Cheshire East flies the flag to help secure overseas investment and boost local jobs

 

A senior Cheshire East Official made a flying visit to the Middle East to help secure a £40m investment which would create new employment opportunities for the Borough and safeguard many more existing jobs.

John Nicholson, the Council’s Strategic Director, Places, attended a crucial meeting in Jordan with a major investor to help seal the potentially-lucrative deal.

The meeting in Jordan’s capital, Amman, was also attended by Minister for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk and senior officers from Government trade agency UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), who organised the visit.

It is hoped that the meeting will result in investment in Cheshire East, creating about 50 new jobs and safeguarding even more. 

The visit also included discussions about other possible investment opportunities involving Cheshire East firms.

Cheshire East Council was asked to send a representative to the vital meeting in Amman (on Tuesday, February 1) to help provide a ‘local’ perspective to the investment opportunity, including providing an understanding of why this is a good place to invest and explain the role played by the Council.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “This is a really significant business opportunity that could secure tens of millions of pounds of investment in Cheshire East and create or secure more than 100 jobs.

“The Council is a crucial player to help secure this investment and is proud to be doing all it can to help grow and develop a robust and sustainable Cheshire East economy and secure jobs for local people.

“It is another example of the Council working hard with other agencies and partners to deliver results for Cheshire East.”

John Nicholson added: “UKTI were very keen for a local representative to support the importance of this investment opportunity. The Jordanians were genuinely impressed by British local and national government representatives taking time to attend this important meeting.”

Minister Prisk said: “Markets across the Middle East have strong economies and ambitious growth and diversification plans to match. Whether it is infrastructure, healthcare, education, nuclear or renewable energy, UK companies have the skills and expertise to help the region realise its development plans.

“My visit last week was to promote British companies as the global partner of choice right across the region.”

Backing businesses with Cheshire East

 

Boosting business is still very much on the agenda for Cheshire East Council as its Business Hub comes to Crewe later this month.

From 10am until noon on February 16, the Council and its partners will be at Scope House, Weston Road, to offer traders the chance to learn how to maximise business opportunities during the economic recovery.

Cheshire East’s Economic Recovery Task Group is working hard to support its local business community and this event will take a closer look at how people can develop their business skills in a tough economic environment.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “I would urge any local business owner to attend this event – we are living in difficult financial times and any advice on how to improve your business could prove crucial.

“The Economic Recovery Task Group is aiming to grow and develop a sustainable Cheshire East. We will make every effort to offer help to local businesses during the current economic climate. These Business Hubs are one of many ways to get the support your business needs.”

It follows hot on the heels of a number of procurement training workshops which received a wealth of positive feedback from visitors.

The procurement service, which is designed to help businesses gain a better understanding of how to tender for work with Cheshire East Council and other public sector organisations, will also be present at the event.

Cheshire East’s bin transformation scheme to be rolled out

Cheshire East is lifting the lid on plans to transform its bin collection service.

With the emphasis on the Silver bin, it will be a simpler, easier and more convenient system as it aims to encourage residents to further boost Cheshire East’s prolific recycling rate and save money.

And it means all current schemes will be streamlined to create a single borough-wide service.

Once formally approved, a three-bin system will be introduced: the Silver bin for mixed dry recyclables and one bin each for garden and residual waste.

Cheshire East achieved a recycling rate in 2009/10 of 49.46 per cent – the highest in the North West and almost 10 per cent higher than the national average. The Council wants to build on this success.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Thanks to the efforts of our residents we have the best recycling rate in the North West. But as a council we have a leading role and commitment to looking after the environment so we must do more.

“We are now a Recycling service, not a traditional waste collection service. The Silver bin is central to this initiative and with these arrangements we will be able to recycle a huge range of materials. The full list of items will be clearly stated on a sticker on the bin lid.

“The environmental negatives of landfill are clear to us all. What cannot be overlooked is that the cost to the Cheshire East council tax payer for landfill tax this year is £3.5m. Next year, this goes up to £4.2m unless we recycle more.

“We now have a real opportunity to make a collective effort to put the huge range of items that can be recycled in to the Silver bin. Being lazy and throwing these items in to the black bin is being socially irresponsible and is not acceptable to the vast majority of Cheshire East residents.”

The transformation will allow householders to put a far greater range of materials in their silver bin than at present, including glass, mixed plastics and film wrap. All residents will be supplied with a full list when the scheme begins.

This design, based on feedback from residents and research from other parts of the country, will remove local variations and make the service suitable for all parts of Cheshire East.

The bins will be standard 240-litre wheeled containers that will be collected on an alternate weekly schedule. For those properties that cannot accommodate a wheeled container for the Silver or black bin, Council-approved sacks and 55-litre boxes will be provided.

The scheme will operate over a standard five-day week and collections will take place on bank holidays, with the exception of Christmas and New Year.

Phase one will cover the southern part of Cheshire East

Cycle Competition

 

A lucky lady from Crewe is ready to pick up a brand new bike, after winning a competition to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Connect 2 Crewe to Nantwich greenway.

Joan Tudor will visit JE Williams Bike Shop, on Edleston Road, in Crewe, to claim her prize. She correctly answered a question posed in the Chronicle about the length of the new greenway.

When it’s completed the greenway will create a 4km rural corridor between Crewe and Nantwich alongside the A530, Middlewich Road.

It will be set well back from the main road connecting the excellent riverside walks in Nantwich with Crewe’s historic Queen’s Park, which is undergoing a massive restoration.

The greenway will let people visit both of these areas easily by foot and by bike.

Phase one runs from King George V Playing Fields to the Rising Sun pub at Wistaston.

Connect 2 is a nationwide sustainable transport project, which encourages people to make everyday journeys by foot and by bike. The scheme is promoted by Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “I hope Joan enjoys her new bike and experiences the delights of the greenway first hand. Cycling is a great way to keep fit and it is also a cleaner and cheaper way to travel.

“I am sure that the greenway will help improve the life opportunities and health of many people in Cheshire East.”

Councillor Jacquie Weatherill, ward member for Crewe West, said: “I was at the opening of phase one of the greenway and it is a really exciting project for the area. It has opened up some of the countryside around Crewe and Nantwich.

“With spring around the corner I hope people will get out and explore the greenway for themselves.”

Train Back

 

On top of the Municipal Building the train is back as the weather vane and it stands out a mile as its covered in gold and reflects really well. With my Finepix HS10 with a 30* optical zoom I managed to get a close up shot. Next time you pass take a look it looks great

Lifestyle centres to be rolled out in Cheshire East

 

An ambitious plan to set up four brand new lifestyle centres is set to be piloted throughout Cheshire East.

As the Council looks to transform the way it provides health and wellbeing services to its residents, the towns of Congleton, Crewe, Macclesfield and Wilmslow will each get its own centre providing leisure, library and some social care facilities.

The scheme will bring a host of activities for both young and old under one roof to encourage social care users to lead healthy, happy lives and to provide a range of facilities to all residents.

Any one centre would include a host of activities from basketball to PC tuition, water aerobics to poetry reading and badminton to tea dances.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “This is a bold, ambitious and forward-thinking plan which will bring leisure centres, libraries and some social care services under one roof. We will also provide a more targeted approach to delivering services for young and old alike.

“For day care users without intensive care needs, the centres will encourage integration and independence and also stimulate fitness, reducing demand for more intensive social care in the long-term.

“With public health responsibilities coming back to local authorities, these hubs will help to prevent long-term illnesses such as heart disease.

“This underlines our commitment to improving life opportunities and health for everybody in Cheshire East.”

New-build lifestyle centres are intended for Crewe and Wilmslow initially with Congleton and Macclesfield to follow.

The plans will help to reduce health and social inequalities in Cheshire East while continuing to offer facilities that support health improvement to the whole Council area, which are key elements of the recent ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’ public health white paper.

The creation of lifestyle hubs would create the opportunity for ‘lifestyle coaches’ who support individuals, develop programmes and organise activities.

Cabinet members have unanimously supported the proposals and the Council is now working to make this vision a reality.

Virus Scare and Scam

Once again the virus scare is doing the rounds and people are being conned out of money. The above forum is open 24/7/365 and is world wide so any time of the day or night you can get expert help on any Pc Problems. We have an expert team that deal with any virus or malware and the best of all its FREE. I am Samurai so pop over and get some free help on any subject relating to computers.

Scam

Please be conscious that 2 people reported incidents yesterday in the area where they were contacted via the telephone by someone claiming that there were issues on their computer.  I have also had these types of calls raised previously via the Home Watch Desk.
In one of yesterday's instances the male caller suggested that files had been corrupted on the computer and needed defragmenting and try to obtain personal details to assist in doing this.  The caller did appear to have know the name of the householder but did not appear to have any other personal details.

In the second instance a female caller again suggested that computer files were corrupted and the machine may be at risk of a virus if not corrected.  Again, the caller tried to get the householder to provide details and was quite persistent in trying to persuade them to provide information.

Both householders tried '1471' where no number could be obtained.
Please be conscious of this type of call.  It appears to be becoming increasingly common as a way to try and get people to part with personal details and presumably money if you take up their offer to assist.  In some instances the caller appears to know the householder's name - although understandably this may throw some householder's it is not an indication that this is someone more genuine calling.  Personal data is a big commodity nowadays and it is very easy for companies to obtain simple contact details in various ways.  Never buy any goods and services from anyone contacting you in this way.  If you believe that there is a problem with your computer or are concerned about ensuring that your security is up to date/effective seek out your own advice from a reputable company, family member etc - someone whose credentials can be thoroughly checked out.
Please make members aware of this as although many people are proficient with computers some people may not be as confident or may be new to using computers - callers can be quite persuasive particularly when suggesting that there are security issues on your machine and people could easily fall foul of this.
If anyone has any major issues with these callers or obtain any further details about this company such as name, contact number etc please contact consumer direct via 08454 04 05 06 or email them directly from the 'Contact Us' section of their website.

Graffiti Workshop

Dave Eardley is hoping to do some graffiti workshop in Crewe teaching people how to do it he can be contacted graffitidave@gmail.com. He is hoping to be able to revamp the Platform one skate park with some new graffiti later in the year and run some workshops to teach people how to do it. If you would be interested or you want some legal graffiti done contact him by email or phone 07812895386  for details. He is open to most work and is CRB checked so can safely work with children and often does work with children of all abilities.

Mp’s Report

Welcome ...

Welcome to this my 75th electronic news bulletin.

This week has been a turbulent week in politics, but we must not let that to distract us from the challenges we face.

There are three priorities for the Government in the first half of this year... growth, aspiration and modernising public services. Put simply we will work to help more people get a job and get on in life in a Britain that has the best, modern public services. This will not be easy, however I believe that together we can get the job done and in the process make life better for our constituency.

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

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

Best wishes,

Edward Timpson
Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich

back to top

I have recently ...

• Held a public meeting with residents and concerned parties to discuss the proposed phone mast on Peter Destapleigh Way, in Nantwich
• Met with representatives from Music for Life encouraging children to learn music, in Crewe
• Visited Weston Village Primary School in Crewe, to learn more about their international twinning with a school in the Xi'an Province in China
• Met with representatives from the Cumberland Sports Arena in Crewe. The Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club based at the Arena swept the board across all age groups in the league
• Held a Constituency Surgery in Crewe
• Met with the South Cheshire local GP consortium to discuss service improvements in our area
• Attended the Eye Health Alliance reception in Parliament
• Attended the launch of a report into financial education for Looked After Children, at the Department for Education in London
• Chaired an evidence session with care leavers for the cross-party inquiry into the education attainment of Looked After Children, in Parliament
• Chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers in a discussion on residential care

This weekend I attended the re-enactment of the Battle of Nantwich and the wreath laying ceremony at the Nantwich Holly Holy Day with my family.

back to top

Photos & Video ...

• Edward opens HiQ's new MOT facilities, in Crewe

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

back to top

Battle lines drawn for Holly Holy Day

Chester Chronicle

THOUSANDS of visitors baying for blood will descend on Nantwich this weekend for the traditional Holly Holy Day spectacular re-enactment of the Battle of Nantwich.

Organisers of Saturday's event, which commemorates the 1644 Siege, hope it will be bigger and better than ever before.
It was expanded last year to provide a broader appeal and a bigger sense of occasion in the town.

As well as the parade and battle re-enactment on Mill Island, there will be town centre entertainment and attractions throughout the day.

These include stage performances by X Academy and Nantwich Players, and a Living History exhibition and mounted troopers parading through the town.

Further plans include a hog roast, Punch & Judy Show, children's entertainer, and 17thCentury entertainment, including live music and a musketry demonstration.

Holly Holy Day Society chairman Shaun Cafferty said: "The general consensus was the atmosphere and sense of occasion in the town was fantastic.

"Morning activities added to the traditional parade and battle and offered amusement for those who didn't necessarily want to stand in a cold muddy field for their fun!" Four times as many people attended last January's event than in previous years.

Society treasurer Graham Fenton said: "It's a jolly good day, and we hope everyone will come down and see it.

"Certainly last year's event was a lot busier and some of the traders said they were a lost busier than they would normally be on a January Saturday afternoon as well."

Crewe & Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has been patron of the event for several years.

He said: "It really puts Nantwich on the map and provides a much-needed boost for local businesses who may be experiencing a post Christmas slump."

The Holly Holy Day Society has marked the historic battle every year since 1973.

It features soldiers from the Sealed Knot Society re-enacting the CivilWar battle between Cromwell'sParliamentarians as they attempted to hold off King Charles I's Royalists in January 1644.

Parliamentarians took the town of Namptwiche in 1643, but by December, the town was surrounded by Royalists and under siege.

However, help was at hand for the besieged Parliamentarians in the formof a relief force of '3,550 horse and 5,000 foot' which had marched south from Lancashire under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

The army engaged the Royalists in the Henhull area to the west and defeated them in the Battle of Namptwiche.

On January 25, 1644, the siege was lifted and the people wore holly sprigs in their hats in celebration - hence Holly Holy Day.

Mr Cafferty said: "We are hoping even more shops enter into the spirit by doing something special, or wearing period costumes.

"As well as celebrating Nantwich's rich history, it's all about bringing some fun and colour into the town at an otherwise less colourful time of year.

"If its anything like last year, there will be a real buzz and atmosphere in the town that day, a real splash of colour to brighten up a winter Saturday and well worth visiting Nantwich to experience."

Activities get underway from9.30am in the town centre, with the battle re-enactment commencing at 2pm on Mill Island.

Entry onto the battlefield is £2 adults, £1 children, or £5 for families of up two adults and three children.

In order to ease entry onto Mill Island, this year there will be an entrance on the bridge from the old gasworks site offWelsh Row as well as the usual entry point onWaterlode.

© 2011 Mirror Group Limited

back to top

MP says: 'We must push the council to revoke permision for Stapeley mast'

Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle

MP says: ‘We must push the council to revoke permision for Stapeley mast’

CREWE and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has called on hundreds of families living in Stapeley to get behind the fight against a phone mast next to Pear Tree Primary School.

Mr Timpson led a public meeting attended by dozens of concerned parents at the school on Monday.

He said that the only option left was to urge Cheshire East to revoke the ‘deemed approval’ received by Vodafone for the 14.3m-high mast on Peter DeStapleigh Way.

“One of the concerns parents have is the potential health fall-out. Vodafone will say nothing is proven, but equally if you can’t disprove it, you need to be cautious,” he said.

“We’re dealing with a company who, by hook or by crook, are determined to put this mast up.
“We’ve got nothing to lose so we must push for the council to revoke the planning permission. The alternative is they go right ahead and put it up.

“Cheshire East have their tails between their legs on this, so they should be bending over backwards to work with us.”

Mr Timpson also said residents should write to Mono, acting on behalf of Vodafone, to express their concerns and anger.

Cllr Andrew Martin said: “After all the work that the local residents have put into this campaign, it’s very disappointing that Vodafone seem so intent on pressing ahead.”

Vodafone spokesman Rob Matthews insisted other alternatives had been explored but were not suitable.

He said: “In April 2010 we met with Edward Timpson MP, the local planning authority and residents to discuss the proposed site and we agreed to consider further alternatives as suggested by local residents.

“This did not provide a viable alternative and therefore the only option to provide the improved coverage is the current proposal and we are working on a build plan for the site.

“We note the comment from meeting today that the residents are to seek a revocation order from the council for the existing consent.”

© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd

back to top

Fury as postal chaos continues in Crewe

Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle

FURIOUS Crewe residents have blasted the second-rate postal service in the town as Christmas cards posted in mid December began dropping through letterboxes this week.

Yvonne Pierecy, of Grosvenor Park, described the service as an absolute disgrace after last week receiving a card posted on December 10.

Crewe councillor Chris Thorley received a letter on January 12 informing him of a meeting he should attend on January 5. The letter had been posted on December 23.

And at the Chronicle office, post which had been sent on December 16 finally arrived on January 10.

This comes just a month after Royal Mail’s own report revealed the postal service in the Crewe area was the second worst in mainland Britain.

Cllr Thorley said: “I got the letter saying I was to go to this important meeting on January 5 and it arrived a week afterwards.

“I also had a Christmas card from Winsford posted on December 16 and that’s just arrived. I’ve complained on the number they give but that just transfers you and transfers you and then says try the website.”

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has once again been flooded with complaints.

These range from people missing interviews for jobs because the letter hasn’t arrived in time, to hospital appointments being missed.

Royal Mail last week apologised for the poor service again.

Mr Timpson said: “I’m glad Royal Mail has seen fit to apologise, however what we need is action.

“Royal Mail have promised me fortnightly updates. We want to see Crewe receive a good postal service again as soon as possible.”

Royal Mail last week said it is working hard to improve delivery services in the Crewe area follow disruption to some mail deliveries after changes to local operations.

“Such changes were introduced as part of the modernisation of Royal Mail. They are vital to safeguard the future of the business and the highly valued one-price-goes-anywhere service,” said the spokesman.

They are also being undertaken on the basis of a national agreement between Royal Mail and our union last year and endorsed by postal workers through a national ballot.

Royal Mail’s North West ops director Steve Leach said: “I’d like to apologise to customers who have experienced delays in mail deliveries.

“Management and staff are working hard to improve deliveries in the area. Special measures are being implemented including using 25 volunteer managers to help sort mail for delivery and making additional deliveries on Sundays.

“We apologise again and wish to assure our customers the issues will be addressed as soon as possible.”

© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd

back to top

Words from Westminster

Edward Timpson, Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle

I was pleased last week to open the new upgraded MOT and vehicle servicing services at HiQ on Nantwich Road in Crewe.

This sort of investment by a local business in our area is exactly what we need to see replicated across the country as we continue to tackle the nation's deficit through 2011, bring down the astronomical levels of borrowing, and start to pay off the UK's credit card bill.

That massive but essential task is only going to be achievable by the private sector growing, and both the public and private sectors working together more closely and efficiently, so as to help create the right conditions to drive that economic growth.

There have been encouraging signs already. In December we saw the fastest growth in the UK manufacturing sector for 16 years, reflected locally by the continuing resilience at Bentley and elsewhere across our own manufacturing base.

However, from speaking to both employers and the self-employed during my recent visits to small and medium sized businesses in Crewe and Nantwich, I know how vital it is for them that the banks lend more money more frequently so that the much needed credit that businesses need to invest and grow is far more readily available.

I look forward in the coming days to the Government announcing an agreement with the banks that does just that. Bankers must help British business as well as themselves – particularly in the banks that you and I – the taxpayers – own.

As the cross-party "All Change at Crewe" plan demonstrates, Crewe and Nantwich have a big part to play in 2011 and beyond in getting Britain back on its feet.

© 2011 Trinity News North West and North Wales Ltd.

back to top

Vodafone can build phone mast 50m from school after council blunder

The Sentinel

PARENTS are pleading with Vodafone to stop building a mobile phone mast just 50 metres from a school – after a council blunder approved the scheme.

Members of Cheshire East Council's planning committee turned down the mast plan for Peter Destapleigh Way, in Nantwich, in 2009.

But planning officers failed to inform Vodafone of the refusal within the statutory 56 day timescale.

It means Vodafone can build the mast, despite a planning code suggesting masts must be built at least 250 metres away from schools.

Now parents whose children attend Pear Tree Primary School, in Stapeley, near Nantwich, have held a public meeting to try to persuade Vodafone to stop its plans to build the mast.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, pictured below, had previously suggested 12 alternative sites for Vodafone.

He told the public meeting: "We have called this meeting because we have now reached a point where Vodafone is close to physically starting to put up the mast in Peter Destapleigh Way.

"It's not an easy situation because Vodafone has planning permission.

"Officers at Cheshire East have made the error and have their tails between their legs on this.

"The planning department should be bending over backwards to help us on this.

"The most frustrating thing about this whole episode is that there was a very good local campaign to get the first application turned down.

"It was a shortlived victory, but there is a moral issue."

More than 20 parents attended yesterday's public meeting at the school.

They were told that Vodafone has rejected the alternative sites put forward by the campaigners.

Steve Holland, who has led the residents' campaign, said: "We are between a rock and a hard place.

"We are not against masts, but this throws the code of conduct out of the window.

"These masts are meant to be well away from schools."

Campaigners only became aware of the council blunder after rival 02 applied to build a mast at a later date.

But the residents were too late to force a judicial review by the time they discovered the mistake and hope to come to a compromise with Vodafone.

At the same time the campaigners hope to repeal the 'deemed planning consent' through planning law.

Mum Michelle Kirby, aged 42, who has children aged 10 and seven at the school, said: "The council has the right to revoke the decision and morally it would be the right thing to do."

Council officials confirmed Vodafone had turned down the alternative sites

Councillor Jamie Macrae, cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: "I can confirm that the council has received a letter from agents acting for Vodafone, indicating that the company intends proceeding with a mobile phone mast on the northern side of Peter Destableigh Way.

"Over the past 18 months the council has been working with Vodafone to explore alternative locations for a mast.

"But the company has concluded that none of the other sites in the vicinity will give the necessary coverage for the locality."

© 2011 The Sentinel

back to top

Parents vow to fight phone mast next to primary school in Nantwich

Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle

ANGRY campaigners are lobbying Cheshire East Council to ‘right the wrong’ and overturn planning permission for a phone mast just yards from a primary school in Stapeley.

Telecom giant Vodafone received ‘deemed approval’ for the 14.3m mast on Peter DeStapleigh Way through an administrative error by Cheshire East planners.

It means children at Pear Tree Primary School could be learning and playing just 50m from the mobile phone antenna.

This has prompted fears of the pupils being exposed to harmful radio waves – although such concerns are scientifically unproven.

A public meeting was held at the school on Monday, led by Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, Cheshire East and town councillor Andrew Martin and campaign leader Steve Holland.

The dozens in attendance agreed to demand the council revoke the planning permission.

And parents warned they may take physical action if the council and Vodafone do not listen.

Mum Michelle Kirby said: "The council can revoke this decision and morally it would be the absolutely right thing to do.

"However, I’m not sure the council would do that, so we may have to organise a demonstration."

Fellow mum-of-two Tracey Knight added: "The planners didn’t do their job properly. If they had, we wouldn’t be talking about this."

Vodafone won approval due to a loophole after planners failed to notify the applicant the plan had been rejected within the required 56-day period.

Cllr Jamie Macrae said: "We’ve been exploring alternative locations but the company say none of the other sites will give the necessary coverage for the locality. The council is very disappointed Vodafone has reached this conclusion and will continue to do everything possible to find a more acceptable location."

© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd

back to top

Phone mast campaigners urged to fight on at Stapeley meeting

Nantwichnews

Campaigners in Nantwich fighting phone giant Vodafone are being urged to bombard Cheshire East Council and the Local Government Ombudsman in a bid to stop a mobile mast being erected yards from a primary school.

Parents met with local MP Edward Timpson and local councillor Andrew Martin at Pear Tree Primary School to discuss the next stage of their fight.

Vodafone has vowed to press ahead with plans to erect the 14-metre mast close to the Stapeley school, after a council blunder granted them deemed planning approval despite councillors rejecting the original proposal.

Mr Timpson told the meeting yesterday (January 17) that there was a clear ”failure of the council to deal with the issue appropriately.”

Campaigner and Stapeley resident Steve Holland admitted they were now “between a rock and a hard place” because of the deemed approval.

He said the campaign group had submitted 12 alternative sites for Vodafone to erect their mast, but that these were all rejected “even though some offered better coverage.”

The key course of action is to call on Cheshire East Council to repair its “administrative error” by revoking the original decision via the Secretary of State.

Cllr Martin also urged as many people as possible to contact the council’s planning department in writing, although speakers admitted it would be highly unusual for the council to follow that course of action.

Residents are also urged to write individually to the Ombudsman to complain about the council’s handling of the application. Mr Holland has already written in.

Mr Timpson vowed to contact Vodafone again and urge their representatives to attend a public meeting, and said he will continue to raise the issue in London.

Government guidelines say mobile phone masts should not be erected within 250 metres of school grounds, but phone companies argue there is no firm evidence that they damage health.

No one from Cheshire East Council or Vodafone was present at the meeting.

© 2011 Nantwichnews

back to top

Sunday mail deliveries for Nantwich homes and businesses

Nantwichnews

MP Edward Timpson at Crewe Mailcentre

Nantwich residents will get Sunday mail deliveries in a bid to clear the huge backlog of post across Cheshire.

Thousands of people have suffered because of the delays in the postal service following the closure of the Crewe delivery office last year and the transfer of operations to Warrington.

Royal Mail has admitted the problems are down to “changes to local operations” which has led to stinging criticism from local MP Edward Timpson among others.

Steve Leach, Royal Mail’s North West regional operations director, told The Sentinel: “I would like to apologise to customers who have experienced delays in some mail deliveries. Management and staff are working hard to improve deliveries in the area.

“Special measures are being implemented including using 25 volunteer managers to help sort mail for delivery and making additional deliveries on Sundays.

“We apologise again and wish to assure our customers these issues will be addressed as soon as possible.”

Mr Timpson unveiled figures recently which showed residents and businesses in Crewe and Nantwich were suffering the second-worst postal service in mainland Britain.

Work from the Weston Road depot in Crewe was transferred to Warrington, along with 600 jobs, after an 18-month fight to keep it open failed.

Local union reps say they haven’t been told about Sunday deliveries yet, but said there was a backlog all over the North West.

© 2011 Nantwichnews

back to top

The Christmas gifts Royal Mail STILL hasn't delivered

Mail Online

If you’re still waiting for a Christmas present to drop through the door, then ­perhaps you can take heart from knowing you’re not the only one.

Many families have not yet received gifts and cards sent three weeks ago.

The Royal Mail had promised to clear the backlog blamed on the big freeze by taking on thousands of temporary staff and making extra deliveries.

Waiting game: Many families have not yet received gifts and cards sent three weeks ago

But householders across the country have reported in recent days that cards and parcels sent weeks ago have not arrived – even though letters posted more recently have.

The complaints, from areas including Warwickshire, Norfolk, Berkshire, Cheshire, and North-East Scotland, suggest Royal Mail is sitting on tens of millions of items at sorting offices – which are taking ages to deliver.

The delay may be because official targets for delivering 93 per cent of first-class mail by the next working day are torn up in the run-up to Christmas.

But although there is therefore less pressure on Royal Mail to deliver items posted between December 6 and January 1, it is required to push through items posted after the turn of the year, if the business is to meet official published targets.

Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, who sits on the Commons Business Select Committee, said the area round his constituency in Stratford Upon Avon had been badly affected.

Pile up: Royal Mail could be sitting on tens of millions of items at sorting offices

He added: ‘I received an enormous volume of complaints regarding the poor performance of Royal Mail before, during and after Christmas. It appears that the post is still far from back to normal, with what is clearly a very large backlog existing at the sorting office and haphazard deliveries across the area.’

Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich Edward Timpson has reported similar problems.

Hundreds in the North-West have complained about missing Christmas post. Sarah Devlin, from Chorley, Lancashire, told the BBC that items posted on December 12 have yet to arrive.

‘I expected that with the snow and the bank holidays there would be some delay, but I never expected to be waiting this long,’ she said.

A letter posted in Bury on December 20 arrived at its destination in the same town on Wednesday – a wait of more than three weeks.

And a parcel ordered on December 4 in time for a birthday on December 12 arrived on Wednesday. One Oxford resident said a Christmas card arrived on January 10.

Several cards have turned up at the Norwich home of 70-year-old Pat Dorrington in recent days. ‘I know it has been a hectic time for postmen but it does seem a long time for a Christmas card to reach me,’ she said. Another woman told how a card which had been posted in nearby Suffolk on December 9 reached her only last week.

Royal Mail confirmed problems in Scotland, but denied a more widespread Christmas backlog.

It said: ‘The nation’s Christmas mailbag has been delivered, the overwhelming majority of it by Christmas Eve.

‘There was a huge effort by our postmen and women despite the worst December weather in living memory. We recruited 23,000 additional temporary staff.

‘We have had some reports of individual items of Christmas mail arriving after Christmas but we are confident these are isolated examples.

‘In that small number of places where there has been some disruption, we have already taken ­measures to deal with the issue.’

© Associated Newspapers Ltd

back to top

5 ways to contact Edward Timpson

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

Young people launch campaign to improve their image

Youngsters in Nantwich are making it their business to create a positive image of themselves in the local community.

Twenty pupils from Malbank School and Brine Leas High School in Nantwich have put their heads together to come up with a range of ideas to promote the positive work they do in their towns.

It is in response to a Youth Parliament survey, which found that young people feel they are often portrayed in a negative light by elderly people.

During the next few weeks and months, a number of posters with six different designs will be displayed all over Nantwich to make older people stop and think about the true role youngsters play in society.

It is the beginning of a long-term Nantwich Education Improvement Partnerships (EIP) project and is young people’s priority for the Nantwich Local Area Partnership (LAP).

Malbank School pupil Jack Gresty, 13, said: “Older people do seem to have a bad image of young people in the area. Just recently, I was on a bus and helped an elderly person up after she fell but she didn’t say thank you.”

Brine Leas pupil Holly Harvey, 13, who cares for her disabled siblings and attends a young carers group, which provides day trips for her, added: “I think some young people’s appearances can look threatening to elderly people. But when I have spoken to elderly people about the care work that I do, they do seem genuinely surprised.

“It would be nice to change that view so that it wasn’t so much of a shock to them.”

So far, pupils from both schools have come up with numerous ideas for posters, including one with the line ‘Clothes don’t make the person’, and one with an image of a young person in a cardigan and an old person wearing a ‘hoody’.

Numerous ideas were also offered for a website and podcast, which are being developed with partners.

Councillor David Brown, Cabinet member with responsibility for performance and capacity at Cheshire East Council, said: “There is a perception that teenagers are bad news. But most young people know that this is not the case and I am pleased to see the many ideas which these pupils are coming up with to try and change that image for the better.”

Cllr Arthur Moran, ward member for Nantwich, said: “Most teenagers are involved in community activities and sport and it is always the minority that give them a bad reputation.

“I hope this will demonstrate that young people are working in the best interests of Nantwich.”

Council seals landmark £2.75m Royal Mail site deal

 

Cheshire East Council has bought the landmark former Royal Mail site in Crewe for £2.75m.

The 4.5-acre Weston Road site became vacant when Royal Mail relocated its sorting offices to Stoke and Warrington.

The site is seen as a prime spot for a landmark development as part of an ambitious plan to redevelop Crewe Rail station – identified as a key project in delivering the wider Crewe ‘vision’ to revitalise the town and wider region.

Over the past year, the council has worked with its partners and the wider business community to identify what they believe needs to be done to ‘unlock’ the huge potential of the town and surrounding area and turn it into a leading player in Britain’s 21st century economy. This vision is called ‘All Change for Crewe’.

Cheshire East Council Leader Wesley Fitzgerald said: “Last year we set our clear ambition for the future of Crewe, through All Change for Crewe. This is tangible evidence of our commitment.

“This acquisition is part of our wider vision to grow and develop a strong and sustainable Cheshire East economy, which will improve people’s life opportunities and enhance the environment in which they live.”

The Weston Road site comprises a 4,517sq metre mainly single-storey Royal Mail Centre building with adjacent parking and the 7,948sq metre, part two-storey, part three-storey Royal Mail delivery offices, as well as an extensive yard which serviced both offices.

The move is the latest in a series of major regeneration projects undertaken by the Council across Cheshire East – including the recently-completed £52m Alderley Edge Bypass, the £3.5m Poynton village improvement scheme and ambitious plans for the regeneration of Macclesfield.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “The need to acquire this site to deliver a new ‘rail gateway’ for Crewe, and a potential transport interchange for the wider region with increased parking provision, has been a key ambition for Crewe over many years. Cheshire East Council has now become the catalyst for that project.

“Our vision for a new rail gateway includes improved passenger facilities, a high-quality concourse, improved parking and traffic arrangements and a landmark building at this important location. 

“This is a long-term commitment and we are realistic that, in the current funding climate, we won’t be able to deliver this project immediately. We will be working with private sector partners and public bodies over coming months and years to bring it to fruition.

“This is another example of our commitment to be an excellent Council that works with others to deliver for Cheshire East.

“This is the largest site acquisition that the Council has made to date but it is the type of acquisition that large local authorities such as ours make regularly to deliver strategic regeneration priorities.

“We are developing proposals for short-term uses that may be suitable for the site while we develop our detailed proposals, together with our strategic partners, for the long-term regeneration of the station.”

The site was marketed by agents King Sturge, on behalf of Royal Mail Estates.

Crewe ward Councillor Roy Cartlidge said: “I’m very pleased that the site has been secured and it bodes well for the future and getting a station worthy of the status of Crewe and for the wider area as well.”

Chris Gibb, Virgin Trains' chief operating officer, said: “This is a potentially pivotal step in the plans to really develop Crewe station and the surrounding area. We have seen Crewe become a key part of our network in recent years and we want to be involved with further exciting plans to regenerate Crewe, which is now just 90 minutes from London.”

A spokesman for Royal Mail Estates said: “Royal Mail Estates is delighted to have concluded terms with Cheshire East Council on this property to enable the regeneration and onward development of this part of Crewe. The transaction represents a good outcome for Royal Mail in enabling the modernisation of its operation whilst facilitating new and exciting transformation in Crewe.”

Queens Park Rumours

On Radio Stoke on Monday they started a rumour that the park wasnt going to be finished you can here the rumours here 

I spoke to the horse mouth so to speak the manager of the Queens Park and there is no problem what has happened that the paths were all to be one contract but as there are different requirements for the paths ie the path by the lodges will all be on new soil and will settle in time so will need to be temporary paths. So what they have picked up on is that the contract has been stopped and changed to the new one were several tenders for different parts of the park. But she assured me the money was there and everything was going ahead as normal.

You can see on the WWW.crewetown.co.uk the main website for the park  that everything is progressing with work on the lodges starting next week

Special rail tour to pass through Cheshire East

Keen day trippers in Cheshire East are being urged to climb aboard a special rail tour to the North East of England.

The one-off North Eastern Express Rail tour to Darlington, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne departs on Saturday, May 7, and will pick up travellers at stations in Cheshire East.

Residents can board the train at Knutsford, Plumley, Mobberley and Ashley and investigate the rich railway heritage of Darlington, take in picturesque Durham, visit the Beamish Living Museum of the North and tour the city of Newcastle.

It is being organised by Mid Cheshire Rail Users’ Association (MCRUA), of which Cheshire East Council is a member and pays a contribution each year to help promote sustainable travel.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “This special rail excursion should prove to be a marvellous day out for the residents of Cheshire East.

“It is a one-off tour and is aimed at promoting the use of the Mid Cheshire Rail line, which features various Cheshire East rail stations.

“This is another fine example of how Cheshire East works with others to improve community life.”

The first stop is Darlington where tourists can visit Shildon, dubbed the cradle of railways. The train continues to Durham for its cathedral, university and riverside or an optional trip to the museum.

The final destination is Newcastle where visitors can take in the Quayside area, bridges and many other places of interest.

The Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association (MCRUA) has been organising special excursions for more than 22 years and around 480 passengers enjoyed its last trip on the Great Western Express, to Oxford, Bath and Bristol.

Fares start at £45 for MCRUA members and £50 for non-members, with prices ranging from £41-45 for senior citizens.

To book, visit www.northeasternexpress.org.uk, where payments can be made using debit card, credit card or PayPal or by downloading a booking form from the website.

Cheshire East railway stations honoured

It is full steam ahead for six Cheshire East railway stations saluted at an annual awards ceremony.

The sites were among the winners in the Cheshire Best Kept Station competition, in which 13 awards were bestowed throughout the county.

The overall area winner for the Cheshire East-sponsored award was Holmes Chapel, while Crewe was judged ‘best staffed station’ and Nantwich had the ‘best kept gardens.’

Handforth received the ‘tidiest station award’, Knutsford was given the ‘youth challenge award’ and the Cheshire community award went to Chelford at the ceremony, held at the Weaver Hall Museum & Workhouse, in Northwich.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “I am delighted that our railway stations have been recognised once again in this way.

“It is testament to the hard work of those in the community who help to keep our stations attractive and well used and to the staff, who provide a top class customer service to travellers.

“This contributes to our overall aims to enhance the Cheshire East environment and to work with others to improve community life.”

The Cheshire East award was given to Holmes Chapel in recognition of the work carried out by Northern Rail station supervisor Graham Blake. His passengers are on first-name terms with him and enjoy a self-styled waiting room complete with a ‘traveller’s library.’

The accolade for Crewe, which is managed by Virgin Trains, reflects best customer practice and Nantwich’s award was in tribute to the partnership between Nantwich in Bloom and Nantwich Town Council.

There are raised flower beds made from sleepers, planters and hanging baskets, which are regularly weeded, watered and dead-headed.

Handforth won its award through the efforts of station staff and voluntary group Friends of Handforth Station.

Knutsford’s award recognises youth involvement at its station. Through creative partnership working with Knutsford High School, Northern Rail, the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and Mid Cheshire Rail Users’ Association, the station has its own art gallery, planted gardens and provides a welcome to those visiting the town.

Chelford was awarded for community involvement at the station. A handful of dedicated volunteers, with support from their parish council and local businesses, have transformed it into a first-class railway station.

The awards were presented by Michael Trevor Barnston, chairman of Cheshire Crimebeat. For more information, visit www.bestkeptstations.org.uk

Crewe Works falling down?

The wall of Crewe Works in West St opposite Minshull new rd has over the past few weeks been falling apart as large pieces of bricks and masonry have been falling on the pavement.  It may well be due to the frost as half the wall was very damp long after the frost and its been crumbling ever since. The wall is very old as is evident by the camouflage on it from the war. They have now erected scaffolding so hopefully repairs are now underway before it gets any worse. The problem with the scaffolding is they blocked the footpath while they were erecting it making it very dangerous as they didnt leave anywhere for pedestrians to walk but into the road they should have made safe passage for them

Have your say on Local Transport Plan implementation

 

Cheshire East Council wants YOUR views on how best to turn ambitious local transport proposals into reality.

The Council has worked with partners to draw up a comprehensive Local Transport Plan (LTP) strategy. This aims to tie in with the local authority area’s Sustainable Community Strategy and wider ambitions for the area – including boosting the local economy and tackling climate change.

The priorities of the LTP – backed by the public – are to ensure a sustainable future and create conditions for business growth, while tackling carbon emissions.

The Council held an extended six-week public consultation via a questionnaire last October/November to seek the public’s views on what the future transport priorities should be for the next 15 years.

Now the Council is launching a further round of consultation on a draft implementation plan – which aims to transform the transport strategy into actions.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “The successful first round of consultation has informed and shaped our transport priorities – and now we want people’s views on the initiatives we are proposing to deliver those priorities over the next four years.

“This is a real opportunity for local people to have their say and really shape, and take ownership of, local transport policy priorities and their implementation.”

Priority policy initiatives include:

● Working with the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to carry out feasibility studies of tram-train opportunities in the north of the Borough, including park-and-ride sites for the city centre;

● Preparing bids for funding to support the improved integration of different modes of transport, including public transport, road, walking and cycling;

● Supporting proposals for high-speed rail links and improved rail services in Cheshire East;

● Continuing to work with the Department for Transport to secure funding for the Crewe Green Link Road;

● Working with strategic partners, via the Local Enterprise Partnership, to secure transport improvements to boost economic growth across the Borough.

Cllr Macrae added: “Transport and travel is a fundamental part of everyday life and supports a vibrant economy.

“The Local Transport Plan (LTP) aims to build on the strengths of the existing transport system in Cheshire East, including our good transport links to major centres via the motorway and rail network and the international gateway at Manchester Airport, and set out a strategy and proposals to improve it further to foster our ambitious plans for economic growth and protect our environment to ensure a sustainable future for all our residents and businesses.

“Our travel patterns are heavily reliant on the car for most people, which means we have to improve alternative options for travel to make these more attractive, including public transport networks. The LTP will shape future investment in our highways and public transport network over the next 15 years, so we would welcome your comments on the implementation of the identified strategies and priorities for Cheshire East.”

To have your say on implementation of the new Local Transport Plan, fill in the questionnaire online by visiting the Council’s website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/travel

Alternatively, get a copy of the questionnaire from council customer service point offices – at Westfields in Sandbach, Macclesfield Town Hall or Delamere House in Crewe – and send the completed form to:

Cheshire East LTP Strategy and Consultation, FREEPOST CW247, Floor 6, Strategic Highways and Transportation, Delamere House, Crewe CW1 2LL.

The deadline for filling in the questionnaire is Wednesday, February 16.

Cheshire East’s new LTP will be published in April 2011.

Cheshire & Merseyside welcomes proposals on availability of cheap alcohol

 

Cheshire & Warrington Health and Wellbeing Commission and the Liverpool City Region Safer Healthier Communities Board welcome this week’s Home Office proposals to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol, however there is still commitment in Cheshire & Merseyside to work towards a minimum unit price of 50p. 

In response to the Government proposals, Cllr Andrew Knowles, Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Health & Wellbeing Commission and Cheshire East’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “We see this as a positive step forward in tackling the availability of cheap alcohol but we would still call for a minimum unit price of 50p because the majority of alcoholic drinks are already priced above the levels ministers are proposing.  We will continue to explore the possibility of a local bylaw as the evidence shows a minimum unit price of 50p is the most effective way to reduce deaths, chronic illness and crime due to over-consumption of alcohol”

A recent study by Sheffield University has shown that a nationwide minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol would prevent 98,000 alcohol related hospital admissions and 46,000 alcohol related crimes*.

Julie Webster, Lead Director of Public Health for Alcohol from Cheshire & Merseyside Public Health Network (ChaMPs) states “In Cheshire & Merseyside, applying a 50p per unit of alcohol would have a greater impact on heavy and younger drinkers as these are the groups who traditionally buy cheap alcohol.  A minimum unit price of 50p could reduce hospital admissions in Cheshire & Merseyside by 7,000 resulting in savings of around £2million.”

Also in support of a minimum unit price of 50p, Charlie Barker, Lead Officer for the Liverpool City Region Safer Healthier Communities Board said “45% of all violent crime is alcohol related**, we cannot continue with the high levels of alcohol harm in our communities and we are working with colleagues in the North West to take action to reduce it.”

Cheshire & Warrington Health and Wellbeing Commission and the Liverpool City Region Safer Healthier Communities Board have agreed to establish a joint working group, with colleagues from Manchester, to explore the issues around alcohol related harm including minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

*Sheffield University ScHARR study, 2008

**Crime in England & Wales 2007/2008, findings from British Crime Survey and Police recorded crime, July 2008