Cheshire Emergency Services Day’

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

The inaugural ‘Cheshire Emergency Services Day’ in Nantwich took place at The Weaver Stadium on Sunday 8^th July 2018 in aid of The Donna Louise.

The emergency services were represented including firefighters, police, ambulance and blood bikes with many of the 999 related exhibitors based in Nantwich.

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service had several appliances on display, a Dunk the Firefighter game, and Be safe near water awareness campaign. There was also a restored City of Chester Fire Service Dennis F7 Fire Appliance from 1949.

Cheshire Constabulary displayed two police cars, a van, and two bicycles with the opportunity to sit inside the vehicles and try out a riot shield.

North West Ambulance Service - Ambulance First Responder gave CPR and defibrillator familiarisation sessions. North Staffordshire Voluntary First Aid Service displayed an ambulance.

Shropshire, Staffordshire & Cheshire Blood Bikes had a display of their bikes that people could sit on and gave information about how they provide free urgent transportation of medical items.

Blue Light Vehicle Preservation Group had three vehicles on display - Jaguar 1993 XJ 40 PS motorway patrol car, 2012 Ford Focus neighbourhood response team police car, and a Range Rover P38a control vehicle. The Range Rover was used on 6^th September 1997 to escort Diana, Princess of Wales’ hearse from Hyde Park Corner to Althorp. The vehicle was restored to its original special escort group condition by owner Richard Hopkins.

There was also an artisan market, beat the goalie competition, face painting and a children’s funfair. Refreshments were available from the Dabbers Diner and other outlets.

Nantwich Town FC stewards supervised the event.

Local radio station The Cat 107.9 FM kept visitors entertained throughout the event with a range of upbeat music and there was appearance by Twitchy the cat who was later ‘arrested’!

Proceeds from the event will go to The Donna Louise - https://www.thedonnalouise.org/ - which provides support and care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions, and their families in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service – display of vehicles.

Borough’s breathtaking settings generate weddings bonanza for Cheshire East

With some of the most breathtaking settings imaginable, Cheshire East is among the most popular places in the country for couple’s to say ‘I do.’

Cheshire East Council’s award-winning registration service is officially recognised as among the best for delivering every bride’s dream – a seamless ceremony founded on detailed planning and professionalism.

Whether it’s a castle, a historic hall or a hotel and spa, the service prides itself on making a couple’s wedding day a day to remember – for all the right reasons.

With more than 2,000 ceremonies a year at more than 70 approved venues throughout Cheshire East, the registration service was recently voted ‘best ceremony provider’ at the North West Wedding Awards, staged by County Brides Magazine.

It has also received the highest rating of all from the Registrar General for all the services delivered, including the registration of births and deaths.

A staggering 70 per cent of couples are from outside the borough yet choose Cheshire East for their nuptials because of its wide choice in outstanding venues. The service helps to deliver £32m a year to the rural economy – the sum the wedding business brings into the borough, including hotels, cars, flowers and outfits.

Julie Hadfield, a superintendent registrar, said: “We take a great deal of pride in the service we offer to couples and we have a fantastic team, who go that extra mile to ensure no detail is overlooked.

“The professionalism of our team is key to making sure our couples enjoy a day to remember. The award of ‘best ceremony provider’ was a real thrill and we are delighted to be the inaugural winners of this new award.

“We are lucky to have some amazing venues to offer, which was also recognised on the night, with Wrenbury Hall scooping the award for ‘best venue’ (second year running) and Crewe Hall, which received the ‘business of the year’ award.”

Cheshire East Council Leader Rachel Bailey said: “I am proud of all the customer-facing services this council delivers and this one in particular stands out as an example of the quality and professionalism we seek to achieve across the whole of Cheshire East Council.

“It is pleasing to learn that it is not only contributing to the borough’s economy but also making many hundreds of couples happy into the bargain.”

The service is currently recruiting for two deputy registrars of births, marriages and deaths. So, if you fancy a new challenge in life, why not apply? To do so visit: https://cheshireeast.gov.uk/jobs_and_careers/jobs_and_careers.aspx

Homeless and armed forces personnel to get priority in new housing policy

Homeless people and armed forces personnel are to have a greater chance of being rehoused under Cheshire East Council’s new housing allocations policy, approved today (Tuesday).

Proposed changes, including priorities for the homeless and armed forces personnel, have been approved by the council’s cabinet.

Cheshire East is committed to putting its residents at the heart of council policy and continues to develop better outcomes for residents facing challenging circumstances.

The council’s revised ‘Common Allocations Policy’ aims to make the best use of social housing stock in the borough and give residents a place to live that supports their health and wellbeing and contributes to their quality of life.

While the council is not a housing stock holder authority it is responsible for the policy that determines eligibility.

In future, people assessed as not having security of tenure, who are living in over-crowded conditions, or whose current accommodation is affecting a diagnosed medical condition, will be placed in a higher category, including the homeless.

The revised policy will also give serving and former armed forces personnel, who are in housing need, placed in a higher category. 

Changes to local connection – where an applicant from outside the borough must prove a local connection with Cheshire East – have been approved meaning people seeking social housing will need to be resident in the borough for two years or have a local connection such as employment in the borough.

People allocated social housing will have to wait 12 months before applying for a move to different accommodation, unless there is a change in their circumstances.

Social housing providers will be expected to allocate an equal number of units in multiple-unit blocks of flats to tenants in employment.

All social housing tenants and residents awaiting allocation are advised to check as to how the changes may affect them.

Cheshire East Council believes that all its residents should have the opportunity to live in decent accommodation in a pleasant environment.  Last December the council adopted its strategy for tackling homelessness and also the council’s housing strategy, which outlined the long-term vision for increasing the number of new affordable homes.

Consultation on 30 year plan

Cheshire East Council has approved a strategy for consultation which shows there will be room for burials for the next 30 years.

The council is keen to ensure it has continuing provision within the borough and commissioned a study to assess capacity and potential future demand for burial space.

Consultants and landscape design company Harrison Design Development, based in Mold, North Wales, devised the planned strategy which will see Crewe Meadow Brook and Macclesfield as the two principal cemeteries in Cheshire East.

The council is also taking the opportunity to refresh its cemetery regulations and to make sure they are in line with new national standards.

They will be holding a consultation for an eight week period between 20 July and 14 September and encouraging residents to give their views.

Councillor Don Stockton, who has responsibility for the environment at Cheshire East Council, said: “This is a sensitive issue but an extremely important one to get right. While more people are choosing to be cremated these days, we wish to maintain the choice of burial for the public and welcome the results of this assessment.

“It’s vitally important people are given their last wishes and this approved plan will ensure we are adequately prepared for the next 30 years.”

For further information or to get involved please go to this website:

Borough’s schools urged to engage with healthy travel plans

Cheshire East Council is introducing a campaign to promote healthier ways of travelling to school.

The council wants to encourage more children to walk or cycle to school rather than travel by car.

Known as Smots (sustainable modes of transport to school), the strategy also considers safer parking for communities around schools, other modes of transport – such as buses and trains – and a policy to encourage schools to have their own travel plans.

The strategy seeks to make other forms of travel more appealing and reduce the automatic choice of family car to drive children to school.

The council acknowledges that where families live in remote rural areas, or where special circumstances apply, car travel may be the only option but it does want to encourage parents to think more carefully about choosing healthier, active forms of travel for their children.

Walking routes and cycle ways could be improved and increased in number and schools will be encouraged to continue road safety training and ‘Bikeability’ schemes to teach young people safe riding.

The travel plans will help schools to identify and flag up the issues and obstacles that deter or prevent pupils using more sustainable forms of travel. The council can look at ways to address the problems.

Solutions could take a number of forms:

· Improvements to walking and cycling routes

· New access points to school sites giving more convenient and safer access for pedestrians and cyclists

· Improved or new safe crossing points on routes to schools

· Small-scale traffic management schemes such as lining, signing and traffic calming

· Improvements to parking 

The council has set aside £150,000 to fund schemes that would help to deliver solutions. 

The Smots strategy sets out the framework for how the council, in collaboration with key delivery partners, will support schools to enable and encourage sustainable travel to and from schools.

By achieving greater use of sustainable modes of transport, coupled with physical activity, the council wants to create safer and more vibrant communities leading to quality of place and improved educational outcomes.

Councillor Jos Saunders, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Recent Public Health England figures showed that in Cheshire East we have one of the lowest rates of childhood obesity and we want to maintain that and continue to improve upon it.

“But this is not just about obesity in the young.  It is about improving quality of life for everyone, by reducing car dependency and promoting healthy lifestyles.”

Councillor Don Stockton, cabinet member for environment, said: “From a highways perspective, it is about improving road safety around schools, relieving congestion and reducing the number of parked cars outside or near schools.

“We are working with schools and other delivery partners to introduce measures that can provide opportunities for sustainable and community-friendly travel to our schools.”

Cheshire East backs £1m special school expansion to boost provision

Cheshire East Council has backed a £1m expansion of a school for children with special educational needs to better meet local needs.

Springfield Special School, in Crewe, is to increase from 132 pupils places to 156 under proposals backed today by the council’s cabinet.

This decision follows a local authority report that identified a significant need for the council to increase its specialist educational provision in the borough.

Councillor Jos Saunders, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “This is excellent news for residents of Cheshire East – and particularly for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and their families.

“By increasing SEN places within Cheshire East, the council can reduce more-costly placements outside of the borough, reduce journey times and travel costs, make better use of resources and provide more choice for parents.

“Most crucially, it enables us to support our pupils to be able to stay in their local community – allowing them to build friendships with people who live close to them and spend less time travelling. In short, it helps us bring our children back home.”    

Currently one in five pupils attending specialist provision currently has a journey of more than 45 minutes each way and half attend outside Cheshire East.

Springfield Special School is an ‘outstanding school’, as judged by Ofsted, which provides high-quality specialist provision for children and young people, aged four to 19, with severe learning difficulties and profound multiple learning difficulties.

It is the only such school in the south of the borough and the next nearest school, which provides similar provision in Cheshire East, is Park Lane in Macclesfield.

Funding for the expansion of places at Springfield Special School will come from developer (section 106) contributions, the school and Cheshire East Council. The scheme is part of the council’s three-year plan to develop SEN provision in the borough.

The additional 24 places at Springfield will potentially save the council around £440,000 a year by reducing the need for more expensive out-of-borough placements for pupils.

Planning permission for the scheme, which received no submitted objections, was granted in February 2018.

Health and well-being improvements… a year on

Integrating health and social care across Cheshire East has led to a string of health care improvements for patients during the last year.

The ‘Delivering the Better Care Fund in Cheshire East 2017-19’ was fully assured by NHS England in December 2017. Health and social care services for patients across Cheshire East are set to further improve according to Councillor Janet Clowes.

The Spring Budget 2017 announced £2 billion to support adult social care across England – this equated to Cheshire East receiving their slice of almost £25m during 2017/18.

Initiatives over the last year have included:

- Reducing the number of falls for older people

- Tackling delays in discharge from hospital

- Implementing almost 1,000 packages of care through a pilot scheme

- Telecare usage – on average, more than 2,500 patients use it each month

- New systems led to 3,175 safeguarding concerns were raised

- 318 disabled people were able to live independently through extra funding

- 194 people were able to return to their home earlier as provisions were quickly put in place

- Additional carers were able to care for an extra 872 people.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for adult social care and integration, said: “The improved better care fund has been created to support some of our most vulnerable residents to provide better integrated health and social care services.

“Proof of the pudding is in the results. After a year, we are already seeing dramatic improvements for patients across Cheshire East – these have resulted in better and faster access to the right health and social care services, near to or at their home.

“It is another example of our commitment to providing the right care in the right place at the right time. I would like to thank all our health partners for their continued support – these initiatives are continuing to make a significant difference.” 

Replacement 78 bus service between Nantwich and Leighton Hospital announced

A company has stepped in to provide a bus service between Nantwich and Leighton Hospital which faced the axe by an operator next month.

Following our recent information bulletin about changes to bus services in the borough, Mikro Coaches has come forward to register a replacement 78 service between Nantwich and Leighton Hospital/Coppenhall.

The current 78 service is not subsidised by the council and current operator D&G Buses has decided there were too few passengers to make the 78 service economically viable. The replacement 78 is also a commercial bus service, not subsidised by the council, and the continuation of the route will depend on passengers using the service.

The new 78 service will start on Monday 23 July 2018, with the D&G service ending the previous Friday (20 July). The new 78 service will have a different timetable (see inset) but the route will remain the same as the current 78.

Further details of the new 78 service and upcoming changes can be viewed on the council’s website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/bustimetables

Improved household recycling rates set to rise across Cheshire East

A recycling company has been given the green light by planning chiefs to build a food composting plant in Crewe which will create eight full time jobs.

The Hull-based recycling company, Biowise, has secured a 15-year deal with Cheshire East Council to provide a composting plant to process food and garden waste from Cheshire East’s 370,000 residents.

The composting plant will make it possible for food across the whole of Cheshire East to be recycled for the first time from late summer 2019.

Latest figures have revealed Cheshire East Council is recycling more than 55 per cent of waste compared with less than 17 per cent almost a decade ago.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We are delighted that Biowise has come up with an efficient, sustainable and low-cost solution to recycle food waste. They have done a great job in successfully satisfying the strict planning application requirements.

“This new composting plant will process food and garden waste together and will help us to further improve our recycling rates, which are currently better than the majority of councils across England. We are determined to further improve these rates so that we are among the very best in the country. We look forward to working with Biowise and building a strong partnership into the future.”

Cheshire East is keeping its three bin system with the waste being collected fortnightly within the garden waste bin, so there will be no need for an extra container. Once completed next year, the food and garden waste will be processed at the new six-acre composting plant in Crewe.

Each year, from 2019, Biowise will have a licence to manage 75,000 tonnes of food waste across Cheshire East. The company will design, build, finance and operate a £7m state-of-the-art gicom in-vessel composting facility along with associated aerated static pile composting, screening and blending operations at the council-owned site in Leighton Grange, near Crewe.

Bob Wilkes, operations and development director for Biowise, said: “The development of this advanced composting facility represents the culmination of a two-year process of careful design and negotiation with Cheshire East Council officers and their advisors.

“Through this forward thinking and collaborative process, Cheshire East Council is providing a long-term, environmentally-friendly solution to their residents, utilising state-of the-art technology to produce a fantastic quality assured PAS 100 compost product from mixed garden and food waste.  We are delighted to be a part of that process and excited about the prospect of working together in the future.”

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Scam Alert - Fake Argos Texts

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Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information in case it’s a scam. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

A fund-raising charity event

reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston 

A fund-raising charity event takes place on Sunday 15th July 2018 (1pm to 4pm) at 1 Minshull Hill Cottage, Cross Lane, Minshull Vernon, CW1 4RF (opposite Minshull United Reformed Church). There will be stalls including a tombola, bric-a-brac, books, home bake and a grand raffle. There will also be an ice cream machine and tea & coffee. Proceeds will go to Claire House Children’s Hospice in memory of Millie.

Cheshire East issues advice on how to keep cool and safe in the heatwave

Cheshire East Council is urging people to stay safe and well in the hot summer sun.

It follows a forecast of temperatures set to soar again and the Met Office heatwave warning being raised to ‘level three’.

The latest advice issued on how to look after yourself and others during hot weather is as follows:

● Stay out of the heat;

● Keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm;

● If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat and light scarf;

● Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours, who may be less able to look after themselves;

● Avoid extreme physical exertion. If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, like sport, DIY or gardening, keep it for cooler parts of the day, like early morning or evening;

● Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes;

● Cool yourself down. Have plenty of cold drinks and avoid excess alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks;

● Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high water content;

● Take a short cool shower, shallow bath or body wash;

● Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck;

● Keep your environment cool. Keeping your living space cool is especially important for infants, the elderly or those with chronic health conditions or those who can’t look after themselves;

● Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day and open windows at night, when the temperature has dropped;

● Close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in-between them and the window space;

● Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature;

● Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat;

● Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air;

● If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping; and

● Electric fans may provide some relief, if temperatures are below 35C. At temperatures above 35C fans may not prevent heat-related illness and may cause dehydration. The advice is not to aim the fan directly on the body and to have regular drinks.

People are also being urged to avoid swimming in open water, including reservoirs, rivers or canal locks, because of the risk of drowning due to unseen hazards and the shock caused by entering very cold, deep water.

Residents and visitors are also being urged to dispose of cigarette and cigar ends safely, given the current high risk of moorland or grass fires and to not discard glass on open ground, as this could magnify sunlight and start a blaze.

For further information about coping during hot weather, visit the NHS webpage:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

ADOPTION COUNTS UNVEILS SUPER-SIZED BEE TO CELEBRATE FIRST ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Adoption Counts unveiled its very own super-sized Bee sculpture today, as part of Bee in the City’s Hive of Creativity Festival at the National Football Museum.

The giant Bee is a symbol of the difference a year can make in the life of an adopted child and parent. It forms part of Adoption Counts’ anniversary campaign which shares stories from adoptive parents about the life changing family moments they’ll never forget.

Working closely with talented artist Lois Cordelia, adoptive parents submitted words and phrases about their adoption experiences to help create the Bee design, while enchanting illustrations of family and children cover the Bee in playful scenes.

The five local authorities in Greater Manchester and Cheshire that make up the adoption agency, were joined by adoptive parents and primary school children to unveil the Bee.

Councillor Jos Saunders , Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “We are so proud to be supporting this exciting festival, celebrating young people’s involvement in ‘Bee in the City’. Lois Cordelia’s design captures our message perfectly, that adoption can transform a child’s life into a world of love, creativity and imagination.

“We recognise that by joining together with our partners across Manchester makes it easier to find the best family for each child. Our key aim remains to provide the right adopters at the right time, reduce the delay in finding forever homes for these children and working hard for those who have waited the longest to be placed.

“We are committed to not just to finding new families but supporting these families into the future, helping them to give children the security they need.”

The Bee, named ‘Bee-YOU-ti-ful’, will now form part of the Bee in the City art trail, opening on July 23^rd, before it is auctioned off to raise funds for The Lord Mayor of Manchester’s, We Love MCR Charity, in October.

Adoptive parent, Paul, said: “The process of adoption can be challenging, but Adoption Counts were with us every step of the way and, a year on, we’re thriving as a family. It’s lovely to be part of the anniversary and to see the Bee with words which resonate with us as adoptive parents. I hope it will open people’s eyes to adoption and how truly life changing it can be.”

There are currently a high number of children, some of them with their siblings, in desperate need of a loving home in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Adoption Counts hopes this campaign will encourage people to think about adopting and contact them for support.

Adoption is life changing. Visit www.adoptioncounts.org.uk to find out more.

Wheel barrow walk

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

Roy Price, aged 50, successfully pushed a 100kg wheelbarrow fourteen miles on Saturday 30th June 2018 to raise money for charity. Roy was joined by friend Ian Jones, aged 46, from Crewe, who was dressed as a bear and carried a donation bucket.

They both raised several hundred pounds for the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity during ‘The Crazy Wheelbarrow walk’ and nominated the Macmillan Chemotherapy Suite at Leighton Hospital in Crewe to benefit from the money raised. Roy trained for the event by walking up Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and by walking the 34-mile-long Sandstone Trail path in a day.

Roy and Ian started their gruelling physical challenge from The Raven pub on Brookhouse Drive in Crewe, then followed a route that included Fuller Drive, Laidon Avenue, Broughton Lane, The Woodside pub on Valley Road, Wistaston Green Road, Crewe to Nantwich Greenway, Barony Park, Nantwich town centre, and back to The Raven pub via Crewe Road, Church Lane, The Woodside pub (again), and Dane Bank Avenue. Refreshments were provided by Cafe 27 on Beam Street in Nantwich at the half-way point. Roy’s printed shirt was provided by Cheshire Work & Leisure Wear Ltd. Despite blisteringly hot conditions, during a UK heatwave, they completed their journey in an impressive nine hours.

Roy accomplished the feat in memory of his wife - Ruth Price - who passed away in February this year from secondary breast cancer. Ruth was treated at the Macmillan Cancer Unit at Leighton Hospital. Ian took part in memory of his mother - Janet Jones - who also passed away from cancer.

Ian collected £300 in his charity bucket and several hundred pounds has also been pledged via Roy’s online Virgin Money Giving page.

Roy will also match the total raised and make a personal donation to a local charity - The Shine Bright Foundation - who raise money to help fund trials for to aid the research into Triple Negative Breast Cancer and support anyone receiving breast cancer treatment.

Roy Price said: “Despite the hot weather myself and Ian were determined to finish the walk. Ian went above and beyond as it was hot pushing the wheelbarrow but must have been very uncomfortable dressed as a bear - his wife Sarah followed our progress and brought cold water to us at various locations throughout the walk. Ian’s mum was the most fantastic caring lovely person you could wish to meet, and she was also one of Ruth’s best friends - it was an absolute honour to have Janet as a friend. We thank everyone for their fantastic support. I now look forward to my next challenge which is scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. I had never walked up a mountain in my life until I did Snowdon a few weeks ago. After spending 30 years with Ruth I had become lost in a whole lot of emotion and I’ve used the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro to pull me out of the four walls I became trapped in. Even now accepting things is difficult but I put on a brave face.”

Carole Salmon, Community Fundraiser - ‎Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Thank you to Roy and Ian for choosing to the donate the money raised to the Macmillan Unit – they are truly inspirational fundraisers. It is a pleasure to support them in the fundraising.”

Roy’s target is to raise £5,000 and his next fund-raising challenge is later this year in September when he aims to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro volcano in Tanzania, Africa. On Saturday 21st July (12pm onwards) there is a Garden Party at The Woodside on Valley Road in Wistaston to raise funds for Roy’s climb. The event will include a BBQ, bouncy castle, face painting & glitter, tombola & raffle, candy floss, popcorn, slush puppies, ice cream van, football challenge, owls and hedgehogs and a dog fancy dress competition.

To add to Roy’s fundraising total please visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RoyPrice2

Council launches consultation on delivery of highways services

Cheshire East Council has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to its highways safety inspections and winter service activities.

The council currently carries out highways safety inspections in accordance with its current Code of Practice for Highway Safety Inspections 2013. This document was developed using the guidance provided in Well Maintained Highways, published in 2005 by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG).

Under the current code of practice the council has developed robust procedures, which have proved reliable in demonstrating compliance with legal obligations and as a defence against third-party claims.

The Department for Transport commissioned the UKRLG to develop replacement guidance for Well Maintained Highways and, in October 2016, Well Managed Highway Infrastructure (WMHI) was published. This document promotes the adoption of an integrated asset management approach to the management of highway infrastructure based on prioritising local levels of service through risk-based assessment.

This provides a number of key recommendations, particularly relating to the development of a network priority hierarchy, as well as embedding a ‘risk-based’ approach.

In order to comply with the new national guidance and adopt its recommendations, the council needs to revise its codes of practice for highway safety inspections and winter and adverse weather service. The proposed new approach – which will now be subject to public consultation – is to consider additional local risk factors, such as use, the proximity of schools, shops, transport hubs and health services.

Also, following the severe winter weather of 2013/14, the government commissioned the Transport Resilience Review, which was published in July 2014. A key finding was the need for local councils to identify a resilient network to which to give priority – in order to maintain economic activity in times of extreme weather or disruptive events.

As part of this consultation exercise, the council is looking to align its ‘resilient network’ with the recommendations of WMHI and will be liaising with relevant stakeholders to identify strategic infrastructure in the borough that may need inclusion in the ‘resilient network’.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment, said: “This is an important consultation, which will help us better align our management of the highways network with the levels of road usage and risk.”

The consultation will run from now until 27 August and can be accessed via the link:

https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/WMHIConsultation/

Mystery of Crewe’s ‘missing’ jigsaw now revealed – and it’s back on show

Crewe’s ‘missing’ giant jigsaw, which once greeted arriving travellers at Crewe railway station, is to get a new lease of life.

The amazing piece of local artwork, produced by people in Crewe, has been reinvented and will be back on display soon, telling the story through images of what life in Crewe means to them.

Cheshire East Council’s communities team took on the challenge of reinvigorating local interest in the jigsaw artwork, which had been mothballed since a revamp of the railway station in 2012. The council had taken care to store all the pieces in the knowledge that the children who created it deserved to see it get a new lease of life.

Today’s schools, businesses and community groups responded to the idea of renovating and taking ownership of the project – and it will make its debut at the annual TrAction event in Crewe on Saturday (7 July).

Recycling and community cohesion are two themes running through the project, as well as celebrating diversity and skills.

Rail engineering company Bombardier has supported the art project, adopting a piece of the jigsaw to portray faces of some of the young people employed by the firm. 

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member responsible for connected communities, said: “This is a fantastic example of people in Crewe coming together to celebrate their proud heritage in a unique piece of artwork.

“It is fitting that local schools, businesses and community groups are able to adopt their own piece of the jigsaw and ensure that the spirit, in which it was designed, lives on for many years to come.

“It is also testimony to our communities team that the original jigsaw has been safely stored and reimagined in this creative way.” 

Local artist David Jewkes, supported by teams of Crewe children, schools and businesses, designed and funded the original 75-piece jigsaw mural, which for many years greeted arriving passengers at Crewe Railway Station.

It extended about 20 metres of wall by the enclosed pedestrian bridge linking the station entrance with its many platforms and reflected life in Crewe and its heritage.

The jigsaw was taken down and put in safe storage when the station underwent a facelift.  Many people have asked about its future and were reassured that the jigsaw would resurface. Now it has.

More photos and information can be found at the Remade Jigsaw Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/remadejigsaw2018/.

The TrAction event is a free day of activities celebrating transport, travel and motion. For more information visit: http://www.crewelife.net/traction-crewe/​

Follow Up Calls Computer Software Service Fraud

Follow Up Calls Computer Software Service Fraud

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There is concern that victims of previous Computer Software Service Fraud (CSSF) are being re-targeted for “owed money”. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reports that CSSF scammers are returning to contact previous victims, requesting that they pay money owed for a fake malware protection service they had provided. Alternatively, the fraudster will ask for a new subscription fee in return for protection from a new threat. The victims that have made payments to the fraudsters have done so via credit/debit card payments. In some instances threatening and aggressive language has been used against victims, as part of the attempt to coerce them into sending money.

Computer Software Service Fraud involves the victim being contacted, told that there is a problem with their computer, and that for a fee this issue can be resolved. The aim of the fraudster at this point is usually to gain remote access to the victim’s computer and, subsequently, access to their online banking account. No fix actually occurs. The victims will often be cold-called or will receive a pop-up on their computer, prompting them to phone the suspect.

Since the beginning of this year (2018), the total loss for repeat victims of CSSF has been reported as £16,712.85. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has noticed an increase in such reports since the beginning of May.

Protect Yourself

• If you receive such an unsolicited call or pop-up, do not make a payment. Always ensure you know who you are talking to. If in doubt, hang up immediately.

• Do not allow remote access to your computer.

• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Under no circumstances would a genuine bank, or another trusted organisation, force you to make a financial transaction on the spot; they would never ask you to transfer money into another account for fraud reasons. Remember to stop and take time to carefully consider your actions.

• Listen to your instincts. If something feels wrong then it is usually right to question it. Criminals may lull you into a false sense of security when you are out and about or rely on your defences being down when you’re in the comfort of your own home. They may appear trustworthy, but they may not be who they claim to be.

For more information about how to protect yourself online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk and takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it to us at Actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)