Council secures cash boost for homelessness and prevention work

Cheshire East Council has secured a cash boost of more than £400,000 for its strategy to help the borough’s rough sleepers. 

The council will receive £438,329.30 from a £112m funding pot as part of the government’s rough sleeping programme.

Working with charities and faith groups, the council will use the money to continue its drive to reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets by funding beds in various locations together with a pro-active team of support workers who actively encourage rough sleepers to use recognised accommodation.

Government funding received last year by the council enabled the authority to appoint a rough sleeping coordinator and build an outreach team to support rough sleepers, encouraging them to come in off the streets.

The team can also direct those in need towards emergency and longer-term accommodation. They also provide long-term help and advice, which can lead to more permanent accommodation and employment.

Councillor Nick Mannion, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “This funding is a welcome injection of cash into a vital service to help and support people in genuine need.

“This further round of funding will help us to develop important work in prisons and in our hospitals where some of our rough sleepers can end up. We want to make sure they have somewhere to go when discharged back into society and prevent a ‘revolving door’ scenario – where people end up back on the streets, sleeping rough.

“We have managed to keep our numbers of rough sleepers in the borough fairly low but one rough sleeper is one too many. We are eager to tackle the harmful effects of homelessness through a proactive prevention programme, as these can have a severe impact on family life and on children as well as an individual’s mental health and wellbeing.”

The council is encouraging residents to report a rough sleeper by calling 0300 123 5017 so that they can be helped. In the year to March 2019, the council helped 129 homeless people on the streets into longer term accommodation and continued that success story with a further 97 successful outcomes later in the year.

Cheshire East to look at athletics track improvements

Cheshire East Council is to look at potential work to improve Crewe’s athletics track.

It follows a planned maintenance review of the Cumberland Arena track, which found a need for repairs if the site is to host future competition events.

Community use of the track is unaffected and the regular club nights hosted by Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club will continue as normal.

However, the report found that the track requires some localised repairs to its base layer and is also due for a full resurface. This means the club will be unable to host competition meetings.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities, said: “The council will work to establish the full cost and impact of the necessary repairs, prior to a business case being presented to the council for its consideration.

“The track is still absolutely fine to be used by community groups and our local athletes for training. However, it is not up to the highest standards required by UK Athletics for competition use.”

The maintenance report was commissioned by Cheshire East as part of planning for budgeting.

The Cumberland Arena is owned by Cheshire East Council and operated by its partner, the independent health and wellbeing charity Everybody Sport and Recreation.

Death of Councillor Brian Roberts

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “It is with sadness that I have to inform you of the death of Councillor Brian Roberts.

“Brian had served on Cheshire East Council since May 2015, as elected member for Crewe West. Brian will be sadly missed in our organisation and in the wider community.

“Brian was a tremendous advocate for the residents of Crewe West. As a ward councillor, he repeatedly raised concerns about fly-tipping and gulley emptying.

“Since being appointed Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and waste in May 2019 he took the opportunity to implement change to tackle these issues.

“It is great to see the impact his passion and hard work was having on the way the council deals with these issues. It is saddening that Brian will not be around to see the full effect of his work.”

As well as being cabinet member for highways and waste, Cllr Roberts also represented the council on the Transport for the North scrutiny committee and the Environment Agency (NW) regional flood and coastal committee, among other roles.

Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board’s boost for mental wellbeing

Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board has endorsed a strategy to boost mental wellbeing for people of all ages in the sub-region.

The board’s partners will work with the Cheshire and Warrington Public Sector Transformation Board to deliver on recommendations contained in the strategy, entitled ‘Heading in the right direction – An all-age mental wellbeing strategy for Cheshire, Warrington and Halton 2019-21’.

The health and wellbeing board has agreed to support the strategy and advance work to improve partner commissioning as part of sub-regional and local approaches to promoting good mental wellbeing.

The mental wellbeing strategy aims to focus on the promotion of positive mental wellbeing, and the prevention of mental health conditions, via early intervention. Key to this is support for people to protect and improve their own wellbeing and reduce risk factors for mental health problems.

Following extensive partnership work and engagement with stakeholders, the strategy identified five key objectives:

● Speaking up for mental wellbeing, challenging stigma and discrimination and promoting early self-care;

● Supporting more people with mental health issues in work and seeking to enter work;

● Promoting more places to live that are safe, stable and add to the quality of life’

● Having a more integrated approach to mental health support; and

● Improving the mental health of young people.

Councillor Jill Rhodes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for public health, said: “This is an important programme that will help to tackle issues that impact on mental health and wellbeing. The burden of mental ill-health is a significant problem across the country, so prevention is a vital element of efforts to tackle the issue.

“Our aim is to develop more effective ways to promote positive mental wellbeing across the population. This will also require targeted actions for those groups at more risk of poor mental health and effective early intervention for those who are struggling.

“With our partners, we have looked for promising approaches to achieve each of the five objectives and the draft strategy recommends a raft of proposals to help deliver this.”

The proposals, which form the strategy delivery plan, include:

● Promotion of the national Time to Change and Public Health England’s Every Mind Matters mental health programmes;

● A focus on providing early interventions;

● A mental wellbeing audit of housing, employment, community safety and regeneration schemes;

● Evaluation of how effective our community wellbeing schemes are at supporting those of all ages with mental health concerns;

● Enhanced strategic partnership working – such as with Cheshire and Mersey Public Health Network;

● Work to ensure the evidence base/data for the strategy is up to date.

Cllr Rhodes added: “We are better than the national average for all four of the measures for mental wellbeing: life satisfaction; felling life is worthwhile; happiness; and anxiety. But we cannot afford to be complacent as mental health issues are real and ever-present in our communities.

“Mental health is everyone’s business – individuals, families, employers, educators and communities all need to play their part. Good mental health and resilience are fundamental to our physical health, our relationships, our education, our training, our work and to achieving our potential.”

For information about mental health support visit the council’s website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/health-matters/health-conditions/mental-health/mental-health.aspx

Winter Wellbeing – nominated neighbour scheme

Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

This week, we urge residents to consider joining the council’s trading standards’ ‘nominated neighbour’ scheme.

The nominated neighbour scheme has been developed to tackle bogus callers, rogue traders and other means of distraction thefts and burglaries.

The project enables people to be protected by someone they know and trust, such as a neighbour or relative.

The vulnerable person is given a card they hold up to a window or door, which advises any unidentified or unexpected caller to go to the address of a nominated neighbour or speak to them over the phone. This person will then check the caller’s identity.

If they are genuine, the nominated neighbour will return with them and supervise the visit to make sure that nothing untoward takes place and will remain there until the caller has left.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities, said: “This scheme helps people within our communities feel safer in dealing with unwanted or unexpected people who call at their homes. In turn, it protects our residents and reduces incidents of doorstep crime.

“When the nominated neighbour card is shown to the caller, it replaces any need for the occupant to speak with that person.

“A genuine caller will not mind following the instructions and we believe that no criminal, who preys on the elderly or vulnerable, would like this type of scrutiny.”

While it is older and vulnerable adults who are more at risk from becoming victims of doorstep crime, anyone can be targeted. That’s why all Cheshire East residents are urged to consider joining the scheme.

If you would like a nominated neighbour scheme pack sent to you, or to a vulnerable relative or resident of Cheshire East, contact the Citizen’s Advice consumer service on 03454 040506. By calling that number, you can also report problems with doorstep callers or traders.

For further winter wellbeing advice, visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section.

Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at: @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them

Taxpayers targeted by car park thieves

Cheshire East Council is asking local people to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour on any of its car parks after a recent spate of thefts from pay-and-display machines.

More than 20 machines located in Macclesfield, Crewe, Nantwich and Congleton have been targeted in recent weeks. The council has notified Cheshire police about the thefts.

An estimated £15,000 has been stolen to date, with some of these thefts taking place in daytime. The damage to the machines is expected to cost more than £10,000 to repair.

Money received from parking machines is used to ensure car parks are safe, secure and well maintained and encourages a good turnaround of spaces for shoppers.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “This is a targeted crime against our tax-payers and we ask anyone using our car parks to be on the look out for suspicious behaviour.

“This is not a victimless crime. Not only has the car park money been stolen, it is also our tax-payers who have to pick up the bill to repair or replace these damaged machines.

“This diverts essential money away from other areas of the council, which is there to provide vital services to the most vulnerable people in our community.

“We apologise for the inconvenience these thefts are causing our car park users and we are working to repair or replace the machines as soon as possible. Motorists can still pay for their parking by using the other options displayed in the car park.”

Anyone that sees suspicious activity is strongly advised not to approach possible perpetrators and, instead, report concerns to Cheshire police on 101.

Damaged parking meters can be reported to the council by emailing: parkingenforcement@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Targeted machines so far include:

Macclesfield:
Waters Green
Duke Street
Christchurch
Gas Road
Christchurch
Jordangate
Whalley Hayes
Congleton:
West Street
Fairground
Park Street
Crewe:
Victoria Centre
Chester Street
Wrexham Terrace
Thomas Street
Lyceum Square
Railway Street
Nantwich:
Bowling Green
First Wood Street 
Love Lane
Dysart Buildings
Civic Hall
Market Area

Queens Park January 2020

The 7th annual ‘Holly Holy Day author event’

Reporter Jonathan White

The 7th annual ‘Holly Holy Day author event’, organised by the Nantwich Book Shop & Coffee Lounge, took place at Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge on 46 High Street in the centre of Nantwich on Friday 24th January 2020. The event took place on the evening before the annual Holly Holy Day ‘Battle of Nantwich’ re-enactment - www.battleofnantwich.org - in the town.

Holly Holy Day traces back to the 17th century and the four-year-long First English Civil War between the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) and the Royalists (Cavaliers) loyal to Charles I.

The event was compered by English Civil War re-enactor & historical fiction writer David Wilson (pen name, DW Bradbridge) and featured Civil War authors Margaret Cooper Evans, writer of ‘The Women of the English Civil War’; Norah Carlin, whose work includes ‘The Causes Of the English Civil War’; and Mark Turnbull, historical fiction writer of 'Allegiance of Blood'.

Margaret Cooper Evans is a historical writer and re-enactor. A living history interpreter and a speaker on the lives of women in the 17th Century. She joined The Sealed Knot re-enactment society in 1996. Since then she has played the part of a Baggage Woman, a Musketeer, Goodwyfe, a Lady, and a Farmers Wife on the Living History camp. Her research culminated in her first factual History book: The Women of the English Civil War published in 2015. She makes 17th Century clothing and cooks authentic 17th Century food. Margaret has had articles in the mainstream British press and specialist historical magazines. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two cats.

Norah Carlin was a Principal Lecturer in History at Middlesex University (London). She is the author of numerous books and a number of articles on aspects of the seventeenth-century English revolution. Having moved back to her native Edinburgh some years ago, she is currently pursuing research on the kirk and rural society in Scotland in the century after the Reformation.

Mark Turnbull, after a visit to Helmsley Castle at the age of 10, bought a pack of ‘top trump’ cards featuring the monarchs of England. The card portraying King Charles I fascinated him. Van Dyck’s regal portrait of the King and the fact that he was executed by his own people were the beginnings of Mark's passionate interest in the English Civil War that has lasted ever since. In the absence of time travel, he thoroughly enjoys bringing this period to life through writing. He has written articles for magazines, local newspapers and online educational sites. He has also re-enacted battles with The Sealed Knot and for several years edited the Historical Novel Society's online newsletter.

Denise Lawson, Nantwich Book Shop & Coffee Lounge, said, “Thank you to the three authors for coming to Nantwich to talk about their books. We thank everyone for their support and hope that they enjoyed an informative evening.”

For further information relating to books written by the authors please visit Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge at 46 High Street in Nantwich, or contact via phone: 01270 611665, email: info@nantwichbookshop.co.uk , or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NantwichBookshopCoffeeshop/

Other Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge author events in the near future:

-Tuesday 28th January - David Maidment talks about his latest work, in collaboration with Paul Carpenter, ‘Cambrian Railway Gallery’. The book is full of magnificent comprehensive early photographs of Cambrian engines and Oswestry Works. Quentin McGuiness who was Project Head on the Grange Locomotive restoration will be in attendance as well on the evening. Tickets are £7.50 per person, which includes snacks and a £2.50 discount upon book purchase. Cash Bar. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start.

-Tuesday 25th February - An Evening with Prue & Peta Leith - Prue & Peta Leith will be in Nantwich to promote their new cookbook, 'The Vegetarian Kitchen'. 'The Vegetarian Kitchen' includes one hundred delicious, heartwarming vegetarian and vegan recipes from Prue Leith - the founder of Leiths School of Food and Wine, chef and Bake Off judge - and her niece Peta Leith, former pastry sous chef at the Ivy and lifelong vegetarian. The evening will include an introduction, a forty-five minute talk, question & answer session and book signing. The event will be held at Malbank School on Welsh Row, Nantwich CW5 5HD. Tickets = £20 per person, which includes a copy of 'The Vegetarian Kitchen' (RRP £25) and a glass of Prosecco, Bucks Fizz or orange juice on arrival. There will also be a cash bar, run by Malbank School for their school funds. Doors open 6pm for a 7pm start.

Local care home resident raises money for charity

A care home resident in Crewe raised £176 for a local hospital charity.

Alan Gibbs raised the money for Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity’s Lost Little Ones baby bereavement suite appeal by cycling the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Alan, a keen cycler in his youth, completed the bike ride in the lounge of Cypress Court Care Home, where he is a resident, using a static bike. As well as the money for the appeal Alan also raised a further £176 which he donated to the residents fund at the home.

The baby bereavement suite is a dedicated area and attached outside space on the labour ward at Leighton Hospital that will allow parents to stay together for a few hours or days with their baby.

Speaking about the ride, Alan said: ““My father-in-law had cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats at the age of 65 and it had always been my goal to do the same.

“I thought my health issues had put paid to that but when it was suggested I do it on a static bike I knew I had to give it a go.”

Carole Salmon, MCH Charity Community Fundraiser, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Alan and to thank him for the money he has raised and to hear about his fantastic cycling achievement and fundraising.”

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity is keen to share information about how local groups and organisations can be supported in their fundraising efforts by them. Contact Carole Salmon, Community Fundraiser, on 01270 273248 / 07467 687998 / carole.salmon@mcht.nhs.uk for further information.

The Andrews Panto & Plays Society

Reporter Jonathan White

The Andrews Panto & Plays Society (TAPPS) performed the musical pantomime ‘Alice in Wonderland’ at St Andrew's Church Hall, Bedford Street, Crewe in mid-January this year.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ featured a mixture of song, dance, silliness, and audience participation.

There were also refreshments, a raffle and a lucky programme number draw during the interval. The lucky programme number winner at each performance received a star prize donated by Tesco Extra (Vernon Way, Crewe), Mrs Darlington (Lancaster Fields, Crewe), and Mornflake (Gresty Road, Crewe).

TAPPS received a good luck message from Bobby Ball, who recently performed in panto at the Crewe Lyceum. The message read: ‘Hi everyone, Sorry I can’t be with you this panto season because I am really very busy with my own this year and other things after, but I wish you every success and hope in fact I know it will be a huge success. Once again have a good one. God bless everyone. Bobby Ball’

‘Alice in Wonderland’ played to 300 people over four performances.

Money from this year’s 2020 pantomime will go to St Andrew's Church and charities, plus a small amount will be held in reserve for future TAPPS productions. TAPPS have given away over £6,000 in the years since its formation.

TAPPS Panto Director Fred Allman said: “This has been a great production and I am very proud of all those who have been involved.  It was especially good to have new young faces in our company this year. Our pantos seem to get better with each year and feedback from audiences has been very positive.  We actually had a standing ovation from our Saturday night audience and more people have asked about joining us as a result of watching the show.”

TAPPS was formed in November 2014 to stage a panto for the local community in the St Andrews Church area. Since then the society has grown and includes many people from the local community and further afield, working together with church members. Since the formation the society has staged six pantos, five variety shows and hosted several play reading evenings. Some members have been involved in dramatic presentations in St Andrews Church. The society enjoys a social life with theatre trips, country walks and other events throughout the year. TAPPS is non-profit making so any money goes to charities and the church.

For further information relating to TAPPS please phone Fred on 07949524798.

Crewe Residents Meet Police Leaders To Discuss Issues In Their Area

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Road safety, county lines and young people were high on the agenda in Crewe as residents met with Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner and chief constable to discuss policing issues in their area.
It was the latest in a series of public engagement events where local residents across Cheshire have been invited to put their questions about local policing to PCC David Keane and CC Darren Martland.
A number of residents and local community representatives attended the event at the North Street Café last night (Friday 23 January).
The PCC and the chief assured those in attendance that Cheshire police is carrying out a number of proactive initiatives to address some of the issues raised.
The Commissioner highlighted the work being done by local PCSOs to enforce speed limits in the town and surrounding villages. He talked about the Constabulary’s current campaign to raise awareness of the Fatal 5 – speeding, drink and drug-driving, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts and careless driving – and the fact that we had 46 deaths on our roads in 2018/19. He also stated his belief that average speed monitoring should be more widely rolled to help prevent further road deaths.
Another big focus was county lines and criminal exploitation of children, amid resident concerns that it was on the rise in the town. The Commissioner was concerned that young, vulnerable people are being criminalised and taken advantage of by organised crime groups.
He pointed to several factors, including the lack of opportunity, removal of services and education of young people.
The Chief Constable told the audience that policing alone would not solve the issue, and that partnership working was vital. He also sated the importance of involving the local community and praised the work of local PCSOs and police officers in gathering crucial intelligence and evidence.
Some of the audience wanted to know how the police were prioritising issues faced by our young people. The Chief Constable told them that the biggest challenge in the future is around cyber crime and other hidden harms which can’t necessarily be dealt with by police on the streets.
The Commissioner stated his hope that huge investment would be made on a national scale into keeping our children safe, and that his long-term vision is keeping communities and organisations working together to keep everyone safe.
PCC David Keane said: “It was great to see so many local residents with a real passion and dedication to making their communities safer give up their free time to attend this event.
“It was interesting to hear on a local level what the key policing issues are for people in Crewe and discuss how we make improvements to make their communities safer.
“With police resources more stretched than ever, it’s important that we talk to local people about their priorities for policing to ensure we are delivering the best possible service.
“I look forward to meeting more residents at our final two events in Runcorn and Warrington in the coming weeks.”
CC Darren Martland added: “We are committed to delivering a neighbourhood policing service and putting the priorities of local communities at the forefront of everything we do.
“Our officers and PCSOs forge strong relationships with our communities to ensure crime and anti-social behaviour is dealt with as quickly and as effectively as possible.
“We appreciate the feedback from local residents in the area and I would like to reassurance residents that the problems raised at the events are being dealt with proactively by the local policing team.”
There are two further events to take place in Runcorn and Warrington. Please check the Cheshire PCC website for further details www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk
If you would like to submit a question for the PCC or chief constable ahead of the meetings, please email it to pcc@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

Cheshire East Council unveils new deputy cabinet member

Councillor Laura Crane has been appointed Cheshire East Council’s deputy cabinet member for highways and waste.

Cllr Crane is the Labour ward member for Sandbach Ettiley Heath and Wheelock and is a member of the constitution committee, community governance review sub-committee and both the corporate and environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny committees.

She is also a director of the council’s arms-length company Transport Services Solutions and sits on the Sandbach Partnership and Linden Bank Community Liaison Group.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am very pleased to appoint Laura to this important role in a high-profile portfolio and know she will provide great support to cabinet member Cllr Brian Roberts. 

“Laura is a very capable councillor and I know she is passionate about serving our residents and helping deliver both a highways service and a waste service that people can be rightly proud of.”

Cllr Laura Crane, deputy cabinet member for highways and waste, said: “Every one of us relies on both the services within this portfolio, both can help us to work towards our climate change goals and I hope to encourage more community groups to join us on that journey.

“I am really looking forward to the challenges of my new role and of helping in the delivery of improved highways across our borough and a first-class waste and recycling service that is the envy of other authorities.

“I would like to thank the leader and my cabinet colleagues for their support and trust in appointing me to this new responsibility.”

Graffiti - See It Or Hear about It - Report It - Haslington Police

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Good afternoon,
We have had an increase of graffiti in the Haslington Village and we need your help to find out who it is vandalising our beautiful village!
In the past couple of weeks there has been graffiti found around Haslington, and it needs to stop!
If you see anyone with a spray can or acting suspiciously around an area where there is graffiti then we urge you to please call 101 or 999 always in an emergency.
Those responsible need to know that there are consequences to their actions and defacing the areas of village is completely barbaric.
So far the side of a church hall building has been defaced as has a charity building.
Please, if you see something or hear anything around the village, please call 101. You can also contact us for non-emergencies on Facebook and Twitter under Haslington Police Facebook/Twitter.
Together we can stop this from happening.
Thank you for your support in advance and please be aware that all information and details stay confidential.

A new monthly ‘Walk & Talk’ group has been setup in Nantwich

Reporter Jonathan White

A new monthly ‘Walk & Talk’ group has been setup in Nantwich.

Karen Mills from Zen Occupational Health and Emma Dechoux from Inspired Learning have teamed up to organise a Walk & Talk in Nantwich on the first Sunday of every month.

Karen and Emma recognise the benefits that exercise, the outdoors and socialising has for mental health and are organising walks where everyone is welcome to join, meet new people or catch up with existing friends.

Walking improves self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue. Physically active people have up to a 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed, and staying active helps those who are depressed recover.

The walks take place on the first Sunday of every month at 10am from Nantwich town square.

The walk goes to Nantwich Lake, around the lake and back again to Aroma Cafe where there is the option to join Karen and Emma for a coffee/tea and chat.

The walk is approx. 2 miles and all flat.

Everyone is welcome - adults, dogs, and children (supervised by an adult).

The next two walks are on Sunday 2nd February (10am) and Sunday 1st March (10am).

For further information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/walkandtalkwithkarenandemma/

Still time to comment on potential homes, rail and marina developments

A final round of public consultation is taking place to help shape a proposed housing, open space and marina project – which also includes hopes for a renewed passenger rail service in the borough.

The Brooks Lane area of Middlewich is earmarked for a range of new development opportunities, with aspirations for reintroducing passenger rail services to the town. Both Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council have expressed support for the re-opening of the Sandbach-Middlewich-Northwich line for passenger services.

While this is not within the gift of local councils, the authorities will continue to work with Network Rail, Transport for the North and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership to progress this.

Identified as a potential development site within the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the Brooks Lane supplementary planning document details a vision to see an additional 200 homes, a marina, public open space, and cycling and walking routes.

Residents and all interested parties have until 4 March 2020 to express their views on the document, which shows how these development proposals could progress. This is the last round of consultation before a final blueprint is agreed and put before the council. Once adopted, the masterplan will become an important consideration whenever the council has to determine relevant planning applications.

The final draft supplementary planning document  and its associated statement of consultation, can be viewed and responded to at: https://bit.ly/311j1ai

It is also available for viewing at:

● Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ;

● Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe CW1 2JZ;

● Macclesfield Town Hall, Macclesfield SK10 1EA.

You can also comment by emailing localplan@cheshireeast.gov.uk or in writing to the Spatial Planning Team, Cheshire East Council, Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe CW1 2BJ.

Winter Wellbeing – stay active during the colder months

Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

This week, we urge people to keep active during the winter months.

If your new year’s resolution was to exercise more in 2020, you are not alone.

Regular exercise is great for your physical health and fitness and has also been proven to significantly improve your mental wellbeing. But it can be hard to stay motivated during these colder and darker months.

Councillor Jill Rhodes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member with responsibility for public health said: “It can be tempting to stay wrapped up indoors at this time of the year, but staying physically active during winter will help you to stay warm and has numerous health benefits.

“Regular, moderate exercise helps to reduce tiredness, anxiety and depression, improves your mood and quality of life, strengthens your muscles, joints and bones and reduces the risk of health problems.

“Exercise is also great for your mental wellbeing as you can meet new friends – preventing loneliness and isolation. There are many groups and classes available across Cheshire East that you can join. Speak to your GP if you have any concerns about exercising.”

If possible, you should try and get up and move around at least once an hour. If walking is difficult, chair-based exercises and simply moving your arms and legs can help to stave off winter-borne illnesses.

Donna Williamson, senior manager of health innovation at Everybody Sport and Recreation, the health and wellbeing charity that manages the council’s leisure centres, said: “It is really important to exercise regularly and an ideal way to start increasing your physical activity is a daily 20-30 minute walk.

“Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor activities, we have something for everybody, from Nordic walking to walking football and netball.

“If you are inactive, recovering from illness or have a long-term health condition, such as diabetes or hypertension etc, you can join our new Everybody Healthy programme. This is a 12-week exercise plan with our specialist health advisors to discuss your goals, provide advice and guidance on the appropriate exercise intervention required, specific to your condition and lots of support on your exercise journey.

“If you have a long-term health condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or fibromyalgia, a disability, or struggle to exercise, ‘move it or lose it’ is a fantastic class that we offer. The classes have been developed by experts to help you to improve your flexibility, aerobic health and balance for greater strength. All the exercises can be carried out seated or standing, depending on your ability.

“In addition to this we have ‘escape’- a pain education and exercise programme for residents with low back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. Funded places are available.”

Exploring Cheshire East’s landscape and attractions on foot is another great way to keep active and have fun during winter. There is no better way to do this than through taking part in a Parkrun event.

Parkrun is a free, weekly event where you can walk, jog or run 5km on Saturday mornings at 9am. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you walk, jog or run – what matters is being outside, being active and having fun. Local events are held in Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe. Find out more and register for free by visiting: www.parkrun.org.uk

Throughout the year, the council’s ranger service team runs a variety of activities and events in the borough’s parks and greenspace. You can find out more by visiting: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk and searching for ‘ranger service’.

If you want to get out and explore on your bike, make sure you wrap up warm and take your bike for a health check, to test that the tyres and brakes are in good condition. You should always wear reflective clothing and use bike lights and reflectors.

If you need support to live a healthier lifestyle, the ‘One You Cheshire East’ service is available. This includes information, advice and free services to help residents to eat well, drink less alcohol, move more, lose weight and be smoke free. More information can be found by visiting: www.oneyoucheshireeast.org or calling 0808 1643 202.

For further winter-related advice, visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section. Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter: @CheshireEast

Details of events taking place near you, which can help you to keep active, can also be found via the link: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and clicking on the community activities tab.

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

Scam - Banking Protocol

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Good evening,
Victims in Cheshire are being targeted by fraudsters.
The fraudsters are claiming they are police officers and they are asking victims to assist with a covert investigation to catch corrupt banking staff.
The victims are told by the fraudsters to go to their local branch and make a large cash withdrawal of up to £20k.
The victim is coached to tell the bank staff it is for home improvements or loved ones.
The victim returns home and the cash is collected by a courier fraudster, never to be seen again.
There have been eight offences in Cheshire in December 2019 with a combined loss of almost £100k.
Please think,
BANKING PROTOCOL and notify the police on 101 or 999 where suspects are also present.