Public responds to consultation call over Middlewich depot plans

 

More than 100 people attended consultation events about Cheshire East Council’s plans to build a new hub depot in Middlewich.

Planning consultants and representatives from Cheshire East and Ansa answered questions at Middlewich Town Hall on Friday and Saturday and there was a display about the proposals, including artist’s impressions of the development.

The feedback from the public will be complied and analysed so that it can be taken into account before a planning application is submitted.

More information about the proposals can be found at: http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/waste_and_recycling/environmental_hub.aspx

There is still time to fill in the consultation questionnaire by going to: http://www.surveygizmo.co.uk/s3/2045418/Middlewich-Ideal-standard-factory-site

The new depot for Ansa, Cheshire East Council’s operating company for recycling and streetscape services, is proposed for the derelict former Ideal Standard site on Cledford Lane.

It would enable the Council to boost recycling and reduce the use of landfill, making Cheshire East one of the UK’s greenest boroughs.

Councillor David Topping, Cheshire East’s Cabinet member for service commissioning, said: “I hope more people will view the information on the Council’s website and fill in the survey so that we can take their views and concerns into account.

“We will be analysing these surveys before the planning proposals are drawn up and we will consider the public’s views on all aspects of the scheme.

“We are carrying out a full highways assessment which will measure current traffic movements around Cledford Lane and consider the impact of additional movements associated with the proposed depot.

“Once the study has been carried out we will be in a much better position to respond to concerns about highways matters.

“We plan to replace a large, untidy site with a smart-looking, new facility. To dispel some rumours: we have no intention of using it to produce energy from waste; and all our household waste sites will remain open.”

Bright-eyed Crewe residents urged to turnaround as town prepares for total eclipse

 

AS THE UK prepares for the rare natural phenomenon of the solar eclipse on Friday, a Crewe opticians is channelling Bonnie Tyler’s classic 80s hit and urging enthralled bright-eyed residents to ‘turnaround' when observing the exciting event.

On the morning of Friday, March 20, the UK will be plunged into darkness by a total eclipse as the moon moves directly between the sun and Earth and its shadows fall upon the planet’s surface.

Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the event will be the biggest since the last full eclipse in 1999 and the fascinating occurrence is set to capture the imagination of millions of people, hoping to watch the spectacle unfold.

As they look ahead to the event, director at the Market Street store, Michael Elleray, and the Crewe Specsavers team are warning residents to ensure they protect their eyes while raising awareness of the severe dangers of looking directly at the sun.

Michael says: ‘While full solar eclipses like this only happen every now and then, you only get one pair of eyes to last you a lifetime, so it’s vital to look after them.

‘And now we need to, more than ever, remind residents how best to protect their eyes. Looking at the sun directly, without the appropriate protective eyewear, can result in a condition known as solar retinopathy which can result in temporary or permanent visual loss.

‘The easiest way to view a solar eclipse safely is to do so through a pair of “eclipse glasses” with a certified solar filter.  These eclipse glasses must be treated with care or they can quickly become damaged and unsafe to use.

‘Alternatively, if you have access to the materials, make sure to only use an approved solar filter like #14 welder’s glass.

‘Nobody should ever look at the sun before, during or after a solar eclipse without protective eyewear. It is not safe to view a solar eclipse through any conventional sunglasses.’

The blackout will begin in the UK at 8.45am and the maximum eclipse, when the moon is nearest the middle of the sun, is expected to be at 9.31am.

To book your next appointment at Specsavers Crewe call 01270 250707 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/Crewe.

Minimal disruption as A34 bypass undergoes enhancement scheme

 

Improvement works to the A34 at Handforth are to be carried out by Cheshire East Highways and it is planned that disruption will be minimised through night time working.

The enhancement project will significantly improve road safety along what is one of the busiest traffic corridors between Cheshire East and Greater Manchester.

Motorists will see better signage, markings and road studs. Additional maintenance and safety work includes repairs to safety fencing, cutting back vegetation to improve visibility, sweeping and litter picking.

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet member for service commissioning said: “This work is to enhance road safety on what is an extremely busy principal route.

“We are maintaining and improving our highway assets as part of our continual commitment to the residents who travel through our road network.”

To minimise disruption and protect the Council’s workforce, all work will take place at night between the hours of 10pm and 5am.

Work is scheduled to commence on Monday March 23, between the A555 roundabout and the Handforth Dean retail park.

The second phase of the work will commence the following day on March 24 until Friday March 27 between the Handforth Dean retail park and the Alderley Edge roundabout. Disruption will be kept to a minimum and limited to the hours between 10pm and 5am.

Access to the retail park will be maintained.

The inner lanes of roundabouts will be closed and the official signed diversion will be:

• A538/B5086 Alderley Road
• B5106 Manchester Road
• B5358 Wilmslow Road
• A555 Manchester Airport Link Road

Traffic safety officers will be deployed to assist with advice and “Business Open” signs will also be positioned.

Councillor Topping added: “Unfortunately there will be some problems with traffic disruption and we thank businesses, residents and road users in advance for their patience and understanding.

“We do need to carry out this work and we have programmed disruption during the night time period to minimise congestion.”

Cheshire East Council Highways continues to plan and coordinate all highway maintenance schemes to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. All work is programmed to maximise the use of available road space.

Fairerpower cuts energy bills for Cheshire East residents

 

Fairerpower, the great value energy service launched by Cheshire East Council, opens for business today.

Cheshire East residents can now switch to the new supplier, a partnership between the Council and OVO Energy.

Customers will get:

• Potential average savings of up to £200-£250 a year (See note 1);
• Ability to fix contracts for 12 months;
• No exit fees;
• 3 per cent interest reward paid on all credit balances, up to £1,000 (See note 2);
• Award-winning customer service.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, was the first to sign up when he officially launched Fairerpower at Westfields, Sandbach, today.

Councillor Jones said: “I want to eliminate fuel poverty in Cheshire East and Fairerpower will help to do this.

“That’s why we have become the first local authority to supply energy direct to the public since gas and electricity were nationalised in 1948.

“Our offer will be available to all sections of the community and can save most people a lot of money.

“Never again will people in Cheshire East have to choose between eating or heating during the winter. And Fairerpower’s offer is so good, it may soon be available to people living outside the borough.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, whose Tatton constituency lies mostly within Cheshire East, said: “I welcome the partnership between Cheshire East Council and OVO. More choice for local people means competitive prices. I would strongly encourage my constituents to see how much they can save by switching their energy supplier.”

Customers who pay by monthly direct debit can switch from today (March 16). Pay-as-you-go customers will be able to sign up shortly and an offer for businesses is due to launch in the summer.

Hundreds of people who have already expressed an interest in Fairerpower will soon receive an email with details of how they can switch.

OVO Energy is the first ever energy supplier to be given Which? Recommended Provider status and the independent supplier also came top in 10 out of 12 categories in the uSwitch Energy Awards 2014, including Supplier of the Year.

To find out how much you can save and how to switch, please go to www.fairerpower.co.uk

Local fund-raising tennis activity for Comic Relief.

Reporter  Jonathan White, Wistaston

Teenager George Raiswell from Wistaston has once again organised a fund-raising activity at Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club, Church Lane, Wistaston. Last year the Shavington High School pupil organised a 12 hour ‘Tennisathon' for Sport Relief and this year on Saturday 14^th March he organised a ‘Wistaston Red Nose Day’ tennis tournament for Comic Relief http://www.comicrelief.com/ . George arranged the round-robin format event in which players paid a donation to play against each other. The two players who had won the most games went through to a final to win a trophy. George reached the final, but was beaten 6-4 by Ollie Cox. George’s mother - Julie - made cakes which were sold on the day. In total £60 was raised for Comic Relief, which fund’s projects in the UK and worldwide.

George said, "I would like to thank everyone who supported the event and my mum for baking the cakes. It was all for a very worthy cause”.

New born Babies in Danger

A few months ago at the end of Leighton St which connects to a mother and baby unit for new born babies people started dumping rubbish. This was bags of rubbish often containing rotting food and dirty nappies and often it contains maggots and flies.

As there are lots of new born babies at the unit it must be a health risk so I went to environmental health to report it they stated it was nothing to do with them. But if there are flies and maggots with new born babies feet away it is a health issue I explained but they wouldn’t do anything other than contact the wardens.

The wardens turned up and looked at the rubbish and said its none English and in their country they throw rubbish out in the backs and someone collect it. But I explained they are now living in the UK the warden claimed there are no laws in Cheshire east for them to prosecute anyone for dumping rubbish or fly tipping. On one occasion the rubbish was set on fire very close to a car as people were fed up with it its very luck no one was killed.

It is now a regular thing with the council removing it and with 24 hours there are often 20 bags there again. This is costing the tax payer for a van to come and collect this rubbish. With warm weather on the way the danger is there will be more flys and maggots not to mention danger from rats and other vermin. The council need to trace all these people and if they continue to dump it then there must be a way to get them into court.

Apart from the danger to the babies we cant often get out of our own alley as its blocked by bags of rubbish and we don’t want smelly stinking rubbish on our door step

Delight for campaigning residents and Council after better Cheshire East rail services are announced

 

Rail passengers in Cheshire East can expect better quality trains and more regular services after some successful lobbying by residents and the Council as part of the Northern re-franchising process.

The Department for Transport (DfT) and Rail North, a body representing all northern local authorities, has announced a range of improvements for rail services across the north of England with big benefits to Cheshire East.

Local community rail partnerships and Cheshire East Council had lobbied hard for improvements.

On the mid Cheshire line, Knutsford is to get a new half-hourly off-peak service to Manchester, which is a big improvement on the existing hourly service. There is also good news for the Sunday timetable with an hourly service at all stations on the line (currently the service is two-hourly).

On the Stoke-Macclesfield-Manchester line, a new half-hourly all-day service will be introduced at Macclesfield and Poynton. There is also a much-improved Sunday service which will increase to hourly at all stations, including Congleton (currently there are just five trains in each direction).

There is also an improved Sunday service on the Crewe to Manchester line – hourly trains from all stations with an earlier arrival time in Manchester and double the number of services between Wilmslow and the airport.

It all comes as part of an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the renewal of the Northern rail franchise issued by the DfT at the end of February (see notes to editors).

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am delighted that many of the changes we have been lobbying for have been agreed. The local community rail partnerships have really played their part too so I’m delighted for everybody.

“In Knutsford, there are more than 450,000 passengers each year but the town currently only has an hourly service in the off-peak period. However, through continued lobbying there is now a half-hourly service throughout the day into Manchester, which is great news for local residents.

“The work doesn’t stop here – we will continue to lobby the three shortlisted bidders for the Northern franchise to get even greater benefits than what is listed in the ‘minimum service specification’ outlined in the ITT, particularly at Disley and Middlewood.”

He added: “I am a strong advocate of devolving more responsibility for specifying and managing passenger rail services in the north of England. We have worked hard to lobby on behalf of Cheshire East residents to improve rail connectivity as a driver of economic growth across the Borough.”

The Government has also committed to improving the quality of trains with the Pacer units currently in use on the Northern network being completely phased out by 2020. There will also be free Wi-Fi on all trains by 2020 at the latest.

All of these changes will begin in April 2016.

The news comes as a task force set up by the Secretary of State has recommended the mid-Cheshire line, through Knutsford, for ‘electrification’ due to its ability to deliver greater economic growth in the north of England.

Thirty-two routes were examined, and grouped into three distinct prioritisation tiers based on their ability to contribute to local economic plans, how they fit with other schemes, and the number of diesel kilometres of running they would replace. The mid-Cheshire line came out in the top tier.

Cheshire East to boost highways investment by an extra £6.5m

 

Cheshire East Council is to boost its substantial investment in highways improvements across the Borough by an extra £6.5m.

This additional funding for 2015/16 will be spent on resurfacing works to continue improving the condition of our local highways network – and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to putting residents first.

Cheshire East has already invested more than £25m since 2013 to repair and improve the local road network, resulting in resurfacing more than 400km of local roads across 359 sites. It has also seen repairs to more than 100,000 potholes – thanks to our ‘Tell Dave’ initiative over the past two years.

Highway condition surveys have been undertaken to provide a priority list for resurfacing works in 2015/16 that will target a further 80km of carriageway resurfacing across 103 sites in the Borough.

This additional £6.5m programme will deliver carriageway resurfacing works across the Borough, including sites in the Macclesfield, Poynton, Alderley Edge and Wilmslow areas

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of service commissioning, said: “This is more really great news for our local road users across the Borough.

“There is robust evidence that our substantial highways investment programme is paying real dividends – but we will not allow ourselves any complacency despite an 83 per cent reduction in pothole complaints over the last three years.

“This Council has already directed huge resources towards highways maintenance and pothole repairs and this extra funding will help support our commitment to improving the condition of our extensive roads network.

“Our inspection teams constantly monitor our roads to identify any problems. We also value comments and reports from the public to ensure the service is meeting resident’s needs.

“This investment shows, once again, this Council’s commitment to putting residents first.”

To report a highways fault or problem, visit the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Credit card payment for car parking rolls out across Cheshire East

 

More motorists across Cheshire East can now take advantage of paying for parking via their mobile phone.

The successful RingGo system being trialled in 18 Council car parks has now been rolled out to an additional 47 sites across the Borough.

Now motorists can use a credit or debit card via their mobile phone, as well as cash, to pay for off-road parking in all 65 of the Council’s pay-and-display car parks. The number to ring is: 020 3046 0010.

This means an additional 4,759 parking spaces across the Borough can be paid for on-the-spot via debit or credit cards.

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of service commissioning, said: “Our aim is to provide customers with a wider range of payment choices, as we realise that people have busy lives and don’t always have large amounts of change on them.

“We said when the initial trial was launched, that if it proved successful and popular with the public, we would look to invest across the whole Borough – and, true to our word, that is what we are doing.

“Using the latest technology for simple and safe card payments gives motorists greater choice and flexibility and helps make paying for parking easier and less stressful.”

Payment by RingGo was introduced in November 2011 at 18 car parks across Cheshire East and has proved a great success.

Payment is made using mobile phone technology and a debit or credit card. Car parks featuring the RingGo service simply require customers to contact RingGo by phone, smartphone app, SMS or online.

First-time users can register with RingGo by using the RingGo app, logging on to www.myringgo.co.uk/register or telephoning the service at the time they want to park.

Cllr Topping added: “You don’t even need to put a ticket in your window, as our enforcement officers will be able to check that fees have been paid, using RingGo via their handheld units.

“Should your meeting or shopping trip overrun, you can even give RingGo a quick call and extend your length of stay, without returning to your car.

“We realise that cash has been the predominant method of payment over the years, which is why we trialled this method first in selected locations.

“Our feedback from customers is that many would like the option and convenience of paying by card, especially for longer stays in busy town centres or close to railway stations, where customers can park for up to five days.

“I’m sure the RingGo service will prove increasingly popular with people as we move steadily away from being a cash-based economy and society.”

Three-month and 12-month permits are also available to buy, which give customers a substantial discount and negates the need for regular payments altogether.

Also, parking on seven car parks across the Borough is free of charge from 3pm each day. This is to support businesses and encourage more people to visit their local town or village centre.

For the names and locations of all the Cheshire East Council car parks that provide the RingGo service, or to find out about ‘free after three’ parking, visit the Council website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service March 2015 E-Newsletter

 

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This is a message sent via The Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network (England & Wales). This information has been sent on behalf of Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service

 

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

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Cheshire campaign success

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating after the Government announced that it is bringing in new safety laws that will save dozens of lives a year.

The Government has declared new regulations that will make it compulsory for all landlords to fit a smoke alarm on every floor of a rented property. This follows a major national campaign led by Cheshire staff.

Find out more - Cheshire campaign success

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Cheshire firefighters win inaugural national award

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s innovative Incident Command Training Suite has won a brand new national award.

The Driving Efficiency Through Technology award is one of the LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards, which have seen a record number of entries for 2015.

The award category was created because technology has the potential to bring about a better use of both financial and practical resources to create a more efficient organisation.

Find out more - Cheshire firefighters win inaugural national award

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Fire Sprinkler Week endorsed by Cheshire bosses after fire

It's business as usual at a Cheshire manufacturing company after a sprinkler system extinguished a fire, but bosses know it could have been a very different story.

Managers at Jiffy Packaging in Winsford are now supporting Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to promote a national campaign for Fire Sprinkler Week (March 16-22).

Find out more - Fire Sprinkler Week endorsed by Cheshire bosses after fire

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Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

The clocks go forward at 01:00am on Sunday 29th March 2015 - as summer time officially starts.

When you change your clocks, please check your smoke alarms too.

Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms for the the start of British Summer time

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Draft Five Year Strategy 2015-20

Cheshire Fire Authority has launched a new draft five year strategy, titled ‘Planning For A Safer Cheshire 2015-2020’, that sets out its plans up to 2020. The strategy clarifies some of the stark choices facing the Authority and outlines the approach and principles it will adopt to ensure it does not compromise on its commitment to protecting local communities, reducing risk and maintaining firefighters’ safety.

We would like you to get involved and have your say to help shape the future of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Read our draft five year strategy

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Hoping to raise bucketloads for charity

Cheshire firefighters will be splashing out with car washes throughout March and April in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

Crews will be rolling up their sleeves and taking to buckets and hoses to shine up the county's cars along with providing drivers with vital road safety advice.

• Audlem Fire Station - 14th March - 10am - 1pm

• Frodsham Fire Station - 14th March - 10am -3pm

• Wilmslow Fire Station - 14th March - 10am - 4pm

• Birchwood Fire Station - 21st March - 10am - 4pm

• Bollington Fire Station - 21st March - 10am - 3pm

• Chester Fire Station - 28th March - 10am - 4pm

• Congleton Fire Station - 28th March 10am - 3pm

• Knutsford Fire Station - 28th March - 10am - 3pm

• Middlewich Fire Station - 28th March - 10am - 4pm

• Runcorn Fire Station - 28th March - TBC

• Stockton Heath Fire Station - 28th March - 10am - 4pm

• Macclesfield Fire Station - 4th April - 10am - 4pm

• Widnes firefighters will be at Asda - 11th April - 10am - 4pm

• Poynton Fire Station - 18th April - 10am - 3pm

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Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting for on-call firefighters at the following fire stations: Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Knutsford and Poynton.

Could you be an on-call firefighter? If yes, you are welcome to come along to one of our taster events. The event will give potential applicants the opportunity to meet full-time and on-call crews, as well as training and recruitment officers, who will explain exactly how to follow the recruitment process.

Find out more information - On-call taster events

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Get the latest information from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service:

• Website - www.cheshirefire.gov.uk
• Twitter - @CheshireFire
• Facebook - CheshireFRS

Cheshire East Highways makes pledge over Gresty Road closure

 

Cheshire East Council is making every effort to minimise disruption during essential works on Gresty Road in Crewe.

The works are needed to build a new spine road from Gresty Bridge to the A500.

They will commence on Monday, April 27, 2015 when two-way lights will be in operation for two weeks while diversion works are carried out for BT.

Then the road will be closed for up to eight weeks to carry out the remaining utility works, install new drainage and complete the tie-in with the new spine road.

Sisk, the contractors carrying out the project for Cheshire East Highways, is doing as much as possible off the highway and is co-ordinating with utility companies to keep diversion routes clear for the full duration of the closure.

Contractors and highways officers have consulted widely in order to find ways to reduce the impact on local residents and businesses.

Advance signage will be in place, with variable message signs to provide motorists with plenty of notice and to inform them about diversionary routes.

Temporary weight restrictions will be applied to a number of roads in the area to save local residents being disturbed by heavy lorries.

Information will also be issued through the local press, letter drops, social media, and the national roadworks database to ensure the public is well informed.

The Council’s traffic signal team will be closely monitoring traffic movements during the closures and making changes to signal timings to minimise delays to the travelling public.

Councillor David Topping, Cheshire East’s Cabinet member for service commissioning, said: “There is never a good time to close a major road but we are making every effort to minimise the impact.

“The disruption will be temporary but the benefits will be long-lasting. When this work is complete, the new spine road will enable the development of a key strategic investment site that will provide both new housing and employment opportunities for Crewe and the surrounding area.”

Cllr Brian Silvester selected as UKIP Candidate for the Willaston and Rope Ward

   

Cllr Brian Silvester has been selected as the UKIP Candidate for the Willaston and Rope Ward for the May 7^th elections to the Cheshire East Council.

He said “ I am delighted to be selected. I have represented Willaston for 16 years and Rope  for a similar period. I always listen to the views and concerns of local residents, I take action and I report back. I can't solve every problem but I will always try and my constituents appreciate that. I also have a very good working relationship with the two Parish Councils in the Ward.

Willaston and Rope Ward need a strong, independent, influential, experienced voice to represent them to ensure that local people get a fair deal from the Cheshire East Council, the third biggest Unitary Council in the North West. I live in the Ward at 11 Rimsdale Close,Rope. My Conservative opponent lives in Faddiley and my Labour opponent lives in Crewe.

The biggest concern of my constituents is the planning fiasco that has been inflicted on local residents by the Conservative and Labour Groups  through the failed Local Plan that they both voted for. Working with local residents, the Green Gap Action Team and the Parish Councils I have been able to STOP a 880 housing development at Gresty Oaks, which is partly in Rope, to STOP a 146 housing development in Moorfields in Willaston and to STOP a gigantic slurry lagoon on the border between Rope and Willaston. Unfortunately I was not able to stop two housing developments in Willaston in the Green Gap because they were voted through by Conservative Councillors despite the Conservative Leader of the Council pledging that he would protect the Green Gaps from development.

I have worked tirelessly to improve the roads an footpaths in Willaston and Rope. Recently I have been successful in that the Council have agreed to re-surface the two  main roads  through Willaston, Wistaston Road and Wybunbury Road.

 

About Cllr Brian Silvester

Born in Nantwich in 1952 he is a proud Dabber.

Brian was first elected as a Councillor in 1976 and has served as a Councillor ever since.

He is a former Leader and Mayor of the Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council

He is a former Deputy Leader of the Cheshire East Council

What people say about Cllr. Brian Silvester

Here are just some of the many genuine thank you messages Brian has received from grateful residents he has helped:-

"You have always acted promptly, kindly and efficiently when I have been at my wits end because nobody else would help me."

"Thanks for taking such swift and effective action. It is appreciated."

"I cannot express my gratitude enough, we're just back from visiting my Aunt and I can't get over the change."

"With your support and kind intervention the pending work was completed last week."

"Sorry to send this onto you but it seems that you are the only Councillor that is on the same wave length."

"I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts in trying to get this matter resolved."

"Manny many thanks. You should rightly feel proud about the turnaround. What an amazing change."

"I hope you carry on with the good work you have done in the past."

'A record of delivery. A promise of more'

Cllr. Brian Silvester, your experienced Councillor who gets thing done

'I can't promise to resolve every problem but I do promise that I will always try.'

Closure of Crewe Road, Shavington for 10 weeks will cause traffic chaos in surrounding roads

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Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor Brian Silvester is concerned that the total closure of Crewe Road, Shavington for over 10 weeks will cause traffic chaos in the surrounding roads in Rope,Willaston and Shavington cum Gresty. (See below)

He said,  “Gresty Road/Crewe Rd will remain open but for one way working controlled by traffic lights for TWO weeks from April 27^th There is a general and local election on Thursday May 7^th.  Gresty Road/Crewe Rd will then be closed both ways (as originally planned) for 8 to 10 weeks from May 11^th.

The closure is as a result of the building of the new spine road from Gresty Bridge to the A 500 roundabout. Crewe Rd will be permanently blocked from May 11th  just south of Gresty Bridge for around 10 weeks. The new spine road is expected to open in July 2015. I am calling on Cheshire East Council(CEC)  to inform motorists in every way possible, in good time before the closure, identifying the alternative routes into and out of Crewe. Also CEC must ensure that there are no road works on any of the alternative routes to allow for a free flow of traffic for the ten week period. Both  Cllr Brickhill and myself want to prevent rat runners using Rope Lane, Eastern Road and Gresty Lane, which are narrow roads and already very busy with traffic. Students at Shavington High School are already concerned about road safety around the approaches to the school and this road closure will make it infinitely worse as  motorists seek rat runs to get into and out of Crewe.”

Cllr Brickhill said,”Rat runners will cause an increase in danger to pupils walking on Gresty Lane and Rope Lane.  Pupils need to be made aware of this and told not to walk several children wide along the Rope Lane footpaths which forces  some of them to walk in the road. I am hoping that there will still be a walking route through to the Gresty bridge but this needs checking. The only other impact will be on parents picking up children from school in cars and of course any  staff who usually drive in and out on Gresty Rd and Crewe Road.  They should expect some delays.”

 

Campaign to save late night weekend bus between Nantwich and Willaston

Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor Brian Silvester has started a campaign to save late night weekend bus between Nantwich and Willaston.

He said, “The late night weekend C84 bus between Nantwich and Willaston, which is run by Arriva,is being taken off in a few weeks time on the 22/315.The bus is well used by residents who go into town for a weekend drink and entertainment. I am told that arounf 25 people use the bus at the weekend. I cannot understand why Arriva would want to take it off because with that level of usage  it must be a viable service. I have contacted Arriva and the Council about it (See below) and I would advise residents to support the campaign by contacting Arriva and the Council to show the level of support for this service. If it is lost it will probably be lost forever and that would be a great shame. We should encourage the use of the buses and especially at the weekend  because it results in less drinking and driving and that must be better for all concerned.”

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)

Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor

Cheshire East Council

11 Rimsdale Close

Rope

CW2 6RS

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Text     07760147609

e-mail Cllr.Brian.Silvester@gmail.com

www.twitter.com/cllrbsilvester

www.facebook.com/CllrBrianSilvester

Cheshire East Council hails success of apprenticeship scheme

 

Cheshire East Council has helped more than 200 young people to get the best possible start to their careers by taking them on as apprentices.

And 31 have gone on to gain a position with the Council or one of its partner organisations. 

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, Councillor Barry Moran, Cheshire East’s Cabinet member for performance, met two of the scheme’s young stars.

Ciaran Murphy, who was the Council’s Apprentice of the Year in 2013, has done an NVQ Level 3 in business administration and is now a projects support officer at Westfields in Sandbach.

Ciaran said: “It’s been a great way to start a new career and I have gained a wide range of skills through the scheme, such as working on business engagement events.”

Dean Burrows, Apprentice of the Year in 2014, is embarking on a Level 4 NVQ in social media and works on the Connecting Cheshire project, which is bringing high-speed broadband to rural areas. 

Dean, who is based at Delamere House in Crewe, said: “You get good experience and there is always something new. I have had lots of opportunities to do things that you wouldn’t get to do at university, and taking part in public engagement events is a great confidence builder.”

Last year, Cheshire East Council received a highly commended award from the National Apprenticeship Service.

The Council’s apprenticeships, in roles such as business administration, finance, social media, customer services, childcare and horticulture, provide meaningful work experience and a nationally recognised qualification. 

The scheme also provides quarterly learning and development sessions, put together by the workforce development team, to develop communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, time and self-management, decision-making and taking responsibility. 

Apprentices are also encouraged to volunteer for attending Careers Fairs and visiting schools. 

At any one time, the Council has about 50 apprentices – 37 are currently employed directly by CEC and 16 by the Council’s arms-length operating companies.

Councillor Moran said: “The scheme has ensured that young people living in the borough have had the very best possible start to their professional career.

“I have been involved in a number of learning and development sessions, and have always been delighted to witness the enthusiasm and energy which the apprentices bring to them.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to get on the career ladder and I am delighted that they have helped so many young people to embark on great careers at Cheshire East Council.”

Council Leader Councillor Michael Jones said: “As recognition of the tremendous impact that apprentices have had on Cheshire East Council services, and to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, I recently announced at Council that all apprentices will receive a pay increase  to ensure that we continue to attract the very highest calibre of recruits.

“As a National Apprenticeship Ambassador, it's my responsibility to make sure that businesses throughout Cheshire East are aware of the benefits. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all employers should consider providing opportunities for apprentices.”

Free citizens’ advice service gets £317,990 Council grant

 

Residents relying on free financial, legal and welfare advice have received a boost after Cheshire East Council agreed a funding package for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB).

The two CABs (north and south) in Cheshire East will get a grant of £317,990 to be split between them.

Since April 2014, they have dealt with 6,608 face-to-face enquiries, 1,879 telephone calls and 870 emails. The most common issues Cheshire East residents present to the CAB are benefits and tax credits, debt, employment, housing and personal relationships.

During the past year (2014/15), CAB staff have helped residents to claim £522,000 of benefit and tax credit to which they were entitled and supported them with debts totalling £1.7m.

Councillor David Brown, Cabinet member in charge of strategic communities, said: “The CAB provides excellent advice and help to residents and it does it completely free of charge.

“This is critically important to some people and it helps to enable residents to become self-reliant and take personal responsibility for their quality of life. As a Residents First Council, I am pleased to say that we will be continuing to support people who rely on the work of the CAB.”

The CAB service provides:

• Welfare benefits advice, which leads to increased benefit take-up, resolve administration problems or challenges to discrimination;

• Debt advice, which leads to the prioritisation and rescheduling of debts and improved financial capability for individuals;

• Housing advice, which leads to recovered deposits, property repairs, and the avoidance of homelessness; and

• Employment advice, which can lead to a financial outcome, such as compensation and/or a non-financial outcome, such as reinstatement, enforcement of terms and conditions, or an end to harassment at work.

Cheshire East Council agreed the funding at a Cabinet meeting. To read the agenda item, visit www.bit.ly/1APA5OO or to find out more about the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Cheshire East, visit www.cecab.org.uk.

Council in talks with investors over geothermal energy

 

Cheshire East Council is in discussions with potential partners to develop a geothermal heat network that could produce almost limitless energy.

A deep geothermal heat network would initially require about £37m from private sector investment, revenue from heat sales and renewable heat incentive funding.

Financial investors and companies in the utility market are interested in the plans for geothermal at Leighton West in Crewe, which has been identified as an ideal site for drilling down 4.5 km to bring hot water to the surface.

The Council has also secured a government grant to assess other renewable energy projects which could cut bills for people living in Crewe and in rural areas.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is contributing £56,000 towards a feasibility study into a district heating network in Crewe town centre.

The funding will also cover detailed mapping of heat demand and masterplanning to encourage the use of renewables in rural areas not connected to the gas grid.

In urban areas, district heating allows homes and businesses to be connected to a single source of heating (and potentially cooling) to achieve efficiency savings and cost reductions.

These networks can use a wide range of fuels and increasingly draw on low carbon sources such as biomass, geothermal and solar energy.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Cheshire East Council continues to engage with developers who have expressed a commercial interest in building a geothermal heat network in Crewe.

“There has been further interest in developing this from a range of international companies including the utility market, the geothermal development sector and from investment companies. 

“We are excited by the level of market interest in the geothermal project and I will make a further announcement on this project in due course.

“The grant from DECC for central Crewe will enable us to develop the business case to attract private sector investment in a heat network to secure Crewe’s economic future.

“The funds will also be used to establish other types of renewable energy that could help to replace expensive fossil fuels in those rural areas that currently rely on them.

“This Council is committed to tackling energy poverty as well as reducing our carbon emissions. Low-carbon technologies are the way forward and will enable local energy solutions and self-sufficiency.”

Aerospace systems supplier plans 160 jobs boost for Cheshire East

 

A company which designs cutting-edge systems for aircraft is expanding and hopes to create 160 new jobs in Cheshire East.

AvSupport, currently based in Macclesfield, plans to relocate to a 10,000 sq ft unit at Alderley Park, where it will carry out light manufacturing of aircraft parts to compete with products currently produced in the USA and China.

The new roles will be a mix of manufacturing engineers, administrators and managers.

“We are very excited at our move into manufacturing and our relocation to Alderley Park,” said Paul Heaton, managing director of AvSupport Ltd. “We believe that with our plans and the help and support of Cheshire East Council we will create a great number of new job opportunities over the next few years.”

The company specialises in the design and development of air distribution systems made from composite materials. It also provides aircraft manufacturers with support and assistance on sales, marketing, project engineering, programme management and design engineering. 

Its customers are makers of commercial, military, fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and unmanned drones, including recent programmes with Bombardier Aerospace and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

Cheshire East Council’s business engagement team will be assisting the company with recruitment and funding for equipment and machinery.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council said: “AvSupport’s plan to move to Alderley Park is a great boost for the Council’s efforts to attract advanced manufacturing companies to expand in the Borough.

“The company is a leader in a dynamic, global industry and we look forward to it creating many high-value jobs of the type which Cheshire East residents want.”

Public invited to consultation events about new Middlewich depot

 

Cheshire East Council’s plans to build a new hub depot in Middlewich will go under the microscope at public gatherings later this week.

Two consultation events will take place at Middlewich Town Hall, Lewin Street, on Friday, March 13 from 7pm to 9pm and on Saturday, March 14 from 9am to midday.

Planning consultants and representatives from Cheshire East and Ansa will be present to answer questions and there will be a display about the proposals, including artist’s impressions of the development.

Everyone is welcome and there is no need to register or make an appointment in advance.

The new depot for Ansa, Cheshire East Council’s operating company for recycling and streetscape services, is proposed for the derelict former Ideal Standard site on Cledford Lane.

It would enable the Council to boost recycling and reduce the use of landfill, making Cheshire East one of the UK’s greenest boroughs.

Councillor David Topping, Cheshire East’s Cabinet member for service commissioning, said: “I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to find out what we are proposing and to ask any questions they have about matters that concern them.

“We plan to replace a large, untidy site with a smart-looking, new facility. To dispel some rumours: we have no intention of using it to produce energy from waste; and all our household waste sites will remain open.”