UKIP Councillors to hold help and advice surgery in Willaston

 

UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich Cllr Richard Lee and Willaston and Rope Borough Councillor Brian Silvester are holding a Help and Advice Surgery on Tuesday 5th August from 6-7pm at Willaston Social Club, Wistaston Rd. Willaston. Brian said ," All are welcome. We can't promise to solve all the problems residents bring to us but we always promise to try."

The Surgery is being followed by a UKIP public meeting at the Willaston Social Club starting at 7.30pm. Cllr Silvester and Cllr Lee will be speaking about the current planning fiasco in Cheshire East and other issues. All are welcome and questions will be taken.

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)

UK Independence Party Councillor

Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor

Cheshire East Council

11 Rimsdale Close

Rope,Crewe

CW2 6RS

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Text     07760147609

www.twitter.com/cllrbsilvester

www.facebook.com/CllrBrianSilvester

WITTERS FIELD APPEAL DUE TO START NEXT TUESDAY

 

Whilst still reeling from the news that Gladman Developments have submitted a second ‘slightly tweaked’ planning application for Witters Field, Wistaston residents, Local Councillors and members of Hands off Wistaston (HOW) have now just received the news that the Planning Inspector will be hearing the appeal on the original application for up to six days from next Tuesday.  Some residents are naturally very angry as they have only just received their letters of notification, from the Council, in the post yesterday.  The letters are dated the 23^rd and they feel that they have not been given much notice of the appeal.  Local Councillors and HOW are asking for residents to support them by going along to the appeal if they possibly can.

HOW Spokesperson Peter Wainwright says;

“We have done so much work over the last year or so keeping this planning application in the public eye.  The fight has not just been about Witters Field we are absolutely adamant that our local Green Gaps should be retained and that is the message that we have consistently given out.  Wistaston residents have been absolutely fantastic with their support every time they have been asked to comment or join in with public consultation.  Witters field matters so much to them so we urge them to see this fight through to the end and drop in at the appeal.”

Wistaston Ward Councillor Margaret Simon says;

“Cheshire East Council, local Ward Councillors, the Parish Council and HOW will be working very hard at the appeal, on behalf of their residents, to try to put a stop to this unwanted, unplanned development.  It would be great if residents could come along and show their support.”

The appeal is due to start at 10.00am on Tuesday 5^th August 2014, at the Carlsberg lounge, Crewe Alexandra Football Club, Gresty Road, Crewe.  From Wednesday 6^th August2014 it will be held at the Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe.  The decision will most likely be announced later this year.

Cygnets Hooked by Fishing line AGAIN

Once again the fishermen have injured more cygnets one above with a hook in its mouth and line trailing behind was spotted by the wildlife group https://www.facebook.com/groups/queensparkwildlife/ and action was taken to save it we hope that its not swallowed the line and has internal injuries. Once again the low life that do this don't report it to the RSPCA or anyone to get it help they run off and leave it to die a horrible painful death. The other cygnet is still at the RSPCA Stapley and still isn't out of the woods yet lets hope it pulls through.

Again there is a possibility that another has been caught in line tonight and the one below we are worried about its leg as it seems to be injured.

The problem is there is no end in site things are just getting worse with an almost daily problem and these are not kids fishing these are adults doing this. Nothing is being done to stop this happening. You can see below an illegal act not just park rules but its illegal to leave a rod unattended as it states on the licence https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/rod-limits if found by the environment agency  you can get a hefty fine and banned from fishing http://www.fisheries.co.uk/news/news/marshall.htm

Once kids start in the school hols things will be totally out of control and the CEC are doing nothing to help the situation they are covering up criminal acts when swans are attacked every incident with a swan attack should be reported to the police not covered up.

Something must be done I have heard of people suggesting vigilantly patrols and this must be condemned but people are shocked and upset by lack of response by the park

Going by other park rules in the uk the rules need to be changed

no ground baiting (the wildlife see this and come over then the angler doesn't lift the rod)

Clear notices of how to contact the bailiff so people can report problems and if they hook wildlife report it. The stupid £5 fee want increasing to a reasonable £30 then this would pay for more bailiffs

No catapults these are weapons and not suitable in the park as last week the kids were firing at wildlife.

Bailiffs to note who is on what peg and times and that person is responsible for the peg and to clean up after them ie no left line this would also give a clue as to who was fishing if wildlife are hurt.

No casting close to wildlife and rods to be lifted if wildlife come close

Apart form the cygnets there are a lot of baby ducks moorhens and rabbits to see in the park at this time

A local teenager is heading to Africa on work experience.

reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

A local teenager is heading to Africa on work experience. Rhiannon Owen, aged 16 from Willaston, is currently raising funds for a two weeks and five days work experience placement to Tanzania, East Africa in August 2014.

She will shadow doctors in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology. The opportunity was setup by Gap Medics - http://www.gapmedics.co.uk/ – who organise placements for aspiring students in medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry.

She heard about Gap Medics whilst studying at Malbank School in Nantwich where she recently completed eleven GCSEs. She starts studying A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, French and English Literature at Sir John Deane's College in Northwich from September and then plans to study medicine at University.

Rhiannon said, “My mother is a nurse at Macclesfield District General Hospital and I would like to follow her lead and pursue a medical career. It will be my first visit to Africa and I am eager to experience first-hand clinical medicine and surgery.”

Carol Owen, mother, said, “She's had her heart set on studying medicine since she was very young. Hopefully the placement in Tanzania will be one step nearer to a career in medicine.”

The Nantwich and Acton Grammar School Foundation (NAGS Foundation) charitable trust have generously paid for her flights to Tanzania. Rhiannon has also raised money herself towards the £3,000 total cost of the placement via activities such as a tombola and bric-a-brac stall at the recent Willaston Village Fete.

If you would like to make a donation towards her placement please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/7ffy4k .

Hedge to be cut back after complaints

 

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester has taken up complaints about the overgrown hedge outside the Berkeley Primary School, Laidon Avenue,Rope.

He said,” I have received complaints about the overgrown hedge outside the school. (Photo attached) Pedestrians find it difficult to walk on the footpath, especially when vehicles are partly parked on the footpath. Outside the school is very busy at the start and finish of the day.There are a lot of traffic movements and it is dangerous if pedestrians are restricted in terms of the use of the footpath and have to step into the road. Also it is not good that the overgrowth is preventing the warning street signs from being seen properly.The school have promised me that the hedge will be cut back.”

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor

Cheshire East Council

11 Rimsdale Close

Rope,Crewe

CW2 6RS

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Text     07760147609

www.twitter.com/cllrbsilvester

www.facebook.com/CllrBrianSilvester

FUN GALA AT CREWE POOL

A Community Games swimming gala was held on 19 July at Crewe swimming pool for people with disabilities. Dozens took part and the participants had fun with swimming aids and on the giant inflatable structure, some competed in races and others enjoyed ‘aqua dancing’ with music playing on the pool-side.

After the pool session, the swimmers joined their friends at a disco and buffet at the Purple Onion - the Lady Verdin Trusts’ drop-in centre in Edleston Road. The disco had a football theme, to celebrate this year’s World Cup in Brazil, and many of the participants wore their favourite football shirt.

Everyone involved in the gala were presented with a Community Games certificate by the Mayor of Crewe Town Council, Councillor Pam Minshall. The event was organised by Seahorse Swimming Club, as part of the country-wide Community Games programme, which brings communities together by getting involved in sport and cultural activities, inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The event was a huge success and our thanks go to the town mayor and the staff at the pool and at the Purple Onion for their support. It was good to see so many people with disabilities having such a good time, and staying active in the pool and on the dance floor. With all the rain, the pool was the best place to be on the day, as it was probably one of the wettest days this summer!” - Seahorse secretary, Gareth Roberts.

Children in Sandbach Heath are crowned recycling champs!

 

Children from St John’s CE Primary School in Sandbach Heath beat off stiff competition from several other children to be crowned Ansa’s Junior Recycling Officers of the Year.

The event took place at a fun, interactive event at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

Ansa, a company owned by Cheshire East Council, was established in April 2014 and delivers environmental services for the council. Our Aim is to reduce the long term environmental impact of the services we deliver while increasing customer satisfaction and driving down costs.

Every year, schools in Cheshire East nominate two junior recycling officers who work with Ansa’s waste education officer Lucinda Hodges to prepare and present assemblies, run competitions, set up recycling schemes and collections and encourage other pupils to raise awareness of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

At the end of the year, junior recycling officers enter the yearly award and children, teachers and parents are invited to an awards ceremony where each shortlisted child gives a short presentation about the work they have done throughout the year and a team of judges choose the winners.

The judges – Ansa chairman Councillor John Hammond, Ansa board director Councillor Roger West and Ansa general manager Jane Thomason – chose Shannon Levitt and Aimee Trembath, from St John’s CE Primary School, in Sandbach Heath, as this year’s winners.

The judges felt the pair had been the most innovative, creative and proactive in their approach but the runners up were also recognised for their hard work and were presented with a medal and wind-up radio. 

At the event, Shannon and Aimee talked about the work they had been doing over the last year in school to raise awareness about recycling, which included making animals from old boxes they then painted. They also performed a play at school where the reception children made trees, made planters from unusual items such as trainers, skirts and bin bags and held an eco bake-off too!

Ansa chairman Cllr John Hammond said: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Junior Recycling Officers and was very impressed with the work they have done within their school to educate other children about recycling.

“I would like to congratulate Shannon and Aimee for winning – but must also congratulate all the children for being shortlisted as it’s a great achievement.”

Ansa managing director Kevin Melling added: “Continually improving the way we recycle and reduce our waste is incredibly important and that is why we work with children in schools as they are our future generation.

“I am delighted that so many schools across Cheshire East have actively engaged with us and I would like to personally thank all our junior recycling officers for working so hard to raise awareness of the need to reduce, reuse and recycle”

The other junior recycling officers that were shortlisted this year were from Vine Tree Primary School in Crewe, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Congleton, St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in Knutsford and Cranberry Academy in Alsager.

For more information about the role of the Junior Recycling Officers, please visit, junior recycling officers

Next phase in multi-million pound Basford West spine road

 

The next stage of a multi-million pound road investment is under way in Cheshire East, as part of the All Change for Crewe programme.

Plans to start building the Basford West spine road are now under way after the Council’s developer partner, Goodmans, appointed a contractor to begin work on the £7m road next month (August) as part of a larger contract.

It follows the Council’s successful bid to the DfT for ‘pinch point’ funding in order to ease congestion in the area and open up 35 hectares of strategic employment and housing sites, creating more than 2,000 jobs and boosting the economy by an estimated £40m, with 12,500 jobs over the next two decades.

The 1km road represents a vital link between Gresty Road in Crewe and the Shavington junction of the A500 and will improve access to Crewe railway station and then on into the town centre.

It also presents opportunities to develop the existing land in the Basford West area for retail and leisure developments and also for much-needed new homes.The land will also be earmarked for commercial use, including rail-related development.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “This is more fantastic news for Crewe and further proves this Council’s commitment to helping this town to grow and thrive again.

“It also means Crewe is being taken seriously as a place for investment, because the Government is recognising the town’s huge economic potential time-and-time again.

“The road itself will provide excellent local and strategic links to Crewe and Nantwich as well as the A500 and M6. It will ease traffic on the existing roads in the area and offer relief to other routes into Crewe, such as the A5020 and Weston Road.”

This success follows on from the delivery of the new station access, the commencement of the Crewe Green Link Road South and M6 J16/ A500 widening scheme and the improvements at M6 J17 to follow this Autumn.

The authority is now waiting to hear whether it has been successful in applying for £2.8m to widen the B5078, which leads to the M6 at junction 16 at Barthomley.

Work is already getting under way on the £11.2m joint scheme between Cheshire East Council and the Highways Agency, with the installation of traffic signals on Junction 16 of the M6 and the widening of the A500 to two lanes approaching the junction. The A500 scheme will see a 600 metre-long widening of the A500 on the approach to the M6 at junction 16 on the Crewe side.

Councillor Jones added: “The project is the culmination of years of hard work and lobbying by the Council and is the latest in a series of successful road bids for this authority, which aims to put residents first and deliver better connectivity and jobs-led, plan-led growth for the people of Cheshire East.

“Improving connectivity between our communities and the M6 is one of the cornerstones of the Council’s vision for a less-congested and better-integrated road network that will help transform Crewe and surrounding areas into an economic powerhouse by 2030.

“This Council is continuing to deliver on that ambition and will be monitoring the success of the Highways Agency’s traffic management to ensure the best results for our local roads.

“One of our key aims is for Cheshire East to have a strong and resilient economy and improving the roads in and around the Borough ensures that we will gain an even greater reputation as an excellent place to live, visit and do business. Cheshire East is the best in the North West and the place to be.”

Local fund-raising event

Reporter. Jonathan White, Wistaston

Sisters Emma and Tricia Boffey from Burleydam organised a ‘30k for 30 years’ event in memory of their brother, Will, which took place on Saturday 19th July 2014. Will sadly passed away in 2007 having contracted acute myeloid leukaemia in 2005. The date of the event would have been his 30th birthday.

Emma started her 30 kilometre run from Nantwich Swimming Pool and ran past various places linked with Will, such as the Barony playing fields, Brine Leas School, Wrenbury Football Club and Audlem Primary School. She was joined by best friend Kate Harper for the first 10 kilometres, friends including Franklyn Goodwin, Andy Williamson and cousin Matt Wright for the middle 10km and sister Tricia for the last 10km to their family home in Burleydam. Emma was supported by father Mike Boffey in his car and Ben Reinhardt on his bicycle.

Emma and Tricia also organised a Celebratory party following ‘30k for 30 years’ at Audlem Public Hall to raise further funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Nantwich Swimming Baths kindly allowed a collection bucket to be placed on their reception desk during the day. The sisters also received a donation from the Combermere Arms, Burleydam who generously ran a raffle for the event.

The day raised several thousand pounds worth of vital funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research - http://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/ - to allow them to beat blood cancers.

Emma and Tricia said, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their fantastic support and encouragement. We have been overwhelmed with good wishes and the fund raising total is amazing! We felt proud to have completed the 30 kilometres in good time and we were encouraged by fellow runners and flag waving supporters at various points along the route. The day finished with a great Party in Audlem at which several of Will’s friends from Brine Leas School and Nottingham Trent University attended, which was a real tribute to our brother.”

Emma & Tricia are still accepting donations, so if you would like to donate please go to https://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/people/emma-boffey-llr/30-km-30-years

Call to help identify minerals sites for next stage of Local Plan

 

Cheshire East Council wants YOU to help pinpoint potential sites for mineral extraction across the Borough.

As part of the next stage of the Council’s Local Plan, the authority now needs to identify sites and areas for future mineral extraction in the Borough in order to meet national planning policy requirements.

The Council’s spatial planning team is conducting a minerals ‘call for sites’ as part of this process – seeking details of potential mineral sites from interested parties, as well as the views of stakeholders and the wider community on how we should assess these sites.

The Council is calling on operators and landowners to identify sites they consider have potential for the extraction of minerals including salt, sand and gravel.

This is a key building block of the next phase of the Local Plan – to decide site allocations and development policies.

Councillor David Brown, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “The siting of new mineral extraction sites is hugely important for the creation of jobs and growing the economic prosperity of Cheshire East. But it is also often a controversial, issue – and it is critically important that we get it right, taking into account such factors as impact on the environment.

“This Council is deeply committed to putting ‘residents first’ and to getting things ‘right first time’ for our residents and communities. That’s why it’s vital that people from all walks of life get involved to help us locate the most appropriate minerals sites.

“It takes just a few minutes to fill in the short online survey form. It is, after all, about helping to shape a better, more prosperous and more sustainable Cheshire East for the whole community.”

The ‘call for sites’ period runs from Monday (July 21) until September 1, 2014, during which time suggested sites can be submitted to the Council.

Once a full list of possible locations has been gathered, the Council will undertake a comprehensive assessment of each site and identify whether or not they are suitable.

For further information on the process please visit our online consultation portal at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan

Site information can be submitted to the Spatial Planning Team by e-mail via:

planningpolicy@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Alternatively, contact the team by post at:

Spatial Planning Team

Cheshire East Council

1st Floor Westfields

C/O Municipal Buildings

Earle Street

Crewe

CW1 2BJ

The team can also be contacted by phone on: 01270 685893

Welcome to the July edition of the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service e-Newsletter.

 

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Take Extra Care - measures you can take during the strikes

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced a further period of industrial action / strike dates:

• Friday 18 July from 11pm-1am 

• Saturday 19 July from 11am-1pm and 11pm-1am

• Sunday 20 July from 5pm-7pm

• Monday 21 July from 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm.

We are urging residents to 'Take Extra Care'

Please make sure you have a working smoke alarm installed in your home and know exactly how to get out of your home if a fire was to break out.

Find out more about our 'Take Extra Care' campaign

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Think before you park

Would a fire engine be able to get to your house in an emergency?

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to think about the way they park their vehicles to prevent lives from being put at risk.

We know sometimes space can be limited but please try and leave enough room for a fire engine to get past should it need to respond to an emergency.

Find out more - Think before you park

Video - showing how a fire engine struggles to get to some emergencies

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Fire team wins national award

A team which uses data and information to help Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service improve the safety of local communities has won a national award.

The Business Intelligence team triumphed in the not-for-profit sector in the first ever Management Today Analytics in Action Awards.  

Find out more - Fire team wins national award

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Smoke alarm alerts residents to house fire in Ellesmere Port

Four people had a fortunate early wake up call on Thursday 3 July 2014, alerting them to a fire in an Ellesmere Port bungalow.
A smoke alarm, which had been fitted by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in July 2012, activated in the home, waking two of the occupants who then woke up the other people inside.

Find out more - Smoke alarm alerts residents to house fire in Ellesmere Port

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Summer safety

Stay safe during the summer months, use the links below to access fire safety tips and advice:

• Barbecue Safety

• Camping Safety Advice

• Caravan Safety

• Countryside Safety

• Water Safety

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Fire Station open days in July

The Service is holding two free open days in July to raise safety awareness in the local communities.

Why not bring your friends and families along to:

• Middlewich Fire Station Open Day - 20th July

• Runcorn Fire Station Open Day - 26th July

Willaston Village Fete.

Reporter  Jonathan White

 

The Willaston Village Fete took place on the afternoon of Sunday 20^th July 2014. This annual event is organised by the Willaston Parish Council and took place on the Lettie Spencer Playing Fields, off Wybunbury Road, in Willaston.

The event began with a procession from the Moorfields War memorial at 12:30pm. The procession included the retiring Willaston Rose Queen (Gladys Llewellyn) and this year’s Willaston Rose Queen (Ffion Owen) and her Attendants (Greta Piasecka and Janista Harding) in a fifty-two year old Triumph Herald open-top car owned by Dave Parker and driven by Shaun Farrell. The procession also included a number of other classic vehicles, along with the 26th South West Cheshire (1st Willaston) Scout Group.

Once the procession had arrived at the gates of Lettie Spencer Playing Fields at 12:45pm, a ribbon was cut to officially open the Fete by Wayne Lewis (Fete committee, Willaston Parish Council), Brian Silvester (Cheshire East UKIP Councillor for Willaston and Rope Ward) and John Flackett (Fete committee, Willaston Parish Council).

Once on the Lettie Spencer Playing Fields the retiring Willaston Rose Queen (Gladys Llewellyn) thanked the people of Willaston for their support during her year in office. Willaston Primary School Headteacher Miss Clare Grehan then placed the crown on the head of this year’s Rose Queen Ffion Owen, aged 10. Ffion stated that her chosen charity this year is Alder Hey Children's Charity http://www.alderheycharity.com/ .

Attractions included a collection of classic cars and motor bikes, a dog agility show by the Wyche Dog Training Club, music from Willaston School, a bouncy castle, bungee trampolines and children’s sprint races. There were numerous stalls including a coconut shy, skittles, paintball, hook-a-duck, tombola and face painting. Paul Simpson and Julie Lewis from The Cat Community Radio provided music and commentary throughout the day. Refreshments were available on the playing fields and within St John’s Church Hall.

Ffion Owen’s mother, Carol Owen, said, "Ffion is delighted to be Rose Queen this year after being so ill last year that she attended the Fete in a wheelchair. Her nominated charity is Alder Hey Children's Charity. She hopes to raise money for Alder Hey as a big thank you for helping her through her illness.”

Ffion Owen’s grandparents, Dave and Doreen Parker, said, "We are so proud that our beautiful granddaughter along with her Attendants are representing Willaston over the next twelve months. We wish them all the best in their fund-raising activities”.

The event took place in sunny weather and was enjoyed by several hundred people.

I’ve uploaded all my photos to a Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanawhite/sets/72157645392635639/

Dog agility show by the Wyche Dog Training Club.

Coffee Morning

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

Over one hundred people visited the home of Glenys and John White in Westfield Drive, Wistaston for a Coffee Morning on Thursday 17th July 2014.

The event was a social occasion supported by several local organisations, friends and neighbours.

The sun shone and the petunias in the display containers and tubs raised their heads in colourful, spectacular fashion.

There was a raffle, a bric-a-brac stall, a book table and delicious refreshments, organised by members of the hall's management team and friends.

A total of £408 was raised during the morning, which will be used to modernise the disabled toilet at Wistaston Memorial Hall, Church Lane. 

The hall's management committee wishes to thank all those who supported the event in so many different ways.

Woman benefits cheat ordered to repay almost £10,000 and do unpaid community work

 

A woman who fraudulently claimed nearly £10,000 in benefits has been ordered to repay the money and do 50 hours’ unpaid community work.

Kelly Rowe, 29, of Mayfield Avenue, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty at South and East Cheshire Magistrates’ Court (on July 8, 2014) to one charge of benefit fraud after failing to report a change in her financial circumstances.

Magistrates sitting at Crewe heard that Rowe had claimed housing benefit, Council Tax benefit and Council Tax support since July 2011, on the basis that she was a lone parent on a low income.

However, Cheshire East Council’s benefit investigations team found Rowe had failed to tell the benefits team that her partner had moved in with her and was supporting her financially.

In failing to report her changed circumstances, Rowe was overpaid state benefits totalling £9,789 – which magistrates have she must now repay in full.

Magistrates also sentenced Rowe to a 12-month community order with a requirement to do 50 hours’ unpaid community work. She will also have to pay court costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £50.

The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council.

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “Benefit fraud is immoral and simply wrong. What’s more, it will not be tolerated by Cheshire East.

“We are an enforcing Council and are firmly committed to ensuring such offenders are brought to justice.

“This prosecution, and others like it, sends out a message, loud and clear, that we not tolerate benefit fraud.

“This Council will continue to take robust action to protect our communities from those who cheat the system at the expense of honest taxpayers.”

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. You don’t have to give your name and your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Couple who fraudulently claimed £18,000 in benefits had more than £140,000 in secret bank accounts

 

A couple who fraudulently claimed more than £18,000 in benefits secretly had more than £140,000 hidden in bank accounts.

Now the pair have each been ordered by magistrates to do 160 hours’ unpaid community work – and repay every penny of the benefits they cheated from taxpayers.

Deborah Otter, 35 and Nigel Bailey, 47, both of Coronation Avenue, Alsager, pleaded guilty at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court (on July 14, 2014) to two charges of making false representations in order to obtain housing benefit and Council Tax benefit.

Magistrates sitting at Crewe heard that Otter and Bailey had claimed housing benefit and Council Tax benefit since December 2007, on the basis that they were on low income and needed help to pay their rent and Council Tax.

However, investigations by Cheshire East Council’s benefit fraud team found the couple had more than £140,000 concealed in bank accounts they had fraudulently failed to declare.

Had they declared these sums to the Council, Otter and Bailey would not have been entitled to benefits.

Cheshire East Council investigators found Otter and Bailey had been overpaid state benefits totalling £18,749 – which magistrates have ordered the pair to repay in full.

Magistrates also sentenced Otter and Bailey to each carry out 160 hours’ unpaid community work. The pair were also ordered to pay court costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £120.

The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council.

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “This is a totally shameful case of a couple defrauding the public purse.

“Prosecutions such as this send out a clear message that Cheshire East is an enforcing Council and will take robust action to protect our taxpayers from those who abuse the system to line their own pockets.

“Benefit fraud is simply wrong and will not be tolerated by this Council. We can reassure the people of Cheshire East that we are committed to ensuring these offenders are brought to justice.

“Last year we successfully brought 48 prosecutions for benefit fraud – and we are keeping up the pressure to catch offenders.

“Since April 1 (2014), alone, we have already successfully prosecuted 18 people for benefit fraud. We are making it clear that, when it comes to benefit fraud, we will track down offenders to ensure crime simply doesn’t pay.”

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. You don’t have to give your name and your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Injured Cygnet Latest

 

Report just in from the wildlife group on Face Book https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502881536594395/

got back from visiting our cygnet at Stapeley. How cool to be allowed to see him but how sad to hear he has a 50/50 chance of surviving. His injury, confirmed to be caused by FISHING LINE has made him unable to walk. If he can not put weight on his leg and is unable to walk he will have to be put to sleep. Made me want to cry. Poor little thing. He is on painkillers and my fingers are crossed. More care MUST be taken when fishing. This is a protected species.

If there is no action taken by the fishing group and the park management then more are going to die the fishermen throw in ground bait and the swans think its food so come over to them we watched today as swans swam under rods and the fishermen made no attempt to lift the rod to keep them safe. Once the kids start then all hell will break loose and the council will do nothing they remove any comments on Face Book trying to pretend nothing is happening. If the RSPCA gave the fishing group a £4,000 vets bill every time this happened they may get their act together.

Injured Cygnet update

Today volunteers from Queens Park Wildlife Conservation mounted a rescue of the injured cygnet and many turned up to keep an eye on it while waiting for the RSPCA. Most of the day members have been on the phone trying to get help for it. The RSPCA turned up later in the day and helped by volunteers who are known to the swans it was captured and taken away to Stapley as it was in to bad of a state to leave. What shocked a lot of people was that this was all done by volunteers while management who get paid to do the job by CEC did nothing. Its there job to take action on injured swans and give a swan in distress caused by fishermen top priority.

You can join the group on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502881536594395/

Ban Fishing in the Queens Park before all Cygnets Die

 

Call to ban fishing in the Queens Park after attacks on cygnets. The female swan died and the body was disposed of so no one could examine it but the pictures of the dead swan sent to lots of swan rescue centres believe the injury was from a fishing hook as it’s a unique wound and these are people that rescue swans every day. They cant be 100% as there is no body but they believe it to be the case.

Two cygnets were witnessed being attacked by fishermen purposely trying to hook them one did hook one. Another witness saw a fisherman hitting the swan with a landing net, a week ago a cygnet was rescued tangled in fishing line Sunday saw kids fishing and using a catapult to fire on cygnets and wild life. Today a cygnet has been caught in line again. Other witness have seen the attacked with spray cans. Fishermen have been seen kick at swans My dog was caught in a fishing hook left on the grass as have other dogs. Fishermen should have to be signed onto a peg then any problems they can be spoken to as its their responsibility

The injured cygnet has to wait until tomorrow for the RSPCA to rescue it lets hope its ok

All these are actual crimes swans enjoy statutory protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to intentionally injure, take or kill a wild swan. As far as we can tell these crimes have been covered up and not reported to the Police which in its self may be a crime and CEC may be guilty of this.

Given this level of attacks the only sensible action is to ban fishing before we have a wildlife blood bath despite peoples efforts these crimes are increasing and measures to stop them are not working. Some swan rescue centres who have had this sort of problem hold the fishing club responsible and charge them £4,000 for every rescue and vets bill. All this when we are supposed to have responsible fishermen once the kids break up and we get swamped with then all hell will break loose. If action isn’t taken then people may start taking action against these people as the CEC sit back and do nothing again.

The new wildlife group have people looking after the swans as best they can and you can join in and help save the swans on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502881536594395/

Anyone seeing attacks on swans should call the Police as its a criminal offence lets get the Police down and prosecute these people it will deter others from doing it

The post for CCTV are going in complete with pre configured graffiti

This may help to some degree with problems but only if people take action on what is seen. Below the fence broken by kids going fishing, they had fun playing with the boats last week and were on the boat hut

Lots of young rabbits about if you walk about the park

MP,s Bulletin

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Monday, 14 July 2014

Welcome

Welcome to this, my 152nd news bulletin.

Recently, in Manchester, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out a vision for a northern British powerhouse by connecting up our northern towns and cities.

We are already building a new north-south railway, HS2, which will connect eight of the UK’s 10 largest cities, including Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.

It has been proposed to use Crewe as a hub station for this new line, making our area more accessible to new businesses and jobs and providing commuters and travellers with far more choice and a greater number of services.

This northern phase of HS2 alone is a £21bn investment, and will support at least 60,000 jobs. It’s the most important investment in the north for a century, and something we can afford because we have taken difficult decisions elsewhere.

But we also need an ambitious plan to make the cities and towns here in the northern belt radically more connected from east to west. Those of us in Crewe and Nantwich with family or work reasons that take us to the North East or Yorkshire know what a drag it can be to get there.

As well as fixing the roads, including improving M6 junction 16 and building the Crewe Green Link Road, that means considering a new high spend rail link.  We want to start thinking about whether to build a new high speed rail connection east-west from Manchester to Leeds, based on the existing rail route, but sped up with new tunnels and infrastructure.

All of this will serve to make our area more accessible and more attractive for business and leisure, and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved in a project that is going to make such a difference to the lives of my constituents in the future.

Edward Timpson MP
Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich and Minister of the Year

Please remember, you can always contact me directly if you have any questions for me, or if there is anything I can do to assist you.

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Locally, I have...

• Cut the ribbon at the launch of the NSPCC's Rainbow Centre in Crewe.
• Attended the 'Skoolzfest' and Nantwich Fete, where I volunteered to be put in the Pillory (pictured, right) to raise money for local Scouts.
• Held two of my regular constituency advice surgeries, in Nantwich and in Crewe - please get in touch if you would like an appointment to speak to me about any issue of concern.
• Launched Leighton Hospital's appeal for a nuch-needed second MRI scanner.
• Met with the Chair and Chief Officer of the South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the GP-led organisation that has the job of commissioning health services in Crewe and Nantwich.
• Welcomed children from Mablins Lane Community Primary School on their visit to the Houses of Parliament.
• Played for a team of Cheshire MPs in a charity cricket match organised by Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans. We won a narrow victory over the cast of Emmerdale.
• Met with local residents concerned about the preservation of the Grade-II listed Nantwich Walled Garden.

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Community News

Scanner appeal launched

Crewe Chronicle: Vital funds are needed  to help save lives by  providing a second MRI  scanner for Leighton  Hospital.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals  Charity formally launched  their new Scanner Appeal  this week to enable them to  provide an extra facility to  run alongside the existing  one, which is currently  functioning way beyond capacity.

With more than 14,000 patients a year arriving at  Leighton for an MRI scan,  the current scanner is  working 13 hours a day, seven days a week and some  patients are being sent elsewhere because they department is at capacity.

The charity now need to  raise £1m to provide the  state-of-the-art scanner as  well as completing necessary building work so it can  be situated back to back  with the current one.

With a significant rise in  demand for scans due to the  introduction of MRI prostate screening and an increase in the number of  high risk stroke patients,  staff are currently relying  on back up from a mobile  scanner which comes

every three weekends of  the month just to ease the  pressure.

Successfully funding the  £1m target would deliver a  better service for the thousands of patients needing  the service from Crewe,  Nantwich and its surrounding areas.

The new scanner will feature a range of benefits to  patients, including:

• A larger scanner to accommodate a variety of  body shapes, sizes and clinical conditions, as well as  reducing claustrophobia
• Generally improved patient experience
• Reduced failure rates
• Additional MRI scanning capacity
• Faster scan times
• Reduction in MRI waiting times
• Increased diagnostic accuracy and therefore improved clinical outcomes

The charity, which was behind the successful One in  Eleven Appeal is hoping to  smash its target within two  years.

Laura Riddle, fundraising  manager said:“We have given  ourselves a goal of raising £1million in two years.  The local community have  always been hugely supportive and we can’t thank  them enough for this.

“We look forward to hearing about your fundraising  efforts so have some fun  whilst raising money for  this wonderful cause!”

To donate to the MRI Scanner Appeal simply visit  www.mchcharity.org or text mchc00 and your amount  (e.g. mchc00 £1) to 70070.

Texts are free on all networks. Maximum text donation is £10.

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Children's Minister Edward Timpson opens new Crewe NSPCC centre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crewe & Nantwich Guardian: Local MP Edward Timpson welcomed a new NSPCC centre in Crewe that will help vulnerable families and children access professional care.

The Children’s Minister cut the ribbon on the Rainbow Centre in Oak Road on Tuesday, July 1.

He said: “I have supported the work the NSPCC does for many years and it’s great to see the charity investing and expanding in our local community with supportive services.

The new centre has 12 staff and offers cutting edge services for vulnerable children and families, including services for children suffering neglect, and children in families where drug and alcohol problems exist.

Services include SafeCare- where NSPCC staff visit homes referred to them due to neglect, showing parents how to play with their children, keep them healthy and handle difficult behaviour.

Elsewhere, the NSPCC’s Graded Care Profile will let staff identify when a child is at risk of neglect by looking at four key areas of physical wellbeing, safety, love and esteem.

Meanwhile, a special group work programme will be provided for children aged 5-12 years, whose parents misuse substances. Practitioners lead groups of up to five children over 10 weekly sessions while parents receive support on an individual basis.

Alex Modder, service centre manager for the NSPCC in Crewe added: “We are delighted with the new Rainbow Centre, which is a bright, colourful welcoming place for children, families and other professionals to visit.

“The services we offer here are aimed at helping children and parents to feel supported to overcome family difficulties, strengthen family relationships and ensure that children are kept safe.”

To find out more about the services on offer at the Crewe Service Centre, contact the team on 0207 650 3330 or email: crewe.service.centre@nspcc.org.uk

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MP praises South Cheshire College for Technical Awards scheme

Nantwich News: MP Edward Timpson has welcomed new vocational qualifications which will help Nantwich and Crewe students prepare for the world of work.

Mr Timpson said he was delighted South Cheshire College is one of the first seven colleges picked to offer teenagers new Technical Awards.

The awards, announced by Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock, are an alternative to GCSEs aimed at 14 to 16-year-olds, who will have to meet tough new criteria set out by employers. They will allow pupils to study real-life practical and technical skills in subjects like woodwork, textiles and electronics, and have a higher requirement for external assessment as demanded by employers.

From September 2015, pupils will be able to study up to three Technical Awards alongside a minimum of five core GCSEs.

Meanwhile, 16- to 19-year-olds, alongside or instead of A levels, will be able to study Tech Levels.

At South Cheshire College, students studying Tech Level qualifications in IT and engineering will be offered the opportunity to complete all three components of the TechBacc.

Mr Timpson said: "Previously, young people were encouraged to study qualifications completely unrelated to their lives or the rapidly changing world of work.

"Technical Awards will give students the opportunity to learn practical skills which are valued by employers from the age of 14 and are recognised in the school performance tables.

"They can be studied alongside core GCSEs and offer a crucial first step towards securing a high-quality vocational education.

"Improving vocational and technical education is a critical part of our long-term economic plan which will deliver the best possible schools and skills for our young people, so everyone can reach their potential."

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MP backs pothole funding

Crewe Chronicle: Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has welcomed the announcement of £1,862,407 of new funding in Cheshire East to tackle potholes.

In total £3,112,192 of additional funding for Cheshire East has been announced for this year, on top of the annual roads maintenance budget.

Over three million potholes will be filled in across England with funding from the £168 million Potholes Fund, announced in the 2014 Budget. This is part of more than £24 billion which will be spent on England's roads between 2010 and 2021 – the biggest investment in our roads since the 1970s.

Mr Timpson said: "This is great news for everybody who uses the roads in Crewe and Nantwich.

"£1,862,407 of new funding will go a long way to dealing with the menace of potholes and ridding our roads of them. Investing in Britain's roads and infrastructure is a key part of the long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain – and this is just one part pf that. By fixing Britain's roads the Conservatives are supporting local businesses, and making life that bit easier for the hardworking people in Crewe and Nantwich who rely on them to get around".

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Charity cricket match raises over £5,000 for local good causes - Emmerdale cast suffer defeat at hands of Cheshire MPs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So-Cheshire: Charitable Weaver Vale MP, Graham Evans, hosted a Celebrity Cricket Match on Sunday which raised over £5,000 for three good causes in his constituency: St Luke's Cheshire, Halton Haven Hospice and the Joshua Tree.

The event, which was sponsored by Robert's Bakery, saw over 500 people and their families visiting Northwich Cricket Club to watch the 'Emmerdale All Stars' team battle the 'MPs and Celebrities' team.

Players for the Emmerdale team included: Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe), Chris Chittell (Eric Pollard), Bhasker Patel (Rishi Sharma) and Natalie Anderson (Alicia Metcalfe).

Players for the MPs and Celebrities Team included: Graham Evans MP, Stephen Mosley MP, Edward Timpson MP, comedian Nick Hancock, Secret Millionaire star Mo Chaudry and former international rugby player Ikram Butt.

After winning the toss, the Emmerdale side elected to field first. The MPs and Celebrities took to the crease, notching up a very respectable 164 runs in 30 overs.  After a short break it was the Emmerdale team's turn to bat and, battling hard, they came within a whisker of snatching victory in the final over.

The match concluded with a nailbiting finish which saw the MP and Celebrities team clinch victory with a score of 165 to the Emmerdale All Stars' 164.  However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the Emmerdale All Stars as Chris Chittell won the award for 'Moment of the Match' with his bowling technique.

'Man of the Match' was awarded to comedian and presenter Nick Hancock and the awards, together with the winners' trophy, were presented by music mogul Pete Waterman.

Graham told us: "This was a fantastic day which saw hundreds of families from Weaver Vale, Cheshire and across the country, come together for a cracking match and three really important local causes. Obviously, I am delighted that the MP team snatched victory from the Emmerdale team in a very tight game indeed.

"I would like to thank everybody who has contributed to make this such a fantastic day – the sponsors, players, helpers, our hosts Northwich Cricket Club who have worked tirelessly, and above all the public for coming along to watch."

The £5,000 raised so far (with some donations still to be made) will be divided between the three local charities. Graham concluded: "It's been a magnificent day for everyone concerned – thank you all for contributing!"

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5 ways to contact Edward Timpson

• By e-mail: timpsone@parliament.uk
• On the web: www.edwardtimpson.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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30k for 30 years Event

Reporter Jonathan White.

Nantwich sisters Emma and Tricia Boffey are holding a ‘30k for 30 years’ event in memory of their brother, Will. Will sadly passed away in 2007 having contracted acute myeloid leukaemia in 2005. They aim to raise vital funds to help beat blood cancer.

Emma, aged 27, is training hard to run 30 kilometres in memory of what would have been her brother’s 30th Birthday this Saturday 19th July 2014. On the morning of the 19th, Emma will start her run from Nantwich Swimming Pool. She will run past various places linked with Will, such as the Barony playing fields, Brine Leas School, Wrenbury Football club and Audlem Primary School. William was a past Brine Leas School pupil and a keen footballer in the famous Ladsandads League. Tricia, aged 24, will join Emma for the last 10 kilometres finishing up at their family home in Burleydam.

Emma and Tricia said: “It will be an emotional but an amazing run full of many memories of our amazing brother. We hope to raise as much as we can for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, as we don’t want anyone else to lose a much loved brother like we did to blood cancer.”

Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, said: “Every penny raised helps us in our mission to beat blood cancer, by stopping people from dying and making patients’ lives better. We wish Emma & Tricia the very best of luck and hope the event goes well.”

To sponsor Emma & Tricia please go to www.beatingbloodcancers.org.uk/people/emma-boffey-llr/30-km-30-years

Emma and Tricia are also organising a Celebratory party following ‘30k for 30 years’ at Audlem Public Hall from 7pm. For tickets please contact Liz Boffey on 01948 871250 or liz.boffey@btinternet.com

ANOTHER PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL FOR UP TO 300 HOMES ON WITTERS FIELD, WISTASTON

Gladman Developments Ltd. have submitted a second application on land of Church Lane, Wistaston, know locally as Witters Field.  Their original application was turned down by Cheshire East's Strategic Planning Board and Gladman have taken it to Appeal.  Now, in a cynical attempt to avoid the Appeal, they have 'tweaked' the application slightly and submitted it again in the hope that Cheshire East will approve it this time around.

The original application outraged Wistaston residents so much so that hundreds of them sent in their objections to Cheshire East's Planning Department.

Residents group, Hands off Wistaston, co-ordinated the campaign to save Witters Field and they have jumped into action once again.
HOW Spokesperson Peter Wainwright says;
"This application is little or no different from the original and we don't want it.  We need all Wistaston residents to respond now and send in their objections to Cheshire East again.  It is important that they do because this is classed as a NEW application."

The campaign to 'SAVE WITTERS FIELD'  is being supported by Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, Wistaston Cheshire East Councillors and Wistaston Parish Council.
Wistaston Ward Councillor, Margaret Simon says; "Witters Field is loved by local people, it is very important to them and they don't want to see it built on.  It is unusual in that it is farmland that has been used for generations by local people for recreational purposes.  It is also in the Crewe and Nantwich Green Gap.  The Green Gap Policy was devised by the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council to keep its villages and towns separate from each other and to help them to keep their own identities.  It really is vital that residents take the time to respond to this new application as soon as possible, especially with the summer holidays almost upon us when many people will be going away.  They only have until Wednesday 6th August to make their feelings known."

You can find and comment on this application numbered 14/3024N on the Cheshire East website under - Planning.
Comments can also be emailed to ;
planning@cheshireeast.gov.uk
or they can be sent in writing to;
Daniel Evans
Principal Planning Officer
Development Management
PO Box 606
Municipal Buildings
CREWE
CW1 9HP

HOW's Peter Carton says;
"We can't afford to be complacent about this new application or leave the objecting for someone else to do.  Please take the time to send in your comments to help to save Witters Field

Enjoy a fun family day out Willaston Fete

 

The Village of Willaston will be holding their annual fete day on Sunday 20th July 2014 on the Lettie Spencer playing field. This year’s event kicks off at the village green at 12.30pm headed by this years voted Rose Queen Miss FFion Owen with her two attendants Greta Piasecica and Janista Harding.

It again promises  to be a fantastic day for all the family with many events planned, which will include Dog shows, Dances, Sports races, Classic cars and Motorbikes, Children’s Face painting, Children’s rides and many other stalls. Hot and cold food will be available during the day, as well as teas coffees and cakes, music on the day will be supplied by our  favourite local Crewe and Nantwich radio station “The Cat Radio”

Please come along and enjoy a fun family day out.

Door to door bus service welcomed……….. but it needs more publicity

 

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester is calling for the Flexible Bus Service (See attached) to be publicised better so residents know it is available.

He said," Parts of Willaston have no bus service at all so this door to door bus service is ideal and it is free after 9.30am to all those who have a bus pass.Those who don't have a bus pass have to pay £3 each way.(See below)The service is open to all those who have difficulty using public transport for whatever reason.Residents who have used it say it is very good service. It  took over from Dial a Ride about a year ago. Users have to first register before they can use the bus.The number to ring is 08450779110. I am calling on Cheshire East Council and D&G buses to give the service more publicity so less people will be housebound for the lack of transport and more people know about it and will be able to use it. This would result in less subsidy being required."

Tatton to host historic free concert event to honour Cheshire Regiment’s First World War fallen

 

A free concert and memorial service is to be held at Tatton Park to honour the Cheshire Regiment’s fallen soldiers of the First World War.

People are being encouraged to attend the family event, which will take place in the beautiful surroundings of Tatton’s Old Hall on Sunday, August 24, from 3pm.

The commemoration marks the centenary of the Battle of Mons – the first major military engagement by The 1st Battalion of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment in 1914 and where the regiment suffered severe casualties.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “The Battle of Mons was where the British Army saw its first major action of The Great War – and soldiers of the Cheshire Regiment played a major part in the terrible fighting.

“The Cheshires suffered tremendously-heavy losses and impressed officers on both sides of the conflict with their steadfast bravery and refusal to give ground or retreat.”

Of the 25 officers and 952 other ranks of the Cheshires present at the start of the battle, only seven officers and 200 men remained alive by the end of the day. Only 40 men from the battalion survived unwounded.

Cllr Jones added: “It is only right that we commemorate the tremendous courage and sacrifice of Cheshire’s soldiers and I would urge families to come along and join us for this fantastic and poignant commemorative event. I’m sure it will be a memorable occasion for everyone involved.”

People are encouraged to arrive for the free concert and memorial service from 2.30pm for a 3pm start. 

A memorial service will be followed by excerpts from ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Over By Christmas by acting group Theatre in the Quarter, readings from Cheshire East Youth Theatre and a concert by the world-renowned Fodens Brass Band.

The event is free – however the usual gate entry fee to Tatton Park applies. Because space is limited, people are urged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

People are encouraged to bring your own picnics and blankets for seating. Please do not bring dogs or barbeques to the event, as they are not permitted.

The concert is part of Cheshire East’s four-year programme of activities, events and development schemes to commemorate the centenary of the First World War – which is called Cheshire East Reflects. 

If you would like to promote you community’s commemorative events, or get involved, or have stories to share from this period, please visit the Cheshire East Reflects website at: www.cheshireeastreflects.com/

A Garden Party in aid of Diabetes UK

reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

Photo label: l-r - Bryan Bossons (Chairman, Crewe and South Cheshire Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK) – Sheena Sambrook (President, Crewe and South Cheshire Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK) - Mayoress, Mrs Joan Fitzgerald - Lucy Rowland (Wistaston Rose Queen) - Mayor of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald – Ken Sambrook (Treasurer, Crewe and South Cheshire Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK)

A Garden Party in aid of Diabetes UK took place on the evening of Wednesday 9th July 2014 at 6 Westfield Drive, Wistaston. Sheena & Ken Sambrook once again allowed their house and front & back gardens to be used for this annual event, which always takes place on the second Wednesday in July.

Sheena and Ken who also organised the event are President and Treasurer respectively of the Crewe and South Cheshire Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK: http://crewe-and-south-cheshire.diabetesukgroup.org/ .

Entrance was 50p and included a tea or coffee, whilst cakes and plants were also available for sale, along with bring & buy and raffle stalls.

Several dozen people attended over the course of the evening including Mayor of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald and Mayoress, Mrs Joan Fitzgerald, along with the recently crowned Wistaston Rose Queen (Lucy Rowland) and her Attendant (Charlotte Shaw).

Ken Sambrook said, “We are always amazed at the wonderful support we receive from friends in the local community. It makes the evening such a great success and enables us to continue to support Diabetes UK.

All proceeds will go to diabetes research projects and also to support newly diagnosed children and adolescents with diabetes to allow them to attend one of several educational residential holidays held around the United Kingdom. The residential allows them to integrate with other young people with diabetes and share experiences, which may assist them to learn to control their condition.

On average the Crewe and South Cheshire Voluntary Group raises £7,500 per year for Diabetes UK.

Children’s Minster Edward Timpson MP officially opened new NSPCC service centre in Crewe

The NSPCC celebrated the opening of its new service centre in Crewe with an official launch on Tuesday 1 July. Edward Timpson, Children’s Minster and MP for Crewe and Nantwich, joined the celebrations and did the honours by cutting the ribbon.  

Edward was joined at the opening by NSPCC Chief Executive Peter Wanless and Dorothy Flude, Former Mayor of Cheshire East who presented the charity with a £1,700 cheque from money raised for the charity during the last year. 

Edward Timpson, said: “I am thrilled to have been invited to the opening of the new NSPCC Rainbow Centre in Crewe. I have supported the work the NSPCC does for many years and it’s great to see a charity like the NSPCC investing and expanding in our local community with supportive services that help vulnerable children and families.” 

Over 50 guests attend the launch event, including NSPCC supporters and volunteers from across the region, and professionals from social care, health and education. Guests had the opportunity to meet the NSPCC team and hear about the services being offered by the children’s charity locally.

Alex Modder, Service Centre Manager for the NSPCC in Crewe said: “The NSPCC has had a presence in Crewe for more than 100 years and the launch of this new NSPCC service Centre marks our commitment to deliver vital services to local families in the years to come.”  

“We are delighted with the new Rainbow Centre which is a bright, colourful welcoming place for children, families and other professionals to visit. The services we offer here are aimed at helping children and parents to feel supported to overcome family difficulties, strengthen family relationships and ensure that children are kept safe. I would like to take this opportunity to say a public thank you to all of our supporters without whom we would not exist.”

The new NSPCC Rainbow Centre, on Oak Road in the heart of the town, has 12 staff and offers cutting edge services for vulnerable children and families across Cheshire East, including services  for children suffering neglect, and children in families where drug and alcohol problems exist.  These services include:

· SafeCare® - Helping parents give neglected children under five the high level of care and attention they need. We visit homes when young children are referred to us due to neglect. We show parents how to play with their children, keep them healthy, and handle difficult behaviour. We help parents make the home safe and establish safe routines.

• Graded Care Profile Using a national assessment tool designed to help practitioners identify when a child is at risk of neglect.  It allows practitioners to produce an objective measure of the quality of care given to a child. It looks at four key areas, including physical, safety, love and esteem.  Graded Care Profile helps to advise a range of services for children in Cheshire East to determine what further action needs to be taken to support children and their families.
• Family Environment: Drug Using Parents (FEDUP) – A group work programme, for children aged 5-12 years, who parents misuse substances. Practitioners lead groups of up to five children over 10 weekly sessions. Parents also receive support on an individual basis. 

To find out more about the services on offer at the Crewe Service Centre, please contact the team on 0207 650 3330 or email: crewe.service.centre@nspcc.org.uk

The NSPCC would also like to thank the following local companies in Crewe for their kind support and donations towards the launch event. These are; Morrisons, ASDA and Marks and Spencer in Crewe and Bramwells Opticians in Sandbach.                   

Cheshire East ‘in safe hands’ as council records best ever financial and operational performance

 

Cheshire East Council’s draft Annual Governance Statement and Statement of Accounts for 2013/14 have just been published, revealing the authority’s best performance since the Council was created in 2009.

Significantly, the council’s headline outturn position shows an under-spend of £0.9m against last year’s approved revenue budget of £260m.  In addition, the Council’s Cabinet has recommended the creation of new reserves of £12.4m to Council.

Meanwhile, the governance statement outlines how Cheshire East makes decisions, manages its resources and promotes high standards of conduct and behaviour. This year’s report highlights strong service performance across the board, including:

· Success in attracting new businesses, placing Cheshire East as only one of three hot spots outside London;

· Cheshire East is now the best performing council in the North West, (and one of the best overall), in decreasing the number of young people classed as not being in education, employment or training (NEET);

· Highest ever number of good and outstanding schools - 87.3%;

· Successful adult social care project launched to redesign assessment and care management responsibilities;

· The Council has developed a compelling business case for Crewe as an HS2 hub station with the potential to drive major growth and regeneration benefits for Crewe and the wider region; and

· A roll-out of superfast broadband across the sub-region through the £28.5 million ‘Connecting Cheshire’ project.

Cheshire East’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Peter Raynes, welcomed the reports: “This is the best financial and operational performance in the Council’s history and underlines our clear determination to put residents first in everything that we do.

“These reports highlight that we are in a robust position, both in terms of our financial and operational management, ensuring that we are able to deliver both efficient and effective services,” he said.

“We know there is a strong connection between how we make decisions and how accountable we are and the overall effectiveness of the services we deliver for people on the frontline.”

He added: “This success is the result of a lot of hard work at all levels of the organisation. It reflects our strong focus on governance and accountability, our innovative delivery arrangements and our careful stewardship of public money.  The message is clear: Cheshire East is in safe hands.”

Cheshire East returns £900k budget surplus

 

Cheshire East Council has returned a budget surplus of nearly a million pounds for last year and announced that it will be returning the money to the people of Cheshire East through a series of grants to local community groups.

Publishing its pre-audit statement of accounts and draft Annual Governance Statement for 2013/14, the council confirmed a £900,000 underspend against its approved revenue budget of £260m. 

The council’s robust financial health comes just a year into a three-year programme designed to transform Cheshire East into a strategic commissioning council. In addition to the surplus, the Cabinet will recommend the creation of new reserves of £12.4m to Council.

Welcoming the news, Council Leader Michael Jones said: “I am delighted to announce this budget surplus, which is the result of a lot of hard work in ensuring the council does more with less.

“Since I became leader of Cheshire East in 2012, we have kept a relentless focus on improving value for money for the council taxpayers in Cheshire East. We have been prepared to make the hard choices that have reshaped and refocused the whole council on delivery.”

Councillor Jones added: “We have taken out tens of millions of core costs and radically reformed the way we work to become a strategic commissioning council.

“What this means is that we put residents’ first and deliver them the very best services, regardless of whether we provide them or we commission them from elsewhere.”

“We have frozen council tax for four years in a row and I am already confident we will do so next year as well. At the same time, we have defended frontline services, delivering on our promise not to close any libraries or leisure centres.

Councillor Jones added: “This surplus shows that councils can get control of their finances, reshape services, make improvements, innovate and deliver value for money – all at the same time. This is the Cheshire East way.”

Concert to honour Crewe’s First World War heroes

 

A commemorative concert to remember the fallen heroes of Crewe is to be held 100 years to the day after the start of the First World War.

The event, entitled Crewe Reflects – a Commemorative Concert, includes the world premiere of a new work combining original music, film and writing. It will be held at 7.30pm on August 4 at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe. 

It will mark the centenary of the day that Britain declared war on Germany, on August 4, 1914, which marked the start of ‘The Great War’.

The concert is part of Cheshire East’s programme to commemorate the First World War – which is called ‘Cheshire East Reflects’. 

The concert will feature a service of remembrance led by Royal British Legion and the world premiere of a unique film ‘Where the Fallen Live Forever’, written and created by Adam Capper, with contributions from author Mark Potts.

The premiere will include live musical accompaniment featuring a specially-written score by composer Adam Shilton, from Manchester Metropolitan University’s department of contemporary arts.

The concert also features theatrical tributes to the soldiers of the First World War, performed by local choirs and performances from the Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West and the Funkychoir.com

Councillor Gordon Baxendale, Cheshire East Council lead on First World War commemorative events, said: “This should be a fantastic event on what is an especially poignant occasion – not just for Crewe and Cheshire East but for Britain and the world as a whole.

“It is only fitting that local community groups are centrally involved in commemorating the start of the First World War, as this cataclysmic conflict affected every community deeply and its impact profoundly shaped the modern world.

“It is great to see this sort of partnership work in our communities. I would urge people to come along and support this commemorative concert and take the opportunity to experience a unique and original performance which has been specially created to reflect on the tragic losses caused by the Great War.”

To find out more and to book tickets, contact the Lyceum Theatre Box Office on 01270 368242. All tickets £10 (a £1.50 per ticket booking fee will be added).

Cheshire East Reflects is a four-year programme of activities, events and development programmes to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

If you would like to promote you community’s commemorative events, or get involved, or have stories to share from this period, please visit the Cheshire East Reflects website at: www.cheshireeastreflects.com/

Cheshire East to be revolutionised by multi-million pound award

 

 

Cheshire East Council has bid for – and won from Government through the Local Growth Fund – a total of £81.5m, representing the lions-share of infrastructure funding.

The Deputy Prime Minister has this morning announced the following:

• Congleton Link Road has received £45m;
• Poynton Relief Road has received £16.4m
• £20m injection into the collaborative Greater Manchester and Cheshire Life Sciences Investment Fund;
• A commitment to work with the Council to support the expansion of science and innovation across the Borough; and
• A commitment to work with the Council to invest in a new train station at Crewe.

As well as totally transforming and improving Cheshire East’s infrastructure, the announcement spells around 2,000 jobs for local people and, in some cases, an hour shaved off journey times.

The bid is part of the Cheshire and Warrington ‘Growth Deal’ which in total has received £142m to improve connectivity and deliver growth across the region.

It will improve town connectivity such as between Congleton and Chester, Macclesfield and Manchester, and will give a welcome boost to the life science sector across the sub-region.

The fund will provide much-needed investment funding to high-growth small to medium sized business across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Council Leader Councillor Michael Jones said: “This is all part of putting residents first. This is a major move forward under my leadership and heralds the beginning of some very exciting times for Cheshire East.

“We bid for it, we achieved it and now we bring it forward as a major project of investment that will bring jobs and wealth to the local economy, as well as better connectivity.

“This funding will secure around 400 jobs at Congleton, as well as many more at Alderley Park.

“It will also take one hour off the journey times from Junction 15 to Poynton, as well as remove heavy traffic, including lorries, from Poynton, Congleton and Holmes Chapel.

“We believe in putting residents needs first and this is just one example of how we are focusing on this promise and delivering on it.”

Brief details:

Congleton Link Road: £45m for infrastructure and delivery during the period 2015/2017.

Poynton Relief Road: More than £16m for infrastructure and delivery over 2016/2017.

Greater Manchester and Cheshire Life Sciences Investment Fund: £20m to bolster research and development into ground-breaking life sciences.

Out of a total of £71.1m funding allocated to transport from 2015/2016, £61.4m is allocated for Poynton and Congleton.

• A comprehensive round-up of the announcement visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cheshire-and-warrington-enterprise-partnership-growth-deal-2014

Nantwich Fete and Skoolzfest

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

Nantwich Fete and Skoolzfest took place on Saturday 28^th June 2014. The events started at 10am and took place in and around the Nantwich Town Centre and St Mary’s Church. Activities included fairground rides, Punch and Judy performances, schools choir, dance, drama and art, The Co-operative Wind Bands (Crewe) and children’s activities. There was also a Farmers Market.