

You’ll need: A cup of coconut oil

Massage the oil into the hair, paying particular attention to damaged lengths and ends. Apply sparingly to the scalp - or not at all if your hair is in fairly

good condition. Wrap the hair in clingfilm and cover with a warm towel for maximum conditioning benefit - the heat opens the hair shaft and allows the oil to penetrate. Wash out with shampoo and condition as normal.

Glowing Skin - The Ultimate Homemade Exfoliator for the Body

You’ll need: Sea salt Almond oil Grapefruit

Known for its deep cleansing and therapeutic properties, sea stalt is an essential part of this naturally nourishing scrub. Mix it together with grated grapefruit peel - to stimulate circulation - and finish with almond oil that’s rich in essential fatty acids and the antioxidant vitamin E. After soaking in a warm bath, dry off and apply the mixture to the skin. Thoroughly exfoliate, paying attention to the areas that need it most. Rinse off and moisturise.

Naturally BeautifulHome vs. High Street

We all love to try the latest beauty products and if you believe what you read on the packaging, you’ll wonder how you’ve ever lived without them. There’s no doubt there are some great products out there that go a long way in making our hair shiny, keeping our skin moisturised and fighting off lines and wrinkles, and there’s certainly no doubt that we fork out a lot of money for them...

Health, Beauty & Lifestyle40 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607

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Darren Tyrer was previously a senior stylist/director of Andrew Collinge in Liverpool. After 23 years in the hairdressing industry, he decided to take the plunge and open his own salon. The stunning conversion of the old Post Office building in Cronton now houses his salon that prides itself on offering styling worthy of a city centre salon right at your convenience.

Now Stocking Mythic OilsShampoo & ConditionersProvides a refreshing cleansing experience, leavingyour hair feeling tamed, manageable & looking shiny.

We now offer ‘BOTOX for HAIR’

Rewind years of damage with this fantastic treatment

Darren Nicola Helen Gemma Katie Claire Hannah

MEET THE TEAM...

431 Cronton Road, Widnes WA8 5QG

T: 0151 422 8384

Gift Vouchers Available

CUT & BLOW DRYS...

£22.50!

Startingat just

“Although I was a bit nervous, I fancied a new look... Darren’s staff took the time with me to discuss different styles and I’m chuffed with my new style!”Sarah Miller

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N O W O P E N

THE MEN’S ROOM

Widnes Men’s Roomwww.themensroomwidnes.co.uk

Open: Mon, Tues, Wed, 9am-5pm Thurs & Fri 9am-6pm Sat 8am-4pm

Tel: 0151 422 0749The Men’s Room,

86 Derby Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 9LQ

Westbrook Men’s Roomwww.themensroomwestbrook.co.uk

Open: Mon, Tues, Wed 9am-6pm, Thurs & Fri 9am-7pmSat 8am-6pm

Tel: 01925 417675The Men’s Room, top floor inside Westbrook Tanning,9 Westbrook Centre, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 8UG

The Men’s Room state-of-the-artBarber Salon now open in Widnes!Our second Salon has been designedto offer Gentlemen a place to come tode-stress and enjoy a haircut and arelaxing hot towel shave - whilst nevermissing that all important goal on

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Why not try a Swedish Massage at ourTreatment Rooms at Westbrook

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TMR full:Layout 1 14/8/12 17:57 Page 1


The Dance Academyoffers the higheststandard of dancetraining through theImperial SocietyTeachers ofDancing.Classes can be taken from 2 1/2 years old and can be taken in Tap,Modern, Ballet, Street Jazz, Zumba, Gymnastics, Singing and Drama.All students are encouraged to take part Shows, Exams, Competitionsand Auditions.

The Dance Academy offers Dance Teacher Training in Ballet, Tap,Modern and NVQ's in Fitness. No previous experience is necessary aswe have specially devised courses from beginners to advanced

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Through our carefully selected tram ofdedicated professionals we bring the bestout in every student and provide themwith a foundation that will stay with themthroughout their dance career.New to the Dance Academy 'ZumbaExpress Childrens Parties.' Give yourchild a party to remember with a funfusion of dance moves from the ZumbaProgram! Watch their excitement andenergy levels soar as they celebrateyour child's birthday in true Zumbastyle!!!!

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SPECIAL CLASSES FOR 3 TO 6 YEAR OLDS!Our award winning MIGHTY MATT’S programme is specificallydesigned to help teach 3 to 6 year olds the important qualities ofRespect, Discipline, Self control and Confidence. They will also learngreat character and self-defence skills.

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Morocco Deep in southern Morocco, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs is a fabled land where ancient forts of mud and straw mingle their reflections in the sparkling waters of the river Dadès. Balancing on the rocks, sprinkled like sandcastles from village to village, they take on the colours of the earth, red, mauve, ochre and gold. Rainstorms and floods have long threatened their walls but they still stand, like proud sentinels from the past.

In this tortured land shaped by earthquakes, the hills are bare, baked dry, but along the river are almond groves, luminous patches of young wheat and mud houses with zigzag patterns on their walls and ornate grills on their windows. Pink roses bloom in a secluded grove and in the little town of El Kelaa M’Gouna, every shop sells rose water and scented lotion. There, women cover their faces as you approach but their veils are fringed with silver trinkets.

Where the roads from the valleys meet at over 3000 feet, Ouarzazate greets you with the most illustrious

kasbah, once home of a wealthy lord. Inside, a forbidding maze of dark alcoves and latticed windows recalls centuries of history while storks rattle their beaks on the battlements. Follow the road and you could dine pasha-style in Tifoultout kasbah, gaze at turrets and wall tattoos in Taourirt or explore the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou where the fragrance of mint tea lingers in the air and locals speak of Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel of the Nile and other epics filmed on the spot.

Suddenly, the desert wind rages through the streets, shaking the fig and pomegranate trees. Shops close their doors and the boys fishing in the river

look at the sky and pack up their gear. It’s time to escape and climb to the spectacular Ait Saouen pass in the Anti-Atlas before tackling the steep descent to the Draa valley, stopping now and then to allow an iguana to crawl across the tarmac.

To many visitors who come this far, Draa is the loveliest of the oases

on the kasbah trail. Green palms, red earth, blue sky, it unfolds like a tapestry along a river draped in oleander. Adobe villages and kasbahs grow out of the land in a jumble of tapering towers and passageways, courtyards and crenellations. Men in white djellabas sit under the trees, putting the world to rights, and goats and chickens roam unconcerned while in the shrine of Tamegroute, pilgrims consult holy books written on gazelle skin.

After the long drive south, Zagora rises like a mirage in the hazy heat, a bustling little place with a vast palmery, as lush as velvet, and camels offering rides along the river. Bunches of dates glow like gold in trees and in the late afternoon light, the lonely Zagora hill takes on a magical purple shade.

Only the brave venture to M’Hamid at end of the road where toffee-coloured houses are almost buried in the sand. No more oases, no more kasbahs, only giant dunes encroaching on the land, wave upon wave, the domain of scorpions and snakes and lonely caravans on their way to Timbuktu, 52 days across the desert.

Solange Hando

Motoring & Travel44 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607


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FREE NO OBLIGATION ASSESSMENTPRIVATE WIDNES BASED CONSULTING ROOM

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Treatment of Underarm Sweating

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07521 [email protected]

Debbie’sBeauty

We specialise in Facials including

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All beauty treatments available atfantastic prices

Come along and relax in a friendly,professional, calming environment whilst

being pampered.

Please Call0151 420 3160 / 07513823084

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Specialisingin

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Health, Beauty & Lifestyle46 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607

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We are a group of local businesses who work collaboratively and also support and help each other in business...

Food & Drink48

LAMB AND AUBERGINE CURRY... This quick curry is so easy to make and much cheaper than a take away. We’ve used lean lamb steaks but you could replace the lamb with pork fillet, chicken or turkey.

WHAT TO DO... • Heat 1tbsp of the oil in a

large deep frying pan.

•Add the lamb chunks and fry over a high heat until browned all over.

•Remove the lamb from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

•Add the rest of the oil to the pan and fry the onion and aubergine for 7-8 minutes, stirring all the time until golden.

•Stir in the curry paste and cook for 1 minute then pour in the sieved tomatoes and bring to the boil.

•Return to the lamb to the pan and reduce the heat to a simmer.

•Cover and cook gently for 25-30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir occasionally and add a splash of water if needed.

•Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

•Serve the curry in warmed bowls garnished with coriander and with chapattis, sliced tomatoes, cucumber and onions.

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED... •3 tbsp sunflower oil

•650g lean lamb steaks, cut into chunks•1 onion, peeled and chopped

•1 large aubergine, cut into cubes•2tbsp Rogan Josh curry paste

•400g sieved tomatoes•Salt and freshly ground black pepper•Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish

•Chapattis, sliced tomatoes, cucumber and onion, to serve

takes

M I N s20se

rves

4

Food & Drink 49

Now takingbookingsfor theChristmasPeriod forboth theCuRestaurant& ourTrafalgarSuite

Cu Restaurantat the Hillcrest Hotel

75 Cronton LaneWidnes

WA8 9AR

For bookings please call

0151 424 [email protected]

Book early toavoiddisappointment

CU this festive full:Layout 1 15/8/12 18:22 Page 1

The team at the Hillcrest Hotel are very much looking foward to the Festive Period this year as 2012 will be the first Christmas that they will be welcoming customers to celebrate in their fabulous Cu Restaurant.

Those of you who have already had the opportunity to visit the restaurant will know that it is almost unrecognisable from when it was previously Palms Restaurant. Richard Greensmith, the General Manager of the hotel felt that Widnes was crying out for an exciting new restaurant serving great food. They have invested a good deal of money and great deal of TLC in their quest to transform the old and tired Palms into what it is today. And it really shows.

So what can you expect from the Hillcrest this Christmas? Well, firstly the Cu Restaurant will be hosting ‘Cu at Christmas’ evenings which start on 29th November. For just £42.95 you will be welcomed with Champagne and canapés on arrival. A sumptuous 4-course menu has been selected that you can enjoy whilst being entertained by live musicians. You can then continue your evening in Nelson’s bar, if you wish to. Fitting with the new sophisticated setting and menus, you will not be interrupted by a DJ this year.

Should you wish to take advantage of this brilliant restaurant that is right on your doorstep on a Sunday in December (2nd-16th) then you will be pleased to know that a

special 3-course menu has been prepared. Priced at £17.95 for adults and £7.95 for children, it really represents great value for money. Oh, and there is a special visitor on 16th December - Santa will Cu in his grotto!

Reservations are also being taking for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. I would recommend booking early if you’d would like to dine on one of these days as demand is likely to be high.

For those of you looking for more of a party atmosphere - the Trafalgar Suite is just perfect for you. Again, starting on 29th November and running right up to Saturday 22nd December you can enjoy a four-course dinner and half a bottle of wine followed by DJ and dancing until 12.30am! Prices vary but start at just £27.95.

Another great idea for a get together with your friends is the ‘Golden Oldies Christmas Lunch’. You will enjoy a pre-lunch tipple, a four-course meal and after lunch there will be entertainment, sing-a-longs, dancing, and bingo with real prizes! All of this costs just £14.95 per person and there are two dates to choose between: Tuesday 4th or Tuesday 11th December.

To view their full festive booklet, visit the website at: www.cu-restaurant.co.uk or simply call in to the Hillcrest and pick up a copy.

To make a reservation enquiry, please call:

0151 424 1616As a special offer to all local readers, The Hillcrest are offering a massive

25% Off Christmas BookingsValid for parties up to 8 people. Simply quote ‘WIDNES LOCAL’

Children, Pets & Education52 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607

So what is JUMP? JUMP is a North West based children’s charity that provides children with life threatening health conditions with memory packages captured through photography and film, across the UK. As an everlasting gift the memory photo books and DVDs are a lasting tribute recognising an individual child and their place in their family.

JUMP was inspired by Jacob Hawthorn. Jacob was born in June 2000, with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle wasting disease that severely affects movement and mobility.

Jacob’s family worked hard to overcome the barriers that got in the way so he could have lots of positive experiences in his life. Sadly, Jacob passed away in 2004 aged just 3 years. His family found a small amount of comfort in the wonderful collection of photographs and video clips they had of his short life.

JUMP was born from the idea of capturing those special memories of children that face health limitations so their family can cherish them forever.

The support they offer families is not available from any other organisation; it is unique and invaluable for the children they work with. The JUMP vision is that their memory package service is accessible to enhance the life of every child with life threatening health conditions.

The JUMP team are highly experienced in capturing memories and working with children with life threatening health conditions. Every child and family is treated with real care and respect and the team pay huge attention to ensure that each child’s memory day is tailored to them and creates an environment where the children are made to feel incredibly special.

What can YOU do to make a difference? JUMP relies on voluntary donations. They could not provide the unique and special service for families and children without the support of individuals and corporate support.

Would you like to join JUMP at one of the events held throughout the year? Or organise an activity or event yourself? Are you a member of a club, school or group in the community that wants to work with and support a charity?

For more details see the website: www.jumpchildrenscharity.co.uk

Contact details p 0843 658 0162 e [email protected]

Follow us at: facebook.com/jumpchildrenscharity twitter.com/jumpcharity linkendin.com/company/jumpchildrenscharity jumpcharity.blogspot.com

Jacob’s Unique Memory Pot...

Join JUMP and representitives from Football and the regions soaps for a spectacular night of entertainment and auction

prizes.

This autumn JUMP are organising an amazing charity

event, Jacob’s Moonlight Ball. the event is being

sponsored by the Professional Footballer’s Association and is proving to be extremely

popular so why not join us on:

Thursday 25th October

For more details see: www.moonlight-ball.co.uk

Follow us twitter.com/moonlight_ball

To buy tickets call: 01925 846400

Food & Drink 53

Children's Menu Delgados believe that eating out should be

fun for the whole family, that's why the children can

make & create their Own Pizza!

All day every day. From only £ 4.95

Available Sunday - Thursday

19 Honiton Way Penketh Warrington WA5 2EY TEL: 01925 790000

The menu at Delgados manages to cater for everyone whilst still remaining authentic. All their

dishes are freshly prepared using local seasonal produce and in

addition they import some extra special ingredients direct from

Italy itself !

Runcorn

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For low cost effective advertising call us on 01928 739607.Email: [email protected] or visit www.thelocalmags.co.uk

Warrington SouthWarrington WestGreat Sankey, Penketh, Westbrook & Callands

Upton Rocks, Cronton, Grosvenor Park etc...

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Widnes

Magazines

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Please mention Widnes Local when responding to any adverts Mar & Apr 2012 | Widnes Local 1

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Food & Drink 55

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If you asked a bloke to build a car – the sort that drinks real ale, has a hairy chest, likes football (maybe rugby) and ‘birds’ – you could probably guess what you would end up with.

It would have a big engine. Actually, scrap that. It would have a MASSIVE engine. It would need to be rear wheel drive. It would have lots of toys to impress his mates and confuse his wife/bird/life partner. And it would need to look flash. Oh, and probably be German.

Let us introduce you, then, to the car that Dave Down The Duck built - the Mercedes E63 AMG must have been built by someone with more testosterone than an end of school prom.

Let’s talk numbers first. Under the bonnet you will find a 5.5 litre V8 with two turbos. It produces a frankly ridiculous 557bhp and, with the AMG pack (£6,495) fitted to our test car, 800Nm of torque. This is about the same as a Harrier Jump Jet. Probably. It will hit 60mph in just four seconds and is limited (quite heavily) to 155 mph. Oh, and it has seven gears. Even the price tag is whopping – off the shelf it’s £74,695, but our test car with what appears to be every optional extra box ticked, weighed in at £91,245.

And what does all that mean? It means this is one scary super saloon. Not only does it sound like a Spitfire at full chat, but it’s football hooligan lairy. At 70 mph on a wet road it has the grunt to spin up the rear wheels. In fact at any speed, on pretty much any road, it has the power to spin up the rear wheels. Which is scary and smile inducing in equal measures. On the road, traction control fully engaged, it flickers its warning lights on the exit of even supermarket car parks. On the track, with the safety nets disengaged it is weapons grade bonkers. But bloody brilliant.

Inside, the switchgear – and the fact there’s a Boeing-load of it – takes a while to get used to, but it’s incredibly comfortable. That’s probably something to do with the heated, cooling and massaging seats. The seats are so clever that they even inflate the side bolsters to hold you in place when you go around corners.

And talking of clever, that’s one thing that gets up my nose a little about the Merc. It’s all a little bit too smart. No one wants their car to be cleverer than they are and at times the Merc certainly feels a bit too Skynet for my liking. However, as super saloons go, this Merc certainly has the right ingredients. It’s stupidly fast, sounds amazing and is long-haul comfortable. It’s just a little tougher to get to grips with than its biggest rival, the BMW M5, which is why we’d go for the Beemer instead.

Model: Mercedes E63 AMGPrice: £91,245 (as tested)Engine: 5.5-litre, V8Power: 557bhp, 800NmMax speed: 155mph0-60mph: 4.0sMPG (comb’d): 28.8 Emissions: 230g/kmVerdict: Bonkers fast, bonkers sound and bonkers price tag.

Merc E63 AMG By James Baggott, editor of CarDealerMag.co.uk

Motoring & Travel58 To advertise please call us on: 01928 739607

Motoring & Travel 59Please mention The Local Mag when responding to any adverts

EXTRA MILE TRANSPORT COMPANY

We are the trading arm of Halton Community Transport - all profits go to support the community

transport schemes that we deliver in Halton!

CALL US NOW ON:

0151 257 2419

33 DITTON ROAD, WIDNES, WA8 0PP

MOTs just £29On production of this advert!

Valid until 30/11/12

MOTStation

Garage Services

PCV, CPC & Midas Training

LPG Sales

Volunteer Drivers Are Always Needed Please get in touch if you think you

can help us out.

Are you unable to use public transport?

HCT can take you anywhere, door-to-door in the Halton area.

Are you a local community group? HCT have minibuses & coaches with wheelchair access available to hire

with driver.

Tel: 0151 257 241033 Ditton Road, Widnes, WA8 0PP

Email: [email protected]: www.haltoncommunitytransport.co.uk

Fax: 0151 420 1355

Soroptimist International WidnesEverglades Hotel, Derby RoadContact: Sheila Guthrie on 0151 510 2658 or Linda Redhead 01928 716807

Last Monday of each month at 6pm

(Excluding Bank Hols, August &

December.Widnes Kids & DadsA group for Dads & male carers of children.Contact: Jacqui MeadowsTel: 0151 495 3958

Every other Saturday morning, 10am-

12pmWarrington Road Children’s Centre

Bookstart RhymetimesActivities designed to encourage parents & carers to share rhymes & songs with babies.

Every Wednesday 10am-11.30am

atDitton Library

Halton Bereavement Drop InIf you are feeling low and would like someone to talk to then drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Every Tuesday4.30pm-7pm

at Widnes Fire Safety Centre, Lacey Street...or Every Thursday 4.30pm-7pm at the Runcorn fi re stationplease ring 01928

791221 for details.Widnes Rotary ClubHilcrest Hotel, Cronton Lane,Widnes, WA8 9AR Contact: Dale Kenninghamwidnesrotaryclub.webeden.co.uk

Every Monday5.45pm-7.15pm

Live Country Music & Line DancingUnited Services ClubPrescot Road, WidnesTel: 0151 424 4978

Every Monday night

Live Country Music & Line DancingOur Lady’s RC Social Club,Mayfi elds Ave, WidnesTel: 0151 424 3437

Every Thursday night

Line DancingChapelfi eld Community CentreLiverpool Road, WidnesTel: 0151 423 3121

Every Friday7:30pm-9:30pm

Live Country Music & Line DancingThe Village Club, Appleton VillageTel: 0151 424 3657

Every Thursdayfrom 8:30pm

Nearly New SaleSt Mary’s Parish Community Centre, West Bank, WidnesTel: 0151 423 3881

Every Saturday10am-11am

(excl Bank Holweekends)

Tae-KwondoChapelfi eld Community CentreLiverpool Road, WidnesTel: 0151 423 3121

Every Monday and Thursday

5:30pm-7:00pm

YogaChapelfi eld Community CentreLiverpool Road, WidnesTel: 0151 423 3121

Every Thursday7:00pm-8:45pm

Nifty FiftiesUpton Community Centre,Hough Green Road, WidnesTel: 0151 423 1386

Every Monday & Wednesday

10am-11am

Table Top SaleSt John’s Church Centre, Greenway Road, Widnes. Tel: 0151 423 6375

Every First Saturdayof the Month10am-12pm

Know of any other regular events or groups that you’d like to see on this page? Let us know on 01928 739607

Regular Local Events Local GroupsWarrington Road Bambini Day Care Centre offers a high standard of quality childcare and education. The 44 place Day Care centre has provision for children aged 3 months up to 4 years 11 months.Contact: Steph Speakman, Phone: 0151 422 0049Email:[email protected] Voluntary Group is a group whose aim is to help the people who have diabetes. We hold our meetings on the 3rd Weds of each month, when we have speakers who give a talk on the care of diabetes. At St. Paul’s Church Hall, Vicarage Road, Widnes and the Old Police Station, Mersey Road, Runcorn starting at 7.30 pm0151 424 9432HALDS (Halton Adults with Learning Diffi culties Support)Support group for parents/carers of adults with learning diffi culties.Contact: Pam RobertsTel: 07583 694671Email: [email protected] & Runcorn Cancer Support Centre21-23 Alforde Street, Widnes, WA8 7TRTel: 0151 423 5730 Email: [email protected] (Halton Autistic Family Support Group)Trinity House, 78-80 Victoria Road, Widnes, WA8 7RATel: 0151 495 3540 Email [email protected] Haven HospiceBarnfi eld Avenue, Runcorn, WA7 6EPTel: 01928 712728Halton Parkinson’s Support GroupHelps improve quality of live for people with Parkinson’s disease, we meet once a month.Contact: Margaret SmithTel: 0151 423 4782 ChAPS – Cheshire Aspergers Parents SupportAims to support parents and carers of dependants with Aspergers Syndrome or Autistic Spectrum Disorder whether diagnosed or not, living in Cheshire.Contact: Jo GarnerTel: 01928 722384Mind in HaltonHalton Association for Mental HealthSep up with the aim of providing day care and residential services to those people living in Halton who had or were experiencing some form of mental distress.Widnes Tel: 0151 495 3991Runcorn Tel: 01928 563612Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community ActionHelp grow and strengthen the voluntary, community and faith sector in both Halton and St HelensHalton Voluntary Action - Sefton House, Public Hall Street, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1NG. Tel: 01928 592405Halton Nightstop For Young People Aged 16 – 25 yearsNightstop believes that all young people have the right to access safe and secure accommodation that is appropriate for their needs. The service is committed to making this happen wherever possible through Volunteer Hosting and Family Mediation.Ship Canal House, Percival Lane, RuncornContact: TerriTel: 01928 238420The Kings Cross ProjectThe Kings Cross Project exists to enhance the lives of chil-dren, young people and families in areas of Halton by work-ing alongside local people through community development principles to fi nd local solutions to locally identifi ed needs.Tel: 0151 420 4905

Doctor NumbersNHS Direct (24hr Helpline) 0845 46 47

Widnes GP Health CentreHealth Care Resource CentreOaks Place, Caldwell Rd, WA8 7GD

0151 495 5249

The West Bank Medical Centre2 Lower Church Street, WA8 0NG

0151 424 3113

Peelhouse Medical PlazaPeelhouse Lane, WA8 6TN

0151 424 6221

Appleton Village Surgery2-6 Appleton Village, WA8 6DZ

0151 423 2990

Highfi eld ENT ClinicHighfi eld Road, WA8 7DJ

0151 511 5732

Upton Rocks SurgeryWidnes Rufc Car Park, Heath RoadWidnes, WA8 7NU

0151 422 9794

The Beeches Medical Centre20 Ditchfi eld Road, WA8 8QS

0151 424 3101

Hough Green Health ParkHough Green Road, WA8 4NJ

0151 511 5805

Halton MPDerek Twigg MP is Member of Parliament for Halton He can be contacted as follows:Derek Twigg MPHouse of CommonsLondon, SW1A OAA

Tel: 0151 424 7030Email: [email protected]

Library Opening TimesWidnes LibraryVictoria Road, WA8 7QY

0151 907 8383

Opening HoursMon-Thurs: 09:00 - 21:00, Friday: 09:00 - 17:30Saturday: 09:00 - 16:00, Sunday: Closed

Local VetsAndale Veterinary CentreDitchfi eld Rd, Widnes, WA8 8RF

0151 423 1388

Companion Care VetsInside Pets at Home, New Mersey Retail Park, Speke, L24 8QB

0151 427 7902

Halton View Veterinary Centre208 Warrington Rd, WA8 0AX

0151 423 3557

Deacon Rd Veterinary Surgery61 Deacon Rd, Widnes, WA8 6EF

0151 424 2852

Local EntertainmentThe Brindley TheatreHigh Street, Runcorn, WA7 1BG

0151 907 8360

Catalyst MuseumMersey Road, Widnes, WA8 0DF

0151 420 1121

Norton PiororyTudor Road Manor Park,Runcorn, WA7 1SX

01928 569 895

School & College NumbersRiverside College (Kingsway) 0151 257 2800Riverside College (Cronton) 0151 257 2020Fairfi eld High 0151 423 3571Saints Peter & Paul Catholic College

0151 424 2139

The Bankfi eld 0151 424 5038Wade Deacon High 0151 423 2721All Saints Upton CE 0151 424 7248Ditton Primary 0151 424 5861Fairfi eld Infant 0151 424 4879Fairfi eld Junior 0151 424 0123Farnworth CE 0151 424 3042Hale CofE Primary School 0151 425 3023 Halebank CE 0151 424 4878Lunts Heath Primary 0151 423 3322Moorfi eld Primary 0151 424 3108Oakfi eld Community Primary 0151 424 4958Our Lady of Perpetual Succour 0151 424 6130Simms Cross Primary 0151 424 5031Spinney Avenue CE 0151 424 4234St Basil’s Catholic Primary 0151 424 7839St. Bede’s Catholic Infant 0151 424 3112St. Bede’s Catholic Junior 0151 424 3386St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic 0151 424 2879St. John Fisher Catholic Primary 0151 424 7794St. Michael’s Catholic Primary 0151 424 4468West Bank Primary 0151 424 2799

School Term TimesAutumn term 2012Open 3rd September | Close 19th OctoberHalf term 22nd - 26th OctoberOpen 29th October | Close 20th DecemberChristmas holidays 21st December - 4th JanuarySpring term 2013Open 7th January | Close 15th FebruaryHalf term 18th - 22nd FebruaryOpen 25th February | Close 28th MarchEaster holiday 29th March - 12th April

Council Numbers24 Hour - Halton Direct Link 0303 333 4300Halton Housing Trust (Not council) 0151 510 5000Planning Services 0151 907 8300 Police Station (Non Emergency) 0845 458 0000Social Care (Adult) 0151 907 8306Transport & Highways 0151 471 7600Waste Management Division 0151 907 8300

Household WasteJohnsons LaneWidnes, WA8 OSJ

0151 495 1251

Opening Hours1st October - 31st March: 8am to 6pm1st April - 30th September: 8am to 8pmFor any large items, contact the Waste Management Disivion of Halton Borough Council on 0151 907 8300 to arrange collect, fees from £10 per item.

Know of any other useful numbers or information that you’d like to see on this page? Let us know on 01928 739607.

Community62

AccountantsBalance Accounting Solutions 7ArtUnicorn Gallery 35Barber/HairdresserThe Men's Room 42BathroomsTotal Bathroom Restoration 22JDC Ceramics 28Beauty SalonDebbies Beauty 45Beauty TreatmentsJem Medical Aesthetics 45Bedrooms & KitchensNYK 11BlindsPremier Blinds 18Bridal ShopButterfly Brides of Cheshire 43Building & ConstructionNorth West Contracts 19Business NetworkingBusiness of Being in Widnes 47Car RepairsChips Away 59CleaningDirtbusters 18Daily Poppins 25KHL Domestics 10College of Further EducationPriestley College 9Computer MaintenanceAlpha Computers 31Computer PeripheralsCartridge World 6Dancing SchoolKarina Burns Dance Academy 43DecoratorsWavell Decorators 13

Estate AgentsAbbeyfords 64FitnessHalton Stadium Fitness 46FlooringTreadwell Carpets 26Cheshire Flooring 32FurnitureBranches Warrington 27Comfort & Style 30Garage DoorsAmazon Garage Doors 59Garden CentreCronton Garden Centre 25Dobbie's Garden Centre 21Garden ServicesBrian Humphries Gardens 13Gas ServicesExpress Gas 12Glass & GlazingCohens Glass 31Hair SalonDarren Tyrer Hairdressing 41Heating & Electrical EngineeringBlueshield Heating Care Ltd 37Home Improvement SpecialistDJ Home Improvements 15Hotels & InnsForest Hills Hotel 49Insurance ServicesNFU Mutual 7Jewellers Neil & Barker 1,2,3Jewellery & AccessoriesSparkle Jewellery 45Kitchen & Bathroom FittersFlag Ship Kitchens 12LandscapingLandscape World 13

Legal ServicesBespoke Legal Services 5LocksmithsLock-It Security 36Martial ArtsMatt Fiddes 43Mobile Hairdresserhair@home 46OpticiansMerton Beck 63Oven CleaningOvencleaners 13PharmacyWidnes Late Night Pharmacy 39PlastererElite Plastering 10PlumbingAlpha Plumbing 10Print & Media SolutionsEverMedia 6RestaurantsRing of Bells 55Cu at The Hillcrest 50Delgado's 53RoofingPCL Ltd 16Security SystemsCarna Alarms 15Takeaway FoodCronton Fish Bar 49Taxi ServicesHalton Taxis 62TransportHalton Community Transport 59UpholsteryArmchair Reupholstery 31Halton Community Transport 51

Index of Advertisers


Radley Sunspecsare now in stock!

39 Widnes Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 6AZTel: 0151 424 2141 www.mertonbeck.co.uk

Buy a pair of Radley Sunspecs before30/9/2012 and be entered into a draw for

the chance to win a Radley Handbag.

Handbag shown is for illustrationpurposes only and may differ from the

actual bag given as the prize.

Established over 40 years ago, Merton BeckOpticians is now owned by dispensing optician

and contact lens specialist Colin JonesFBDO(Hons)CL with over 25 years experience.

We have a small but dedicated teamcommitted to making your visit a pleasurable

one by treating you as an individual.

Our EYE EXAMINATIONS take around 30 minutes;allowing for an unhurried and personal service.

We can PHOTOGRAPH YOUR RETINA; this providesa permanent image of the back of your eyewhich is kept on file to monitor any changes.

Sports eyewear available to your prescriptionfor adults and children.

Large choice of frames from budget to designer forall ages, including Ted Baker, Converse,

Radley, Emporio Armani.NHS customers welcome.

We specialise in all types of contact lenses.No one is too young or too old to try.

Multi-focal daily disposable contact lensesnow available.

ASK FOR NO OBLIGATIONFREE CONTACT LENS ASSESSMENT AND TRIALS.

Special Discount For Contact LensWearers Under 18 Years Of Age.

I have had a number of trips to Africaas a volunteer with Vision Aid Overseas,going to remote areas to carry out eyeexamination and provide spectacles

to people who normally have noaccess to eye care.

PLEASE CALL IN TO SPONSOR ME IN THEGREAT NORTH RUN FOR VISION AID

OVERSEAS AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT!Alternatively go to

www.justgiving.com/Colin-Jones8

widnes local - sept & oct 2012

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