A Wet Day in Crewe

We have had some rain today and floods are everywhere. One of the most dangerous is the island by the council offices above its very dangerous as people come around the roundabout and bang the water goes the roof of the car its that deep. Its only a matter of time before someone is killed or hurt and Tesco Roundabout was worse. West St the reported floods the other week are still on going and opposite Casterways the grid is blocked and people get soak as a car goes past. Lets hope the forecast for tomorrow which s fine happens.

Man who sold fake and unlicensed medicines ordered to repay more than £14million

 

A Tameside man who sold fake and unlicensed medicines has been ordered to repay more than £14million following a financial investigation by the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (NWRART).

Simon Hickman (03/08/1959), of Lily Lanes, Ashton-under-Lyne, was jailed for two years in 2009, following a criminal investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

He was convicted of six counts of selling and supplying fake and unlicensed medicines and money laundering to the value of £1.4 million.

He was sentenced to a further 22 months in prison in January 2011 for Contempt of Court after he tried to obtain a passport by deception and for selling a property in breach of a court restraint order.

Working alongside investigators from MHRA, the NWRART commenced an investigation into Hickman′s finances with a view to identifying criminal assets.

Extensive assets, including his home, Range Rovers, luxury flats and cash, were identified and restrained pending confiscation proceedings.

Hickman made his fortune by selling counterfeit erectile dysfunction tablets and slimming aids that he purchased overseas.

Investigators discovered Hickman created dozens of bank accounts across the globe, using them to launder cash totalling millions of pounds.

Funds were transferred into off shore accounts having been diverted through more than 30 different bank accounts, some based in Malta, Holland and the Cayman Islands.

At Southwark Crown Court today, Friday 27 April 2012, Hickman was found to have benefited by £15,427,850.28 from his criminal enterprise.

He was ordered to repay £14,407,850.28 within six months or face a further 10 years in prison and still liable for the order.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Ashton, head of the NWART, said: "Hickman made a considerable personal fortune by selling illegal pills to thousands of unsuspecting victims

"He has been held to account thanks to a meticulous joint investigation between the NWRART and MHRA.

"Owing to a thorough partnership investigation, the MHRA and NWRART ensured Hickman lost his liberty as well as his assets. This case sends out a clear message to organised criminals that law enforcement agencies, working in partnership, will continue to pursue those involved in serious crime.

"To put this result into perspective, I think it is fair to say that this one single confiscation order eclipses any that have gone before and is higher than all confiscation orders secured by NWRART collectively last year."

Tatton hosts Olympic inspired event...

 

A mesmerizing spectacle of dance, music and special effects will come to Tatton Park this July, as thousands of people join together to celebrate the return of the Olympics to Britain.

Supported by Cheshire East Council, the dynamic event called ‘The Moment When...’ is a co-production dance project between dance companies, Cheshire Dance and Walk the Plank.

It is set to feature at three major locations in the North West – Tatton, Chester Racecourse and Orford Jubilee Park in Warrington.

Tatton’s event takes place on Sunday, July 15, at 3pm. The event will play out on the ground, in the air and on the water and will be animated with fire and hundreds of dancers.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “This event will be a delight for the whole family in these beautiful surroundings.

“Tatton Park is an iconic location and will be a perfect backdrop to host what promises to be a unique and spectacular performance for thousands of people.”

The event is free to attend but normal park entry charge of £5 per car applies. For more information log on to: www.themomentwhen.org.

Spread the word on composting and reducing food waste

 

An army of volunteers is needed to help spread the word about the benefits of home composting and reducing food waste throughout Cheshire East.

Currently, around a third of Cheshire East’s black bins contain food that has either gone off or has been rejected at the dinner table.

The Council would like to hear from people who can advise and encourage local residents to reduce waste, home compost and make the most of leftover food.

Waste Reduction Volunteers  (WRVs) will receive a day’s training from the Council and are then invited to ‘spread the word’ about home composting and the national Love Food, Hate Waste programme at local events, schools and community projects.

The volunteer scheme is being run by Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils and the next induction training session will take place on Saturday, May 19, at Delamere Forest Park, Northwich.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Becoming a Waste Reduction Volunteer is fun, engaging and extremely worthwhile.

“Not only will your efforts help divert needless amounts of food and organic waste from going to landfill, the training will also help people plan their food shopping more carefully and save money in the long term – up to £50 per month for a family of four.

“I would urge anyone with an interest in the environment and some time to spare to consider becoming a WRV.”

Each volunteer will receive training, travel expenses and membership of the WRV reward scheme.

Anyone interested in becoming a WRV should log on to: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/recycling and sign up, or telephone the project coordinator on: 01270 686094.

AMENDMENT - Appeal after fatal collision in Crewe

 

A man has died following a road traffic collision in Crewe.
Just before 7pm on Tuesday 24 April 2012, a blue Vauxhall van collided with a heavy goods vehicle on A500 Newcastle Road in Barthomley.
A 60-year-old local man was driving the Vauxhall van towards Nantwich when the car crossed the carriageway and collided with a Scania HGV.
The 60-year-old man suffered fatal injuries and sadly died. His next of kin have been informed.
The driver of the HGV, a 41-year-old man, suffered whiplash.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 750 of 24 April.

Farmers urged to be on their guard after lamb thefts

 

Farmers and residents across Cheshire East are being asked to be vigilant after a worrying series of livestock thefts.

Over the last month, around 76 lambs have been stolen from two farms in the Macclesfield area.

Although the police have charged a man over the incidents, people are being asked to be on their guard in what is fast becoming an annual problem.

It appears the thieves struck overnight, using vehicles to visit more secluded fields.

The five-week old animals are known as ‘milk lambs’, as they are still being weaned by their mothers.

One of the major concerns is for the welfare of the animals – both the lambs and the ewes. The lambs will have been chased before being tied up and transported in inappropriate vehicles. The lambs are then likely to been slaughtered inhumanely.

There is also a legal requirement that animal organs are disposed of properly to prevent the spread of disease. There are signs this is not happening in these instances.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “These thefts are cruel and distressing for all involved. The ewe and the lamb will suffer from considerable distress and the farmers obviously suffer emotionally and financially.

“I would urge everyone to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to either the police, or to us here at the Council.”

Inspector Jez Taylor, from the Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “We are aware of a current increase in livestock theft and we have been patrolling the areas at risk. As a result we made a recent arrest for theft.

“We are continuing to monitor the affected areas and would advise that residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in rural areas to police by ringing on our non-emergency number – 101.”

If you do have any information, please call the Council on 01270 686601.

Have your say on the future of transport

 

An eight-week public consultation is being launched to gain the views and ideas of people who use public transport.

Starting this Friday, the public will be consulted on proposals to review the bus services, which Cheshire East Council subsidises.

The consultation will look at those routes that are under-used, and see if flexible and community transport can better meet their needs.

The responses will be used to shape the Council’s future decisions on how the available budget is spent and which services the council should continue to subsidise.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “This review is all about looking at our public transport network with fresh eyes and with a reduced budget in mind.

“We want to hear all about how we can modernise the network, so that people in rural areas that don’t currently have access can tell us what their needs are.

“It’s also about looking at under-used bus routes and tapping into those communities to see if other forms of transport, such as community car schemes, could work more effectively.”

The review of the Council’s support for public transport has been triggered by recent changes in central government allocation of funding, which has increased pressure on local authority budgets.

The Council needs to reduce the amount it spends on public transport by approximately 18 per cent over the next twelve months.

Despite a challenging budget position and the need to reduce spending on public transport, the Council is still committed to spending £1.8m per year on supporting public transport.

The consultation provides the opportunity for local people and partner organisations to have their say on how the Council should support public transport in future and this will shape the Council’s future plans.

Further details about the consultation and how to take part will be available on the Council’s website (www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/travel) from Friday, April 27, 2012. The consultation ends on Friday, June 22, 2012.

Alternatively, the consultation material will be made available in local customer contact centres and libraries. A number of drop-in sessions are being held in towns across the borough during the consultation period.

Gresty Community Group Secure Funding

 

Youngsters in Crewe are celebrating after scooping enough funding to keep their youth club open.

St Andrew’s Youth Project, on Bedford Street, in Crewe, has been awarded more than £6,000 from the ‘Awards for All’ lottery fund, which will help keep the facility up-and-running for the next 12 months.

The grant was jointly applied for by Gresty Community Group with support from the Cheshire East Council partnerships team. The sessions are run by Cheshire East’s play and leisure development sports team.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “This is fantastic news for our young people in Crewe.

“This funding has secured a brilliant community facility, which is helping our young people to learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment.”

Dave Williams, of the Gresty Community Group, added: “Youth projects provide our young people with somewhere to go at the weekends and, more importantly, keeps them off the streets.

“We are extremely grateful to Cheshire East Council’s partnerships team for all their help and support to secure this funding.”

The free youth club takes place each Friday evening between 6.30pm and 8pm and new members, between the ages of eight and 16, are always welcome.

Activities include indoor sports such as table tennis, table football, snooker and pool. There are also computer games, Wii and Xbox.

Cheshire East Council’s play and leisure development sports team run the evening along with volunteers from the community, although more help is needed.

Natalie Mitchelmore, sports and play development officer for Cheshire East Council, said: “We would urge as many parents as possible with any spare time on their hands to help out, as we are expecting a lot more youngsters to join in the coming months.

“Keeping these young people engaged and entertained at the weekend has had a hugely beneficial impact on the surrounding community.”

Crewe burglar sentenced to four years in prison

A prolific burglar has been sentenced to four years after being found guilty by a jury.

At Warrington Crown Court on Friday 20 April 2012 Robert Bennett (38), formerly of Oxford Street in Crewe, was found guilty of two burglaries in Bright Street and Edward Street in Novemebr 2011, theft and handling of stolen sweet tins and dvd′s from a burglary in Bleasdale Road Crewe in October 2011.

He was charged with the offences after forensic evidence linked him to his crimes.

PC Mike Senior said: "Whatever is taken from a home during a burglary, the affect of having your private space violated can be adverse and sometimes lasting.

"The impact of burglary should never be underestimated which is why we are determined to keep putting people like Bennett before the courts."

BLUE BELL CREWE CELEBRATES TOP CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ACCOLADE

The team at Blue Bell Crewe has achieved an outstanding 19.5 stars out of a maximum score of 20 stars in the National BMW Customer Satisfaction Survey.

As part of this nationwide BMW initiative, customers of Blue Bell BMW and Blue Bell MINI Crewe showrooms were polled at random to rate their customer services experience of the sales and service functions at the dealership.

Barry Holt, Blue Bell Crewe Dealer Principal comments: “We place customers at the heart of everything we do at Blue Bell, and to receive such recognition directly from the customers themselves is extremely high praise indeed. We are absolutely thrilled!”

For more information on Blue Bell Crewe go to www.bluebellcrewebmw.co.uk, call 01270 212525, or visit the dealership on Fourth Avenue, Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6XH.
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Council to assess new planning policy on Traveller sites

 

Cheshire East Council is looking at working more closely with both the private sector and registered social landlords to address the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers.

The Council is currently studying the Government’s new planning policy for Traveller sites, which gives greater scope for local authorities to carry out their own assessments of site provision.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has written the document, which was published alongside the new National Planning Policy Framework.

At a recent meeting of full Council (Thursday, April 19), a notice of motion to withdraw the planning application for a site on Parkers Road, in Crewe, was passed. This was to allow greater consideration of the new guidance.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “The Parkers Road application has been withdrawn to enable us to take stock of the new guidance and formulate a new approach.

“I would like to stress that the decision to withdraw the application has not disadvantaged Gypsies and Travellers in Cheshire East. Our aim is to work with the Gypsy and Traveller community and local residents to find a sustainable solution to the shortage in sites.”

Councillor Michael Jones, Cabinet member with responsibility for resources, said: “The guidance has given us the opportunity to explore new innovative working relationships in the delivery of sites.

“We need to provide more Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the same way we need to increase the number of new homes that are built. Therefore, it makes sense that we work with the same partners – namely the private sector and registered social landlords.” 

Astronomical Society (SCASTRO) talks

A series of monthly talks have been arranged  by the South Cheshire Astronomical Society (SCASTRO) for  members of the public which will take place at South Cheshire College.

The first of these  on Thursday 26th April at 7pm is by Jamie Gilmour, Proffessor of Planetary Science , University of Manchester, the entry charge will be £2.50 to cover running costs.

There has been such an interest in astronomy, especially after the exciting series in January by Prof Brian Cox that SCASTRO believe  talks aimed at anyone who would like to learn more about the universe will be welcomed in the area. In addition the society offers observation nights  suitable for all with a variery of telescopes and binoculars for beginners to view the night sky. Further details on our web site www.Scastro.Org   or ring 253058.

Olympic Torch Relay – Crewe Road Closures

The Olympic Torch Relay arrives in Crewe on the morning of Thursday, May 31, and, as part of the preparations, the Council can now announce a series of road closures in the town.

The Council, in conjunction with the police, has taken the decision to close roads where the Olympic Flame is being carried by torchbearers.

The road closures are necessary to protect the public and make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity safe and enjoyable for all Cheshire East residents and participants.

However, the road closures are likely to cause significant traffic disruption and residents are being advised to allow plenty of time for their journeys during the morning.

Anyone planning to go and watch the relay is being asked to walk or cycle to the route where possible. Those travelling in their own vehicles are being encouraged to set off early and park in off-street car parks.

Public transport will be disrupted and access to Crewe station will be affected.

The following roads will be closed between approximately 7am-9.30am:

· Hungerford Road

· A532 Macon Way

· A532 Vernon Way

· A532 Earle Street

· Market Street

· A5078 Edleston Road

· A534 Nantwich Road

· A534 Crewe Green Road

Information leaflets and maps are currently being prepared and will be distributed to all homes and businesses along the roads that are closed, as well as those adjacent to them.

Although the torch will only be passing through the town for a short period, it is necessary to close the road for longer to accommodate the various events that will be lining the route as well as the road cleaning after the relay has passed.

Further information about waste collections on Thursday, May 31, will be communicated nearer the time.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “The Olympic Torch Relay is a unique event and we want as many Cheshire East residents as possible to come out and see the flame for themselves.

“We are closing the roads for the safety of both participants and spectators and we will do our utmost to reduce the disruption by reopening the roads as soon as it is safe to do so.”

All the information, including a map of road closures, is available to view online at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/2012

MP’s 118th Bulletin

 

Friday 20, April 2012

Welcome ...

Welcome to this my 118th news bulletin.

This week’s unemployment figures are a step in the right direction but we still have a long way to go.

We are pushing ahead with our strategy to promote investment and new jobs in the private sector and support people currently without work to take up those jobs. It is particularly encouraging that overall employment is now growing despite reductions in the public sector.

There are still economic challenges ahead and the government is reacting by helping people to find employment through initiatives with the private sector at their heart.

In the past month 160,000 incentives of £2,275 have become available to employers who take on young people in the Work Programme as part of the £1 billion Youth Contract.

There are now only thirteen days left until the Crewe and Nantwich Jobs Fair that I have organised in partnership with the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce which is to take place on May 3rd at the Crewe Alex Stadium. Around forty exhibitors are attending offering everything from jobs and apprenticeships to advice and further training.

There is no need to register in advance for the jobs fair, just go along to the Alex between 10.30am and 6.30pm to register at the desk, and make the most of all the opportunities on offer.

For more information visit www.edwardtimpson.com/jobsfair.

Please remember, you can always contact me directly if you have any questions for me.

You can forward the bulletin on to your friends and family, who can sign up themselves by clicking here for my website.

Best wishes 

Edward Timpson
Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich

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I have recently...

• Held an On Your Street session bringing my surgery to the streets of Leighton
• Held a surgery in Shavington
• Hosted a tour of the House of Commons for magistrates on the South Cheshire Bench  and introduced them to Law Courts Minister Jonathan Djanogly
• Held meetings of the Parliamnetary Groups on Adoption & Fostering as well as Looked-After Children & Care Leavers both of which I Chair. For more information click here.
• Attended a demonstration of fire fighting by Cheshire Fire & Rescue Services

This weekend I will be...

• Running the 2012 Virgin London Marathon (my 8th!) with my wife Julia for local charity CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases) of which she is a patron. Click here to donate.

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Westminster Report

Read my most recent Westminster Report

Click here or on the image

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Photos & Video ...

Edward & his wife Julia are running the 2012 London Marathon on Sunday

To donate to this year's charity, Climb, click here

You can view all my photos and video at edwardtimpsonmp.com

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Community News

The Crewe & Nantwich Jobs Fair

In partnership with the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Edward Timpson MP has organised a Jobs Fair for the local community.

The fair will take place at the Crewe Alexandra FC on the 3rd May from 10:30-1830.

To find out more about the fair click here

Do you have community news to share? Email me and it could be here too!

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Prime Minister David Cameron backs Crewe and Nantwich jobs fair

The Chronicle

THE Prime Minister has given his seal of approval to a jobs fair in Crewe.

More than 35 employers including Bentley, BAE Systems and Morning Foods will attend the employment fair organised by Edward Timpson MP at the Crewe Alexandra football stadium on May 3.

The event is backed by the Chronicle and The South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce.

As well as giving the ‘jobs expo’ his personal blessing, The Prime Minister praised local employers for their role in helping to host the landmark event.

David Cameron, said: “I warmly welcome this jobs fair. Events like this offer extremely valuable information and advice to support people to make good choices about their future careers.

“I urge all local people to attend this event, and to make the most of the opportunities and experiences and to offer.

“It is great to see Crewe and Nantwich employers pulling together to support this locally organised event. I am delighted that so many businesses and organisations are taking part and providing an inspiring example of what communities can achieve.

He added: “I wish you all the very best for the event.”

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, said: “It’s good to know that the jobs fair has support at the very highest level, and nice to know that my efforts and the support of local companies has been recognised.”

“Now all we need is lots of support from the public on the day, so make sure you tell friends who could benefit from the jobs fair all about it!”

There’s no need to register - just turn up and get as much out of talking to over 30 of the companies and organisations in Crewe and Nantwich who are best placed to help. Job Centre staff will be there too.

For more information about Edward’s jobs fair go online to www.edwardtimpson.com/jobsfair.

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Controversial traveller site plans set to be scrapped

Crewe & Nantwich Guardian

CAMPAIGNERS in Crewe are celebrating after controversial plans for a gipsy and traveller site look set to be thrown out.

Conservatives on Cheshire East Council have voted to put forward a motion to withdraw the application for the Parkers Road site at the next council meeting on April 19.

The action follows changes in the Government’s planning policy which gives greater scope for local authorities to carry out their own assessments of the housing needs of gypsies and travellers and plan accordingly.

Clr Derek Bebbington, who led the vote, said: “I believe these changes in policy have been brought about because of the excellent campaign and hard work of the action group Crewe Against Traveller Sites (CATS), who with the support of Edward Timpson and myself, have been continuously pressuring the council, and the Government, to have the planning application withdrawn or the policy changed.

“In that time, more than 5,000 thousand people signed a petition of protest against this application. I am told that so many people have written to the council objecting to the site, they had to set a new department just to deal with the correspondence.”

The site has attracted huge opposition from the start. In December, campaign group CATS marched on Downing Street to deliver a petition signed by 5,400 angry residents.

Clr Bebbington added: “Both CATS and the people who supported the campaign should be proud of what they achieved and are to be congratulated.”

Cheshire East Council says it is now looking in detail at the Government’s new planning policy for traveller sites and intends to study the document thoroughly before making any future decisions on provision in the borough.

Clr Rachel Bailey, cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “This new planning policy is good news and gives us the opportunity to assess our own needs.”

The new planning policy also encourages earlier and more effective engagement with the gipsy and traveller community around their accommodation needs.

Clr Jamie Macrae, cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, added: “We have been lobbying the Government for some time on the need to allow local authorities determine what provision is needed for gipsies and travellers. This is what this new planning policy recommends.”

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London Marathon test for MPs

Total Politics

Next Sunday is the gruelling London Marathon and among the over 50,000 competitors eight MPs from across the political spectrum will be competing in the 26-mile course.The MPs have come together from all parts of the UK to raise money for a variety of charities.

The MPs competing in the 26-mile marathon include Ed Balls, Edward Timpson, Graham Evans, Greg Mulholland, Chris Kelly, Phillip Lee and Jack Lopresti.

The experience is set to be a new one for several of the MPs, who despite all the training have yet to run a full marathon.

These first-timers include the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, Graham Evans, Alun Cairns, Chris Kelly, Phillip Lee and Jack Lopresti.

Vale MP Alun Cairns got lost during a practice run in London and had to ask a road-sweeper for directions. Fortunately the novices are in good company with fellow MPs Edward Timpson and Greg Mulholland competitors in previous marathons. In fact, Crewe MP Timpson has seven London marathons and two New York marathons under his belt.

North West Leeds MP Mulholland is another marathon veteran, previously competing in the Belfast Marathon and most recently the Paris Marathon. The London Marathon will conclude his 652-mile challenge for Jane Tomlinson Appeal which raises money for children’s and cancer charities in the UK and abroad.

Charities that are being supported by the MPs include Action Heart, Action for Stammering Children,  Atal-y-fro , Barry for MIND, CLIMB, Dudley Group of Hospitals Charity,  East Cheshire Hospice, Halton Haven Hospice, the  Jane Tomlinson Appeal, the Royal British Legion, Thames Valley Hospice and Whizz Kids

The MPs may be dedicated to raising money for these charities, but there is another issue that may help motivate them - what their overall finishing time is going to be.

The best record for any MP in the London Marathon was set by former Conservative MP-turned-journalist Matthew Parris who completed the marathon in just two hours, 32 minutes and 57 seconds. The record was set in 1985 and has yet to be beaten by any sitting or retired MP.  The second best time was by the former Labour member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne North, Doug Henderson, now 62 years-old. In 1989 he completed the marathon in two hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds.

If you wish to donate to any of the MPs and their respective charities you can find more information on justgiving.com  or uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/.

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5 ways to contact Edward Timpson

• By email: timpsone@parliament.uk
• On the web: edwardtimpsonmp.com
• By phone: 01270 501 725
• By post: 30 Victoria Street, Crewe CW1 2JE
• In person: Click here to see surgery times

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West St dangerous path

Every time we have rain the path between  Frank Webb and the Video shop is flooded to a depth of 2-3 ins and the road is even worse its impossible to walk down the path without getting wet and if a car passes you get soaked. Its bad enough if your able bodied but if you are old disabled or have a baby its very dangerous and want sorting ASAP before someone is hurt the council have a duty of care to keep pavements safe. Another  problem is in Goddard St were the LMR club fence which is sharp and rusty has fallen across the foot path and at night is impossible to see until you are cut by rusty spikes

Crime down over all in East Cheshire

 

Police in East Cheshire are continuing to target hotspots to drive crime down further.

Annual results of the British Crime Survey released today see an overall reduction in crime of 5% across the areas of East Cheshire.

Burglaries have fallen dramatically, with figures showing a 14% reduction in the number reported to police compared to 2010/2011 figures. Offences against vehicles, such as theft, have also gone down by 11%.

Chief Superintendent Mick Garrihy said: "We have dedicated teams of officers and staff who are successfully identifying those prolific offenders who are responsible for committing burglary offences in our area and bringing them to justice.

"In the last year we have met with success in prosecuting a number of burglars across our area. Reducing acquisitive crime remains one of our main priorities and although today′s figures are encouraging, we are not complacent and will continue to build on our success to protect the residents, businesses and visitors of East Cheshire."

Chief Inspector Darren Hebden, who heads up the crime teams in the Eastern area acknowledged robberies had been an issue last year. He said: "We are acutely aware of the rise last year and continue to work on a number of fronts to continue to reduce offences and therefore victims, and to make vulnerable business premises less of a target for offenders."

One of the reasons for an increase in reported offences is the rising confidence in the Eastern European migrant community to report crime to their local officers.

Chief Inspector Hebden explained: "The increase in the reporting of offences within this community is a welcome development as it indicates confidence in local policing. We now need to build on the increased information available to combat these crimes which have remained hidden before now and we would encourage anyone with any knowledge about this type of crime to come forward to local police to allow further progress to be made."

In response to the rise, detectives have made significant arrests he said. Adding: "During the year - a team of armed robbers from Manchester who were responsible for nine offences in the North of the area around Wilmslow and Mobberley have been arrested and they heve been charged with nine offences in the Cheshire area as well over 20 in the Greater Manchester Police force area. We are currently concentrating resources on arterial routes into Cheshire from Manchester to avoid this type of criminality recurring and drive crime down further.

"Although the overall trend for numbers of robberies are down, the peaks from last year were in the summer months and we will be targeting resources against this crime type in the coming months particularly in the parks and open spaces of the Crewe area."

Survey Reveals 3,700 Fewer Victims Of Crime In Cheshire

 

Figures released today by the British Crime Survey again show a decrease of 6% in recorded crime across Cheshire. This means there are over 3,700 fewer victims of crime compared to the same period last year.

The figures reflect the period between December 2010 and the end of 2011. One of the most dramatic decreases is in recorded violent crime which has fallen by 11%, which is a greater reduction in violence than any of our neighbouring forces within the North West region.

The Constabulary continues to build on its previous success of reducing the number of victims of burglary. There were 298 fewer victims of residential burglary than in the same period last year, a fall of 8%. The Constabulary remain committed to identifying and bringing to justice those prolific offenders who are responsible for committing a significant proportion of the burglaries reported.

Car owners will be pleased to learn that car crime has fallen by 11% and there are almost 700 fewer offences overall.

Speaking after the release of today′s figures Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said "The figures released today are encouraging in that the communities of Cheshire can see that crime is falling and Cheshire remains a safe place to live, work and visit. From a policing perspective, it helps us understand where we need to focus our resources on any emerging trends and help us not only to detect crime, but to prevent crime from being committed where we can."
She continued "The reduction in violent crime, particularly in our busier towns and cities such as Warrington and Chester, is particularly pleasing. One of the key factors in this success is the multi agency work alongside our partner agencies and the increased use of CCTV. This means that volatile situations can be identified early, allowing officers to intervene before an incident escalates into violence. Keeping the people of Cheshire safe is our priority and working smarter together has helped us achieve the results we have seen today."

The launch of the Constabulary′s Dedicated Rape Unit last autumn means that more victims of rape and serious sexual offences have come forward to the police, resulting in more perpetrators of sex crimes being brought before the courts. This focused police activity has resulted in an increase in the number of sexual offences recorded by 8%.

Drug offences remain the only other type of crime which has seen an increase in 5%, and this is the direct result of a number of arrests and convictions involving the dismantling of significant organised crime groups. Cheshire Police continue to work with residents to identify drug dealers who are a blight on the community and to put them behind bars.
ACC Purdie continued "We are in the midst of challenging times for policing and work within increasing financial restraints. Although today′s figures are encouraging, the Constabulary is by no means complacent. New ways of working smarter and more effectively, with the needs of the victim foremost in our minds, are underway to ensure that crime continues to fall, offenders are brought to justice, and residents of Cheshire can continue to have confidence in their local police"

Policy to help people live independently in their own homes

 

New guidelines have been produced by Cheshire East Council as part of its continued pledge to support people to live independently.

The authority’s Cabinet has agreed to implement a new private sector housing financial assistance policy, which sets out what sort of help the Council will offer to older people and people with disabilities to repair and adapt their homes.

The policy is relevant to owner-occupiers and landlords in private sector housing.

Housing conditions are closely linked with physical and mental health and statistics show that 45 per cent of accidents take place in the home and around 10 per cent of all falls in older people result in injury.

However, it is hoped that improving conditions, such as indoor temperatures and tackling damp, will have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing.

Councillor Steve Wilkinson, Cabinet support member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “Although there is much new housing in Cheshire East, this is a key opportunity to improve existing homes and also the health and mental wellbeing of our residents.

“I would like to think that we could see a reduction in the number of people going into care because their homes will be better prepared.

“Everyone has the right to a decent home and private sector owners should be responsible for maintaining their own properties.

“However, we do appreciate that some owners, particularly the most vulnerable, do not have the resources to repair or improve their homes – and this is when this Council can play an important role in providing assistance.”

More than £1.4m has been approved to implement the policy. This will be used to:

· Remove the most severe health and safety risks for vulnerable homeowners;

· Tackle fuel poverty;

· Enable people with disabilities to live independently; and

· Bring empty homes back into economic use and increase the supply of affordable housing.

The policy will help to reduce risk of home accidents, improve health and wellbeing, reduce fear of crime and increase opportunities to access suitable housing.

To find out more visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/homerepairs or call 0300 123 5017.

One in five women are stalked

 

One in five women and one in ten men will be stalked at some point in their life.

Cheshire Police is committed to dealing with all reports of stalking and harassment and is reminding people that this kind of behaviour may result in criminal prosecution. It has now been two years since the launch of the National Stalking Helpline. It is receiving more calls than ever before. An offence of stalking is still in the political pipeline but action is currently possible under the Protection from Harassment Act.

Detective Sergeant Angela Burns, from the Cheshire Police Strategic Public protection Unit said, "We take all reports of stalking and harassment very seriously and take positive action to protect victims of this crime and ensure support services are offered.

"The effects on a victim can be feelings of isolation, helplessness and violation. Twenty five per cent of victims develop suicidal thoughts and many have to make lifestyle changes."

Stalking and harassment can be hard to define as it encompasses a wide variety of behaviours. Forms of harassment can range from someone seeking a romantic relationship to violent predatory behaviour being carried out. Even in cases where there is no physical assault, stalking changes lives; victims have described stalking as mental rape. Stalkers, in the vast majority of cases are known to the victim, they may have had a casual or intimate association, however they can also be strangers.

Online communication has provided another outlet for stalkers to harass their victims, it is important that it is recognised as seriously as ′off line′ stalking. Research carried out by the National Stalking Helpline found that 54.7% of men and 43.1% of women gave up social activities as a result of being cyberstalked. A guide called ′Digital Stalking: A guide to technology risks′ has been published and provides victims with invaluable information and advice.

Anyone being stalked or harassed should come forward, so they can receive the help and support required. More advice is available on the Cheshire Police website http://www.cheshire.police.uk/or you can call the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300. If you are in danger always dial 999, in a non emergency dial 101.

Transport Festival 2012 road closures

 

The 21st annual Festival of Transport is being held in Sandbach Town Centre over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April 2012.

Police are asking drivers to be patient as traffic arrangements will be in place again this year.

The aim of the traffic management is to give top priority to the safety of participants, spectators and other road users. However some delays are inevitable in Sandbach town centre in order to ensure this. Complying with signed diversions and showing some patience will achieve the best results.

PC Anthony Hayhurst said, "Drivers need to think about the traffic arrangements when they plan their journeys.

"Police Officers will re-open roads and remove restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so. We are asking all drivers to heed the direction signs, follow instructions from Police Officers and generally show a bit of consideration for other people."

The following road closures will be implimnented to allow the event to take place:

Saturday 21/04/12: Congleton Road, Sandbach between Offley Road and High Town between 10:45 hrs and 11:30 hrs. Sandbach Common from 08:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs.

Sunday 22/04/12: High Street, High Town, Sandbach Commons and Congleton Road from Offley Road to its Junction with Hightown between 10:00 hrs and 16:00 hrs. There will be a further road closure for vehicles travelling from Sandbach towards the M6 Motorway along Old Mill Road between 13:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs from the juction of High Street to the junction of Congleton Road to allow the parade to take place.

Fran Halsall Celebrates Olympic Qualifier Success at Blue Bell Crewe

BMW and MINI dealership, Blue Bell Crewe have presented Olympic qualifier Francesca Halsall with a much coveted BMW Z4.

This is a timely celebration for Cheshire born Fran following her recent qualification for the Women’s 50m Olympic Freestyle event, after completing the 100m Freestyle in a highly impressive 53.57 seconds at the British Swimming Championships in March.

Fran will compete in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She will also be part of the freestyle and medley relay team.

Barry Holt, Dealer Principal, comments: “The cutting edge BMW Z4 forms part of Francesca’s sponsorship deal to assist her in meeting transportation needs for training, competitions and events. We are delighted for Francesca, she has trained extremely hard and is now in great shape to go for Gold at the Olympics!”

This is the third car that the dealership has presented Fran with, following her taking delivery of a new MINI Cooper S Convertible on her 21^st birthday last year.

The announcement follows the appointment in 2009 of BMW Group as the Official Automotive Partner of the 2012 Games. As well as supplying over 4,000 fuel-efficient vehicles throughout the Games, BMW is also actively supporting British athletes, such as Ellie Simmonds and Louis Smith, via the BMW London 2012 Performance Team. Meanwhile, in line with the Performance Team initiative, BMW dealers, such as Blue Bell Crewe are working with local athletes, supporting their endeavours to qualify for Team GB or ParalympicsGB.

Man behind bars for terrorising ex

 

A man who terrorised his ex partner has been jailed for over two years after admitting to assault and affray.

John Broadhurst-Dodd (26) pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 11th April 2012 and was sentenced to two years and three months.

In the early hours of Sunday 1 January 2012 Broadhurst-Dodd formerly of Heysham Road in Southport, went round to his ex partner′s house in Davenport Avenue in Nantwich twice attempting to gain entry.

He came back a third time and smashed her bedroom window with a rock before kicking it through with his foot.

Her friend, who was in the room at the time, tried to stop Broadhurst-Dodd getting in through the window but Broadhurst-Dodd attacked both of them with a rock, leaving them with head and facial injuries which required hospital treatment.

Broadhurst-Dodd had already been served an Harassment Order and had admitted another assault on her three months earlier.

DC Paul Lovick from the Crewe Public Protection Unit, said: "What makes this even more sickening is that Broadhurst-Dodd could not have been sure that children were in this bedroom yet he still smashed his way in causing shards of glass to fly into the room. He then carried out an attack which left his two victims covered in blood and deeply shocked by their ordeal.

"We will not tolerate domestic abuse of any kind and are determined to put a stop to anyone who thinks this is acceptable behaviour. The affect it has on those who are victim to this is tremendous and deeply traumatising.

Specially trained officers work closely with the victim and support agencies to ensure they are getting the help they need while we bring to the offender to justice.

"I only hope Broadhurst-Dodd takes the time behind bars to reflect on what could have happened if children had been in the room at the time of his violent and shocking attack."

Cheshire police provide support to family of Alsager man missing in Greece

 

Cheshire Police are providing support to the family of British man John Lawton reported missing in Greece earlier this week.

Mr Lawton, who is 62 and from Alsager in Cheshire, was reported missing after taking part in a marathon in the Kardamili area of southern Greece on 8th April.

The search for his whereabouts, conducted by Greek authorities, continues.

***

Statement from the family of John Lawton, 62, from Alsager in Cheshire, who was reported missing following a marathon in the Kardamili area of southern Greece on Sunday 8th April.

Mr Lawton′s wife Lynda, son Steve, and brother David have joined police and volunteers in Greece. The search for the experienced endurance runner, who is a member of Sandbach Striders running club, is being coordinated by the Greek authorities. Mr Lawtons son Steve, who is also a keen marathon runner and has retraced his father′s steps as part of the ongoing search said "We are increasingly concerned for my father′s safety and it is vitally important that we maintain the momentum of the search."

The British Embassy in Athens has been informed of the incident and the search is continuing.

Anyone with any information in relation to John Lawtons whereabouts are advised to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident 960 of 13 April.

New rating system for Cheshire East’s eateries

 

Cheshire East Council has introduced a new Food Hygiene Rating Scheme that aims to help residents choose where to eat and encourage food businesses to improve standards.

The Council has signed up to the national scheme in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

It will ultimately see every business in the Borough that sells food to the public rated on a scale from zero to five. The ratings will be available to view on the following website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings

The ratings of just under 1,600 businesses will go live on the website on April 30. 

This first group includes food businesses, where you would expect to buy and consume food on the premises, including pubs, cafes and restaurants. 

The remaining food businesses in Cheshire East will join the scheme on a rolling programme over the next few months.

Star ratings are calculated from inspections, with the frequency of inspection linked to the risk and complexity of food handling activities. This ranges from a frequency of once every six months to once every three years.

The three scoring areas used for the rating scheme are:

· How hygienically the food is handled – how it’s prepared, cooked, cooled and stored;

· The condition of the structure of the building – the cleanliness, lighting, layout and ventilation;

· How the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.

All of the businesses are being written to, informing them of their rating, and they have also been sent a certificate and a window sticker, which they can display. They have 14 days to query the rating.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “This new food hygiene system will let Cheshire East residents make an informed choice about where they go to eat out or shop for food. A high rating will also act as a good advertisement for the business and reassure customers.

“The scheme will also help our officers in their work of improving food hygiene standards. It will highlight which premises need our attention and assistance moving forward.

“The initial inspections show that nearly 70 per cent of our businesses achieved the top two ratings and we will seek to build on these impressive figures over the coming months.”

For more information on the scheme go to www.food.gov.uk/ratings

CRACKDOWN ON DOG FOULING IN WILLASTON

Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor Brian Silvester has asked Cheshire East Council to crackdown on dog fouling in the village.

He said, " Most dog owners are responsible and clean up after their pet. However a minority of owners do not and this is very annoying to residents and is a health hazard. At my request Dog Wardens have been active in the village paying attention to the playing fields and streets like Green Lane , Eastern Road, Wybunbury Rd and Circle Ave. Where dog fouling occurs the Dog Wardens spray on a stencil  to warn dog owners of the need to clean up after their pet. (See attached photos and e-mails below)

The stencil image stays on the ground for approx 4- 6 weeks and sends out a clear message that the wardens are operational in the area.

This action is followed up with a leaflet drop to houses overlooking the problem areas, asking people to report any dog related issues.

This all links in to our uniform and none uniform foot patrols of the dog wardens.

If the Wardens witness people failing to pick-up after their dog they issue a Fixed Penalty notice.(£50:00 fine) to the offender."

Cllr Brian Silvester

Tel. 01270 567757 Tag Dog fouling

Winwick Burglar Behind Bars

 

A burglar who targeted social clubs across outlying Warrington villages has been handed two years behind bars.

Last Thursday at Chester Crown Court, 41 year old Thomas Sweeney, previously of Molyneux Close in Huyton, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to two burglaries that took place last year at Winwick Leisure Centre and Culcheth Sports Club.

On 28th March 2011, Sweeney entered the private office quarters of the Winwick Leisure Centre and stole a laptop and a projector. Just days later on 31 March, Sweeney broke into Culcheth Sports Club on Charnock Road in Culcheth and attacked the gaming machines inside the premises to steal cash. Following an indepth investigation by officers from Warrington West Neighbourhood Policing Team, Sweeney was charged with the burglaries in August 2011 and subsequently handed a twenty four month prison sentence for his crimes.

Speaking after sentencing, Inspector Dave Griffiths who heads up Warrington West Neighbourhood Policing Team said "Crimes such as this can have a profound impact upon rural villages, where the backbone of the community is often focused around local social clubs and community events. The financial effects of crime upon small locally funded organisations, like these, can put their very existence at risk. Sweeney targeted these establishments because he thought he would not be caught. The work of my officers in identifying him as a suspect, completing a thorough investigation into his movements, and putting him before the courts, is indicative of the professionalism and dedication of our team. This conviction is further proof of our determination to catch these people, and to reduce burglary offences in our area"

Witnesses sought to serious four vehicle collision

 

Police are appealing for witnesses to a four vehicle collision on the A54, Middlewich Road in Stanthorne, Middlewich.

At 11.17am on Tuesday 10 April 2012 emergency services were called to the collision at the A54′s junction with Coalpit Lane.

It involved a blue Citroen Saxo, grey Mitsubishi Shogun, black Peugeot 307 estate and a white Citroen panel van.

The driver of a Citroen Saxo, a 35-year-old woman, was taken to Leighton with serious injuries and remains in a stable condition.

A six year old girl who was a passenger in the Citroen Saxo was also taken to Leighton with chest injuries and later released.

The driver of the Peugeot, a 57-year-old man, was also taken to Leighton with serious injuries and has since been released from hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or the run up to it should contact PC Gareth James on 101 quoting incident 288 of 10 April 2012.

Crewe detectives seek witnesses to high value metal theft

 

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Crewe scrap yard had more than £30,000 worth of metal stolen in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Sometime between 2.30am and 5.45am on Tuesday 10 April 2012 offenders gained access to Houstons and Sons in Victoria Avenue, Crewe.

They stole cable and copper which Houstons had already processed so were in the form of square blocks, or bales.

The bales of metal are around 25kg each and it is thought around 300 of them were stolen from the scrap yard.

DC Dave Newton said: "As well as the cable, they also stole lead, a yellow stripper machine and a Houstons liveried Nissan Cabster flat bed pick up truck which was parked at the premises. The truck was then later spotted on the M6 heading towards Birmingham.

"We are keen to speak to anyone who has seen the truck since, or has any information about the theft."

Anyone with information should call DC Newton from Crewe CID on 101 alternatively information can be given anonymously on the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

Supermarket Challenge or Midnight Walk Help

As Harry Hill would say I like Tesco and I like Asda and Morrisions but which is best there is only one way to find out FIGHT!!!

Well no we don’t want a fight but challenge the supermarkets and other local companies to have some fun  get some great publicity for the company and to raise money for a  local worthy cause.

Which of these supermarkets can get the most staff and customers to do the midnight walk and raise the most money for the much needed charity? The walk  is in June so plenty of time to practice and prepare. So which of these will take up the challenge I am waiting to here from Asda and Tesco and I will report back as soon as I here. In the mean time if anyone form these stores reads this they can post a comment below and say there up for it.

Other firms don’t have to feel left out there are plenty of other big firms who can put up teams like B&Q, the Council, Pc World , Aldi. Bentley(Come on Wendy best foot forward get Bentley walking), Blue Bell garage to mention just a few. There is plenty of scope to get involved and help even if you cant get a team. Help is needed on the night, food refreshments and other things so even small companies can do there bit one company the Pickle Jar who run the Queens Park café have offered help.
Details of the walk appeal here 
Details of the walk can be found here and the St Lukes website is here

If you want to give money or more details contact

Jane Thompson

01606 555688

Firms fill out a comment and commit helping below let people know you community  minded

Parkers Road traveller site

I have tabled a motion asking for the withdrawal of planning application for the proposed traveller site on Parkers Road. I have done so because the government has changed the planning policy for Traveller Sites, established by the previous Labour government, which said Councils had a duty to provide a local site for travellers in their area. The change in policy allows Councils to use the private sector to provide necessary sites.   Cheshire East Council have agreed to take the planning application back to the next meeting of the full Council and will support the motion. 
I believe these changes in policy have been brought about because of the excellent campaign and hard work of the action group CATS, who with the support of Edward Timpson and myself. have been continuously pressuring the Council, and the Government, to have the planning application withdrawn or the policy changed .In that time, over 5000 thousand people signed a petition of protest against this application. I am told that so many people have written to the council objecting to the site, they had to set a new department just to deal with the correspondence. Both CATS and the people who supported the campaign should be proud of what they achieved and are to be congratulated.

Derek Bebbington

Cheshire East Councillor - Leighton Ward

Crewe Charter Trustee

Cheshire East's best looking Councillor

Tel:         01270 522902

E-mail:  derek.bebbington@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Double consultation launched by Council’s housing service

 

Cheshire East Council is looking to continue to ensure all its residents get access to decent homes as part of a double consultation.

The Council’s draft tenancy strategy and the revised allocations policy – two key elements of the Council’s housing service – are under review.

Up until June 22, residents can give their thoughts on the two documents, which have been published at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “These documents are key priorities for the Council’s strategic housing service.

“The Localism Bill has placed a requirement on the Council to produce a tenancy strategy which will set out objectives which would assist providers in putting together their own tenancy management policies.

“The allocations policy is a very important document as it sets out how social housing properties are allocated and how households are prioritised for housing.

“Our vision is that all our residents in Cheshire East are able to access affordable, appropriate and decent accommodation and these consultations form a major part of our aims to achieve that.”

Once finalised, the tenancy strategy will give guidance on how Cheshire East Council would like to see the following being addressed by registered providers:

· What kind of tenancy they offer;

· The circumstances in which they will grant a tenancy of a particular kind;

· The length of tenancy that will be offered (when for a set term);

· The circumstances in which a further tenancy will be granted when the existing tenancy has ended.

Meanwhile, the proposed allocations policy has been set out in response to changes in Government policy. This can also be viewed on the consultations section of the Cheshire East website.

The overall aim of the policy is to ensure that all social and affordable housing is allocated fairly and objectively to those in the greatest housing need.

Alternatively, a summary of the document, as well as a survey about the policy, can be viewed at www.cheshirehomechoice.org.uk

Ends.

Get involved with Olympic Torch Relay in Cheshire East!

 

Time is running out for a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in this year’s Olympic Torch Relay.

Cheshire East Council has recruited more than 300 volunteers to help with the relay, which passes through the Borough next month ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games – but more are needed.

The streets of Crewe, Congleton, Macclesfield and Knutsford will be a hive of activity on the morning of Thursday, May 31 and now is the time for people to put their names forward to be a major part of it.

Volunteers to act as stewards are needed and full training and guidance will be given to those who want to take part.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “What an opportunity this is for Cheshire East residents to get involved with the Olympic Torch Relay.

“This really is a unique chance for people to be a part of the greatest show on earth and to represent their home town in the process. It is also a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills.”

Volunteers will get the chance to learn the following skills:

· How to deal with accidents and emergencies;

· Dealing with spectators and crowd control;

· Customer care;

· Support the work of a team;

· Controlling the movement of people at events;

· Providing emergency first aid and action; and

· Risk assessments.

Anyone aged 16 and over can apply. To register your interest email volunteers@cheshireeast.gov.uk

For more information on the Olympics and how to get involved in Cheshire East go to www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/2012

Efit released of Crewe cash burglar

Police have released an efit of a man they want to speak to in connection with a burglary at a house in Laureston Avenue in Crewe.

At 12.30pm on Saturday 24 March 2012 a man got into the house via an open back door and searched the living area.

The victim, who is in her 70s, was standing at the front gate at the time. She then turned around to go back in and saw two men stood at the door.

She asked if she could help them and they said no and walked off down her driveway and back up to Laureston Avenue.

She then discovered approximately £5,700 in cash missing.

The first man is described as white, aged 28, stocky build and 5ft 8ins tall. He had short dark brown hair, longer on top and combed over. He was wearing a dark blue fleece, zipped at the front.

The second man is white, 26-years-old, of slim build and 5ft 6ins tall with light, pale ginger short hair.

They were described as loud and had Irish accents.

Anyone with information should contact PC Paul Robbins on 101 quoting incident number 969 of 24.03.12.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More Walkers Needed to ensure Success of St Luke’s Midnight Walk

 

The 2012 Midnight Walk, to raise money for St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice, will take place on Saturday 9 June, through Crewe and Nantwich. Although the event is usually oversubscribed, this year the organisers are facing a deficit in numbers and are keen to encourage anyone who would like to participate, to sign up now.

For the eighth consecutive year, fundraisers at St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice are busy organising their successful annual Midnight Walk and with two months to go, half of this year’s 1,700 places have been filled. Although this is a fantastic achievement, the uptake on registration has been much slower than previous years and the hospice really needs to hit its target number of walkers, to ensure that they are able to raise the much needed funds.

The walk commences at midnight and up to 1,700 ladies cover 13.1 miles to raise sponsorship money for St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice. Every penny of sponsorship money raised goes straight to the hospice, which cares for patients from across many areas of Cheshire and Staffordshire including Winsford, Middlewich, Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and Kidsgrove.

Jane Thompson, head of event management for over ten years explained why the walk is so important to the hospice and the local people who benefit from its existence: “The money raised by the annual Midnight Walk is very important to the hospice. It’s the largest single fundraising event that we organise, and the money raised by the walk provides approx 45 days of hospice care to patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses.”

Everyone who registers for the walk will receive their Midnight Walk t-shirt straight away, and if local residents keep their eyes peeled, they may see some ladies in bright turquoise Midnight Walk tops, practising the route between Crewe and Nantwich.

If 13.1 miles sounds a bit too far, there is an option to participate in the Half Moon version of the walk, which totals 6.5 miles.

St Luke’s is still hopeful of raising in excess of £250,000 from the 2012 Midnight Walk, which will go to directly supporting the running of the hospice; which costs in the region of £6,200 per day run.

If you would like to sign up to participate in this year’s Midnight Walk, register now on the website: www.midnightwalk.co.uk or call 01606 555 688.

Police seek dog walker following serious dog bite in Nantwich

 

Police are appealing for the owner of a dog which bit a woman as she walked her own dog along London Road in Nantwich to get in touch.

At around 8.45am on Tuesday 3 April 2012 a 44-year-old woman was walking her small dog along London Road. As she approached its junction with Newland Way a woman in her mid 50s was walking a large, athletic looking golden retriever.

Concerned that the dog looked aggressive she crossed the road but the retriever dragged its owner behind it and went for the small dog. The victim picked up her dog and the retriever went for her, biting her on her arm.

She has since been hospitalised and is waiting to have an operation to treat the wound.

The owner of the retriever, who is believed to be a regular dog walker in the area, is described as a white female, in her mid 50s. She is 5ft 6ins tall and of medium build. She has shoulder length blonde hair and was wearing an anorak, jeans and white trainers.

Insp Mark Gammage said: "We really do need to speak to the owner. The injuries caused by this dog are serious enough to require surgery and we need to ensure that no-one else is put at risk of being injured. We appeal to the owner, or anyone who knows who this lady is, to come forward with information".

Anyone with information should contact Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit on 101 quoting incident number 174 of 3 April 2012.

Cheshire East residents go the extra mile

 

More than 300 people attended Crewe’s Cumberland Sports Ground to run the Sport Relief Mile and raise money for good causes.

The event was a big success with friends, families and work mates coming together to take part in the run.

Some chose to run one of the three categories (one-mile, three-mile and six-mile) in fancy dress – with a bumblebee and a clown both crossing the finishing line.

Fitness First was on hand to get everyone warmed up properly and Redshift Radio supplied motivating music.

The event was organised by the Council’s leisure development team and supported by the leisure services department.

Cheshire East Deputy Mayor Councillor George Walton, who started several of the races, said: “It was a fantastic day with the community coming together to support a great cause in glorious weather.

“Everyone who took part in the event should feel very proud that the money they raised will help people living tough lives both here in the UK and in some of the world’s poorest countries.”

The Sport Relief total currently stands at more than £52m – with more still coming in from runners’ sponsorship.

To pay your sponsorship money go to: www.sportrelief.com

Deputy Chief Constable Retires

 

Graeme Gerrard, who has just retired as Deputy Chief Constable of Cheshire, describes policing as "the most varied job in the world", even though he spent his entire career with one force.

During his thirty eight years with Cheshire Police he worked in all parts of the county, but his only "moves away" were a period in charge of training at the former Cheshire Police recruitment assessment centre in Aberdovey; two years seconded to the staff of the Police Staff College at Bramshill, in Hampshire and three months on an FBI course in Virginia, USA.

But he says staying in one place did not take anything away from the varied work the job offers.

"You never know what′s going to happen next; you don′t know if it′s going to be OK. Sometimes that can be quite scary and it doesn′t suit everyone, but it has been the best job in the world for me," he says.

Graeme Gerrard was brought up at Willaston, near Nantwich and joined Cheshire Police as a cadet in 1973. He became a Constable two years later. His living accommodation at that stage was in single officers′ quarters in the yard of Widnes police station.

As he rose through the Police ranks he served in Widnes, Chester, Warrington, Runcorn and Northwich, and gained considerable experience as a detective.

Graeme′s decision to stay with one force is increasingly unusual among career police officers but he is "quite happy" with it.

He says, "When I joined as a cadet, if someone had said, ‘ would you be happy retiring as Deputy Chief Constable?′ I would have taken that. Easily."

Cheshire Police launch first heritage crime initiative

 

Cheshire Constabulary has been prominently involved in another groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling crime. Heritage Watch recently launched to reduce the amount of heritage crime in Cheshire.

Heritage Watch is the first scheme of its kind for policing the past. Working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council, other Councils, English Heritage and Cheshire Fire and Rescue, the scheme is aimed at preserving heritage sites which are vulnerable to crimes such as arson, vandalism and graffiti. Due to the high value of metal at the moment, churches in particular are susceptible to this crime.

The launch at St. John′s Church in Chester involved representatives from all the partners involved giving their account of their own experiences of heritage crime and invited people from across the county who are interested in crime reduction initiatives and preserving heritage sites to get involved.

The initiative is to work in a similar way to Cheshire Police′s poignant Home Watch scheme. Groups will be set up to monitor local heritage sites, report anything suspicious and generally be vigilant in sharing information. Similarly to Home Watch the scheme heavily relies on community volunteers driving the initiative forward with the help of the local authorities.

Heritage crime is robbing future generations of the opportunity to enjoy historical sites which we take for granted. This type of crime is also costly financially to the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said, "We are asking local people to preserve and protect their heritage so that it can be enjoyed by their children and grandchildren.

"Cheshire is particularly rich in buildings and other sites which have historical importance. Even those that are privately owned belong to the local community in terms of environmental value. We want people to appreciate that and make sure they survive into the future."

Describing as nonsense the view that metal theft and similar crimes are virtually victimless, Assistant Chief Constable Purdie added that, "churches are an important part of our national heritage. If someone strips lead from a church roof, bad weather can do untold damage to the entire building in a very short time. The stolen lead may only be worth two or three hundred pounds. The repair costs may be twenty or thirty thousand pounds."
Adding that a few months ago a man was sent to prison for stealing the metal plaque from a war memorial at Willaston, Assistant Chief Constable Purdie said this type of theft causes serious distress to local families.

"Criminals who indulge in this type of theft don′t have any consideration for the effect on other people. They are just interested in a quick profit. Many of these crimes can be prevented. Other agencies are likely to be involved as Heritage Watch becomes recognised and more and more people get involved.

"Local people can make it clear that this type of crime is unacceptable. They will be signing up for a real attempt to protect our heritage for the future."

To get involved in Heritage Watch contact Cheshire Police Communities Unit on 01606 362034 or email communities@cheshire.pnn.police.uk.

Follow Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Unit on Twitter

 

Crewe police have joined the twittering classes to warn and inform residents.
Head of the neighbourhood policing unit Inspector Andy Smith said: "Twitter is now going to be part of the many ways we communicate with our residents and businesses.
"We will be tweeting about crime prevention, meetings and informing them about the work we are doing in their neighbourhood."
There is some criticism that this takes up valuable police time, but a tweet takes seconds to create so doesn′t interfere with officers′ daily duties.
Insp Smith added: "You won′t find our officers tweeting about what they had for lunch. This is purely an informative exercise.
"We hope this extra communication tool will help us to connect to another section of the public that we might be missing through our usual channels to help them understand the work we do in their community to keep them safe.
"Its also the ideal opportunity to find out their concerns so that we can tackle the issues that really matter to them."

Follow your local officers at @creweNPU

New Look at Public Protection

 

Police say a new "holistic" approach to public protection will help to make Cheshire an even safer place.

A board which formerly provided governance and scrutiny for investigations involving children and young people has been re-aligned to oversee police work involving vulnerable people of all ages.

Superintendent Geraint Jones said, "The new Strategic Public Protection Board is adopting a co-ordinated approach to issues affecting families, vulnerable adults and children.

"Work done by the former Children and Young Persons Board will still form the core of its business, but it now has a wider outlook, taking in issues which are often linked."

Moira Chapman, a member of Cheshire Police Authority who is on the Strategic Public Protection Board said, "You can′t look at what a child needs, without looking at the picture in the context of the family.

"By broadening our own outlook and knowledge we can make sure that policing targets the root causes of any issues which affect vulnerable children and adults; not just the issues themselves.

"We will be looking at what policing can do in these cases and I am very pleased that is our focus."

New pathway promotes safe exercise

 

A new pathway in Nantwich has opened up and will help promote exercise as well as a safer route to schools.

The scenic route links together Taylor Drive and Edmund Wright Way, and will allow schoolchildren to travel safely to Malbank School and Sixth Form College and Millfields Primary School. Before the path opened up, the only access was along the busy Marsh Lane.

The path crosses the river tributary on Taylor Drive and is perfect for walking or cycling during any time of the week.

The route has cost in the region of £60,000 and the funding has been drawn from local developer contributions and Sustrans, a travel charity.

Cheshire East Council applied for the funding and oversaw the building of the new pathway.

Councillor Michael Jones, Cabinet member with responsibility for resources, said: “Cheshire East Council is keen to do all it can to encourage people to get out walking and cycling, especially young people.

“This new multi-route path is a huge step towards creating a healthy and sustainable borough and we actively encourage that.”

Councillor Arthur Moran, ward member for Nantwich North and West, said: “This new route links in with other cycle networks across the area and perfectly complements the schools’ travel plans.

“Both schools actively encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school and they have installed new parking facilities for bikes for this purpose.

“We would now urge parents to encourage their children to walk or cycle to school, especially as the weather picks up, so that they can benefit from the exercise and fresh air that travelling to school can offer.”

Angela Miller, school business manager at Malbank School and Sixth Form College, said: “We are extremely grateful for this new route, which will benefit children coming to Malbank. 

“We are now hoping that this safer route to Malbank will encourage more and more children to get on their bike, or walk to school, and enjoy the summer weather.”

Appeal following a collision at a supermarket car park in Nantwich

 

Police are appealing for a driver involved in a collision with a pedestrian at a supermarket car park in Nantwich to get in touch.
At 1.45pm on 14 March 2012 a woman was putting her shopping trolley back in the trolley park at Morrisons in Station Road when a car ran over her foot, trapping her and causing her to fall over.
The driver who was possibly in his 80s did stop at the time to ask if she was okay.
The woman said she was okay and as a result the man who was in a silver or grey Ford Fiesta mark three drove off without giving any details.
PC Nicola Berry said: "As it transpired the woman was treated for a broken small bone in her foot and a broken wrist.
"As a result I would like the driver to get in touch with me so that I can establish the full circumstances of the incident."
The driver can contact PC Berry by calling 101 and quoting incident number 825 of 14 March 2012.

Welcome Back for New Deputy Chief Constable

Helen King today joined the Cheshire Police team of chief officers as Deputy Chief Constable.

Formally taking up her new duties, she re-affirmed the oath which gives Police Officers policing powers, such as the power of arrest.

The oath was witnessed and signed by Moira Chapman, a magistrate and member of Cheshire Police Authority, the body which appointed Helen.

Moira Chapman said, "It was a great pleasure to welcome Helen back as she spent much of the early part of her career with Cheshire Constabulary.

"Officers only take the oath when they first become Police Officers or when they transfer from one constabulary to another. The words are a real reminder of the powers they are being given and the responsibilities which come with those powers."

Helen King said, "I have a very clear view that as Police Officers we are here to serve the public and do all we can to keep our communities safe and make them feel safe. Whatever challenges we may currently face, that core task does not change. At the heart of everything we have a continuing commitment to neighbourhood policing."

Helen King joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1986 and worked in Chester, Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington and Northwich. She went on to be police commander at Halton for three years. Later, as a Chief Superintendent, she was Northern Area Commander. She also spent some time as Cheshire Police Head of Professional Standards.

She moved to Merseyside Police in 2005 as Assistant Chief Constable and in 2009 took over responsibility for Merseyside′s six Areas and more than four thousand officers and staff.

The wording of the Police Officer′s Attestation is:

"I do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against peoples and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law."