Spate of thefts from cars in Crewe

 

Car owners are being warned to be vigilant following a spate of thefts from cars in the Coppenhall and Leighton areas of Crewe in recent weeks.

Officers and PCSO’s from Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Unit have set up a policing operation to tackle the problem and are urging the local community to exercise basic crime prevention measures to help themselves avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Inspector Christian Watkins said “It is often the case that car owners will forget to properly secure their vehicle, or mistakenly believe that if their car is parked on the driveway or outside their home, it won’t be targeted by thieves. This presents an ideal situation for an ‘opportunist’ thief who may be trying door handles in the hope of finding a car insecure. Similarly, I would urge car owners to not leave anything on display in their car that would appear tempting to a thief – for example mobile phones, sat Navs, handbags, laptops or even coats and jackets that could contain cash/wallets. By properly securing your car you are taking the right steps to avoid becoming a victim of this type of crime.”

Also a number of occasions, car windows have been smashed and valuables stolen from within. Removing expensive items from display can help reduce the chance of this happening.

Inspector Watkins continued “I would also like to take this opportunity to ask residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour to police, particularly anyone who is seen looking into parked cars or vans and behaving suspiciously during the darker evenings that are drawing in”

Anyone with any information should contact Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Unit on 101.

· Man wanted in connection with a burglary in Alumbrook Avenue, Crewe. Can you help us to identify him?

Criticism of no garden waste collections for 4 months

 

Cheshire East Council(CE) has announced that in order to save money there will be no garden waste collections for four months.

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester said," Residents have already contacted me to complain about this huge reduction in service.The period of no collection will double from 2 months to 4 months.It was December to January but this year it will be November to March.There is no charge for the first  green bin but there is an annual cost is £45 for the second green bin. Those paying the cost of an extra bin, if they have to continue to pay the same for a much reduced service , will consider that unfair. Also there has been no public consultation or consultation with Councillors on this major change, that will happen in just 6 weeks time.

Lots of people are cutting back hedges and trees over the winter as well as preparing ground for the spring.  Many residents have piles of green waste by the end of January waiting for the brown bin collections to recommence. There is a risk that this policy change will result in the tipping of green waste on the roadside, which will be an additional cost to CE to remove.

I am calling on CE to put this idea on ice and carry out a proper consultation with the residents who have green bins."

Cllr Brian Silvester (Photo attached)

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor

Cheshire East Council

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Twitter @CllrBSilvester

Cheshire East launches health drive to help families go smoke free

 

Cheshire East Council is launching a health campaign to help families and mums-to-be stub out cigarettes and go smoke free.

The Smoke-free Families initiative aims to support local families to reduce levels of smoking – as it is still the most preventable cause of illnesses.

The campaign will focus on young families in Crewe when it is launched on Monday, October 21, by Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of health and adult care services.

Statistics show that the highest rates of smoking in the UK are among adults aged 20-24 (27 per cent in 2010) and 25-34 (26 per cent in 2010). Therefore it is important that smokers in these age group are more aware of the harmful impact their smoking will have on their families and their unborn babies.

New statistics show that Crewe, in particular, has significantly higher rates of smoking among pregnant women at time of delivery (25.1 per cent) compared with the rest of Cheshire East. The Borough average is 19.8 per cent.

The key messages of the Smoke-free Families’ 1, 2, 3, Be Smoke-Free campaign are:

1) Stop smoking – think of the benefits for you and your family;

2) Pledge to keep your home and car smoke free;

3) Encourage others – be proud of your smoke-free choice.

Councillor Clowes said: “Smoking is the single most modifiable risk factor for health outcomes in pregnancy. It contributes to 40 per cent of all infant deaths.

“By targeting families with advice and support, the Council’s health professionals hope to reduce the level of pregnant women who are still smoking at the time they give birth.

“Pregnancy can be a stressful as well as exciting time and mums-to-be need to be made aware of the dangers that smoking can have on their children, both before and after they are born. Many do not realise the preventable health-damaging consequences that tobacco-smoke exposure can cause.”

Smoking during pregnancy can cause serious health problems including: complications during labour and increased risk of miscarriage.

Information about the campaign and stop smoking support will be available at the launch event at Eagle Bridge Health and Wellbeing Centre, on Dunwoody Way, Crewe, from 10.30am until 4pm on October 21. 

If you want to quit smoking call Cheshire East Stop Smoking Service free on 0800 085 8818 or visit the Council’s website on www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Dedicated line set up for sexual abuse investigation

 

Police investigating sexual abuse at Terra Nova School near Holmes Chapel in the 1970′s have set up a dedicated line that people who may have information can call.
Keith Cavendish-Coulson, 70, of Berkshire has been charged with 19 counts of indecent assault against boys under 14, which relate to four victims between 1973 and 1975.He will appear before Chester Crown Court in January 2014.
The investigation is continuing and is focussed upon Cavendish-Coulson′s employment both as a public school teacher, and a private tutor at establishments across the country over the course of his working life.
Specialist trained detectives are available to provide support to victims and witnesses throughout the investigation.
Anyone who may need support or has information can contact the Major Investigation Team in confidence directly in the incident room on a dedicated number 01606 362472. There will be a facility to leave a message and an officer will call you back if your call is not immediately answered.
Alternatively you can email the team on Operation.Abakan.enquiries@cheshire.pnn.police.ukor contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Cheshire East submits bid for technical college in a move to fulfil Prime Minister’s vision

Cheshire East Council has submitted its own bid for a university technical college in Crewe just days after the Prime Minister outlined his desire to bolster the country’s manufacturing sector.

Council Leader Michael Jones praised David Cameron’s vision into how Britain should be developing more technical colleges in every single town in Britain in order to train up more home-grown engineers of the future.

Councillor Jones also praised the leader’s plans for more apprenticeships, as outlined during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last week.

Around 130 youngsters from across the borough have already expressed an interest to study at the facility in Crewe, which is due to open in 2015.

Councillor Jones said: “The Prime Minister and I share the same vision: to eradicate unemployment in the young and give them the employment opportunities they deserve.

“Britain’s manufacturing sector has suffered over the decades leading to lost opportunities to train our youngsters up to become the engineers of the future.

“Cheshire East Council has held this vision for some time and we are delighted that the Government is throwing its weight behind this idea.

“We are now hopeful that the Department for Education (DfE) will look upon our submission favourably and support the aspirations we have for our own youngsters here in Cheshire East.

“We also fully support the drive for more apprentices and our own scheme, The A Team,  is in fact award-winning.”

The UTC will cater for 14-19 year olds who want to pursue careers in engineering and high skill manufacturing, working with major local employers to develop gold-standard vocational qualifications. 

Major local employers like Bentley, Oliver Valves, Cheshire East Council, Siemens, and OSL Rail – the fastest growing rail engineering company in Europe – are already classed among the UTC’s partners and supporters, ensuring that students receive world-class skills in fields like electronics, engineering and construction, computer-aided design and modeling. Manchester Metropolitan University is the university partner in the venture.

Pending approval from the Department of Education, the £10 million UTC will be built on the site of the old Victoria School building on Meredith Street and will eventually cater for over 600 pupils.

Willaston Housing Application Recommended for Refusal.

 

A planning application for 40 houses on land between Eastern Road and the railway line in Willaston looks set to be refused. Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester said, " I fully supported the Willaston Parish Council and the local Green Gap Action Group in their opposition to the application. .Amongst the reasons that I  objected to the application is that it is in open countryside and the Green Gap where development should not be allowed. Roads in Willaston, like Eastern Road, are congested and dangerous now at peak times.Parking their cars is already a nightmare for many Willaston residents. To have around another 80 cars a day added to the daily traffic movements could only lead to further highway congestion, more parking problems, add to the accident numbers and the pollution concerns. The local Primary School is already over subscribed and can’t take any more children. There is already a flooding problem after heavy rain in the village and this further development will add to the pressure on the capacity of the sewers.I thank those residents who made their views known about the application.

I am confident the committee will refuse the application but we cannot rest on our laurels because there is always the possibility of an appeal in the future."

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)  

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor

Cheshire East Council

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Twitter @CllrBSilvester

SpeakOut and help your community

 

Dominic Rogers, the Youth Ambassador for Cheshire, would like young people to join his SpeakOut group. The group will allow young people all across Cheshire, to give Dominic their views and opinions on policing and crime in their area.

Dominic said: "SpeakOut is an opportunity for young people to actively get involved in the policing and safety in their area and represent their own communities.

"It is my job to listen and represent young people’s views to the Police & Crime Commissioner, and by setting up this group I’m providing youngsters a new outlet to give me their opinions. This will help me to do my job effectively and efficiently, when it comes to shaping policing services."

Members of an online/virtual group will let Dominic know their views on a variety of issues. Ambassadors will meet with Dominic and discuss topics and opinions in more detail.

If you join the SpeakOut group, you may be asked to:

· Complete postal surveys

· Arrange group discussions to explore opinions and ideas in more detail

· Get involved in making suggestions for improvement

· Get involved in policing events in your community.

More information about the SpeakOut Group can be found on Facebook www.facbook.com/SpeakOutCheshire

If you′d like to register your interest for SpeakOut then visit http://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/Youth-Ambassador/Youth-Ambassador

St Luke’s Thanks its Supporters to Mark National Hospice Care Week

St Luke's (Cheshire) Hospice has issued a message of sincere thanks to all its supporters to mark the celebratory National Hospice Care Week, 7-13 October.
Every year, hospices across the UK hold a week of celebration designed to help change people’s perceptions of hospice care, as part of the campaign led by Help the Hospices.
Andrea Laderia, St Luke’s Director of Business and Support Services, commented: "For St Luke’s, Hospice Care Week is about two things: Thanking our local communities for supporting us and ensuring that our local communities know that we are their hospice and we are here for them.
"What we are asking our wonderful supporters to do is tell people about St Luke’s and the services we offer.
"Share our news and events with your family, friends and work colleagues, show people our video to help them overcome the fear of what a hospice looks like.
Give what you can; in time by volunteering, money by fundraising what you can or by recycling your unwanted items for our shops. Alternatively, why not pledge to tell five people why hospice care counts.
"Thank you for supporting St Luke’s. We are here for you."
For more information on National Hospice Care Week visit http://www.hospicecareweek.org.uk/
For more information about St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice visit www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk

Cheshire East Council listens to Members and residents

 

Cheshire East Council is set to extend the public consultation on the core strategy of its draft Local Plan by six weeks to allow more time for the public to have their say on the proposals.

Last month the Council unveiled provisional strategic sites for potential inclusion in the emerging Local Plan Core Strategy. These have now been incorporated into a single document of proposed sites which will now be subject to public consultation between 5th November and 16 December 2013.

This will include strategic sites, the plan’s evidence base and proposed new infrastructure (including new roads).

Deputy Council Leader David Brown, who oversees the Local Plan process, explained: “We had a tremendous response when we presented our proposals to the council’s Strategic Planning Board two weeks ago with around 30 people and groups coming along to speak at the meeting.

“There were some excellent and constructive points made and it’s only right that we respect the effort people put in by now making extra time to reflect on them properly.”

Following this final round of consultation, the Council will publish the Draft Core Strategy, inviting formal representations – and then submit those comments along with the document to the planning inspectorate.

Cllr Brown added: “So far, we have received 28,000 representations by members of the public about our draft proposals. This is an unprecedented amount of interest in a council consultation process and I hope this further period of consultation will allow everyone to feel they have had time and opportunity to have their say.

“The Local Plan is the keystone for all future growth across the borough. It is absolutely vital for the future economic wellbeing of everyone living and working in Cheshire East that we get this process right”, he said.

“As I see it, this is the People’s Plan and it’s vital that we take the time to get it right”.

Unique Xmas gift from K-Artoons

K-Artoons will be at the rock a buy baby & toddler fair Sat 12 October.

A mum of 3 who is trying the establish my new venture which is called K-Artoons.  She paint wall murals, canvas' and keepsakes. With Xmas coming up what a gift for your child there own designed canvas or wall painted. Its something you cant buy from anywhere else as its personnel. Ideal for nursery's or children's play area you can email Kerry here or you can like her on Facebook page or go along to the fair and see her there

Rock a Buy Baby & Toddler Fair

Saturday 12th October

Sling Library

Handcrafted baby gifts

Knitted & crocheted gifts

Bespoke nappies

Photography

Advice from professionals

Feeding Area

Face Painting

Raffles

Refreshments and much much more

Plus there is a world record attempt at Babywearing at noon

10am until 2pm

email: midcheshireslinglibrary@hotmail.co.uk for more information

Nantwich Town Council funded street entertainment earlier today (Sat 5/10/13).

Reporter Jonathan

A summer of free Nantwich Town Council funded street entertainment in Nantwich town centre - http://www.nantwichtowncouncil.gov.uk/?page_id=304 - continued on Saturday 5th October 2013 when musical duo 'Baxter' (Hayley Strangelove and Paul Senior) - https://facebook.com/baxterduo - sang an entertaining set, involving crowd participation, on the town square.

The final summer performance on the square is on Saturday 12th October during the Nantwich Words and Music Festival: http://www.wordsandmusicfestival.com

Gateway Motor Company lines up with Pudsey and its youngest supporters

Two Crewe businesses have raised almost £400 by competing in a charity football match for Children in Need.

Local Peugeot dealership, Gateway Motor Company, recently lined up against a team from Mornflake, Crewe Alexandra Football Club’s official shirt sponsors.

Locals were welcomed down to the Cumberland Arena, on Thomas Street, for a 6.30pm start and Children in Need mascot, Pudsey Bear, was on hand to collect donations.

Children in Need is the official partner for Peugeot UK and its dealer network, and Gateway Motor Company is fundraising throughout 2013 to help raise vital funds for the cause.

Gateway’s general manager, Alex Walker, said: “We’re a dealership full of footy fans and we wanted to host a charity match to kick-off our fundraising for Children in Need.

“The match was an exciting encounter even though we were beaten 3-0 by Mornflake. We want to say a huge thank you to all of our family, friends and customers who came to cheer us on from the sidelines and dug deep for the cause.”

For more information and to help raise money for Children in Need, please contact Gateway Crewe on 01270 587711, visit the dealership on Crewe Gates Industrial Estate or visit http://dealer.peugeot.co.uk/gateway-motor-company-crewe.

Cheshire Police advise public following loss of piece of equipment

Cheshire Police are advising the public of the loss of a piece of equipment - while not harmful, police would like the public to be aware.

Sometime between 10am and 6pm on Wednesday 2 October 2013, a Cheshire Police officer lost a taser cartridge in the course of his duties.

The officer had carried out extensive duties across the length and breadth of the county. At some point the cartridge which was attached to his equipment vest became detached and has yet to be located.

Insp Dave Price said: "The cartridge is safe to handle, and there is no risk providing it is not tampered with in any way. If found it should be handed into the nearest police station.

"This is a very rare event and a full internal review is underway."

Council welcomes tough new rules on payday loan companies

 

Cheshire East Council leader Councillor Michael Jones has today welcomed tough new rules which could see some payday loan adverts banned.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed several new rules intended to protect consumers from the scourge of high-interest debt, which often results from taking out a loan with a payday lender.

Cheshire East has taken its own practical steps to protect residents by banning access to the top 50 payday lender websites in its public buildings – the first Council in England to do so.

Under the plans, the FCA would force payday lenders to place ‘risk warnings’ on their adverts to advise borrowers about the dangers of debt. It could also be able to ban any loans, or adverts, that it did not approve of.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I have always said these companies and their rates must be restrained. We want to protect the most vulnerable of people from falling into the trap of borrowing money at astronomical rates of interest.

“Whilst I believe in private enterprise and individual choice, businesses should operate in a responsible way – and I do not believe these companies are. Their practices are obscene.

“We were one of the first councils to ban access from council PCs to payday lender websites, a move I am glad to see has been picked up by other local authorities.

“We took this action after being inundated by complaints from the public. We’ve also received reports from Citizen’s Advice that they are now dealing with people under 18 who have been given loans and some people who may even have been intoxicated when they signed up.

“I very much welcome the FSA’s proposed new rules, which would go a long way to protecting consumers and, as community leaders, we should be looking to bring pressure to bear on the payday loan industry wherever we can.”

Advertisers asked to refrain from displaying pay day loan adverts.

    

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester is pleased that advertisers are to be asked to refrain from displaying pay day loan adverts. He said," In July I asked Cheshire East Council (CE) to try and reach agreements with commercial partners in the Borough to stop pay day loan companies advertising on billboards and bus shelters throughout Cheshire East. (See below)

CE have replied(below)that our contracts for our bus shelters (with Adshel) and for the rear of buses (Arriva and D+G) don't allow us to specify types of advertising. However, CE will write to them requesting that they refrain from using pay day loan advertisers.

I believe that CE should be encouraging our residents to approach responsible lenders, like Credit Unions. This move on advertising will help keep local people away from the clutches of the pay day loan companies, who charge astronomical rates of interest, which can wreck the lives of vulnerable people in our Borough."

Cllr Brian Silvester

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor

Cheshire East Council

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Twitter @CllrBSilvester

Auditors give Cheshire East Council the seal of approval over its financial management

 

Auditors have given Cheshire East Council the seal of approval over its financial management.

The report by external auditors Grant Thornton says they are ‘satisfied that in all significant respects the Council put in place proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources’.

It also highlights that Cheshire East has made ‘significant improvements to its arrangements to secure financial resilience, developing business proposals and managing major projects’.

The report did, however, highlight some weaknesses around securing value for money and set out an action plan for the Council – which is already under way.

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “This is a very positive report on the healthy state of the Council’s management of its finances during a tough economic climate and big changes in how we are managing and delivering services. 

“We take seriously the issues raised by the auditors about some internal processes. However, these have not affected the overall value for money we provide for our residents.

“Council Tax has been frozen for four years by this Council and this has saved the average household more than £200 a year.

“This Council is prioritising spending money where its residents want it to be spent – such as repairing more than 50,000 potholes so far this year and resurfacing more than 60 miles of Cheshire East roads.

“Investment in our waste collection service has also seen us achieve record levels of customer satisfaction of around 93 per cent.

“We have been vigorously following up the plan, developed between the Council and the auditors, to deliver improvements in those areas highlighted.”

At the Council’s audit and governance committee, last Friday (September 27), the auditors praised the authority saying: “It is a really good performance. In all significant respects the Council has adequate financial arrangements.

“It has been a challenging year but to have maintained the quality and timeliness of financial information is a significant achievement of which the Council should be proud.”

The auditors added: “There have been a lot of improvements by the Council in the second half of 2012/13. The direction of travel is very positive.

“There has been a large amount of progress to move the Council forward during what is a period of significant change for the authority. The new three-year medium term financial plan (MTFP) sets out the Council’s core purpose, reflecting the change to become a ‘commissioning council’ and the challenge of major funding reductions from government. All of these plans and policies are ‘joined-up’ and reflect that.”

The auditors’ report identified weaknesses in the areas of: arrangements to procure goods and services; understanding of costs and performance; and processes to develop business proposals and manage significant projects.

The key issue was that while by year end, these processes were significantly improved – they were implemented during the year and so the auditors were unable to conclude that good value for money had been embedded for the whole period.

Value for money is a high priority for Cheshire East as it plans to change the delivery model for some services and becomes a 'commissioning authority' in the medium term.

The report recognised a number of improvements have been made since the last Audit report in 2012. These included ‘improved financial planning and control arrangements in a number of areas’. It highlighted:

● The Three-Year MTFP (2013-16) is now the Council’s over-arching strategy linked into business plans and other strategy documents;

● A revised budget-setting process in place for 2014, with more explicit links to the Council’s stated policies and Sustainable Communities Strategy;

● The introduction of a Financial Resilience Update for Cabinet from July 2013 – designed to support member decision making to help create a sustainable financial environment for the Council.

In the important areas of ‘challenging economy, efficiency and effectiveness’, the report said ‘significant progress has been made to enable transparent decision making, subject to appropriate risk management, challenge and scrutiny review’.

A number of improvements in these areas were identified in the report since late 2012. These include:

● The new Gateway process for agreeing major projects and monitoring capital projects;

● Improvements to business planning process;

● Agreeing the new Three-Year Plan;

● Review and improvement of the Council’s performance management framework; and

● Updated guidance and monitoring over the use of delegated decision notices.

With regards to value for money, the report said: “All of the Council’s major change programmes are now supported by detailed business cases and implementation plans.

These are reviewed by the member-led Executive Monitoring Board. . . which is now starting to provide robust challenge to managers and Cabinet portfolio holders.”

Cllr Raynes added: “We as a Council recognise the need to provide more-detailed information on unit costs and wider use of benchmarking data.

“The Council also recognises that its approach to procurement needs to improve – and has recently engaged external advisors to ‘health check’ its procurement activity, which is leading on to a detailed project to transform its processes.”

MP’s 141st news bulletin.

Monday 30, September 2013

Welcome

Welcome to this, my 141st news bulletin.

I recently visited Kindertons Accident Management, on Marshfield Bank Employment Park in Crewe, to meet ten new employees who had been recruited as a result of my annual Jobs Fair at the Alex.

It prompted me to write today about the employment situation in our area more broadly.

Here in Crewe and Nantwich our local unemployment figures are down by a good 12 per cent on the last year, and recent unemployment figures nationally presented further evidence that Britain's economy is turning the corner.

I’d like to explain this to you with a few statistics that you might find helpful.

• The private sector has created 1.4 million more jobs since the election in May 2010. Three new private sector jobs for every one job lost in the public sector: something Ed Balls said wouldn't happen.
• As a consequence of the strength of the private sector, more people are in work than ever before - with about one million more people in work today than in May 2010.
• There has been a lot of talk about part time work and insecure jobs such as zero hours contracts. In fact, the last year has seen jobs growth coming from:

1. full time jobs (an increase of 350,000), while the number of people in part time jobs has fallen (down 74,000).
2. permanent recruits (up nearly 400,000), while the number of temporary employees has fallen (down 72,000)

• Whilst youth unemployment remains a challenge, the number of young people on Jobseekers Allowance is now 63,000 lower than in May 2010, having fallen in each of the last 15 months. In Crewe and Nantwich youth unemployment is also down by 12 per cent.
• As employment has increased, and as we expect more from those claiming benefits, we have seen the number of people on the main out-of-work benefits fall by over 400,000 since May 2010.
• Rising employment has also seen the number of workless households fall by 182,000 in the last year.  The proportion of all households where no one is working is lower now than at any point under the last Labour Government.

These figures are underpinned by the combination of a strong private sector, welfare reform and sharper, more focused, back-to-work policies.

I am glad that the government is helping more and more people fulfil their aspiration of supporting themselves and their families.

A growing workforce helps Britain succeed globally, and in Crewe and Nantwich, from the likes of Kindertons and Bentley to the surge in new start up local businesses, we are playing our part in providing those much-needed jobs.

Best wishes,

Edward Timpson
Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich

Please remember, you can always contact me directly if you have any questions for me, or if there is anything I can do to assist you.
You can forward this bulletin on to your friends and family, who can sign up themselves by clicking here for my website.

back to top

Locally I have...

• Met Planning Minister Nick Boles MP, to represent Crewe and Nantwich residents' concerns about opportunistic developers and Cheshire East Council's Local Plan.
• Held one of my regular advice surgeries at my office in Crewe - to book an appointment to speak to me, call 01270 501 725.
• Met with my young constituent, Thomas Robinson and his family. Thomas has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and a report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rare Deseases was published last week.
• Celebrated with Chatwins their hundredth year of trading, at the Civic Hall in Nantwich.
• Met with local Second World War veteran Geoff Heath, who recently received his Bomber Command clasp in recognition of his bravery and service to the nation.
• Been 'On Your Street' in Willaston and in Nantwich - bringing my advice surgery to your doorstep, so that I can deal with local concerns there and then.
• Met with representatives from the Willows Pre-School, Wistaston, to offer my support to them.
• Visited Morrisons in Crewe to meet 'Feeding Britain’s Future' candidates.  Feeding Britain's Future is an industry-backed scheme to help young people into work, through training and skills-building.
• Marked World School Milk Day at Gainsborough Primary and Nursery School, where I was pleased to be appointed assistant milk monitor for the day, and discuss the importance of school milk with the children and staff.

back to top

Westminster Report

Read my most recent Crewe & Nantwich Talk

The latest edition of my Westminster Report has been delivered across Crewe and Nantwich. Click here or on the image to read a copy.

back to top

Photo News

At my recent On Your Street visit to Willaston, I spoke with local residents about a range of concerns, including planning applications, parking, and what the government is doing to support small businesses in our area.

You can see all of my photos by visiting my website.

back to top

Community News

Planning Minister to meet action groups

Crewe Chronicle: The Government’s Planning Minister says he will meet action groups in Crewe and Nantwich to discuss fears the area’s green spaces are being swallowed up.

MP Nick Boles made the agreement to Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, who told him that the borough is being ‘held hostage’ by opportunistic developers. The pair had met to discuss Cheshire East’s Local Plan, with Mr Timpson asking for advice on how Cheshire East councillors can get the local five-year housing supply signed off as soon as possible.

Mr Boles assured him the examination of the Local Plan would begin as soon as it was received by the Planning Inspectorate, and that the council would have the chance to highlight the sensitivities around the area’s green gaps.

He then agreed to visit the constituency shortly to discuss local planning issues with invited representatives of planning action groups.

Nick said: “I am pleased that Edward has come to me to raise his constituents’ concerns. He has made some strong representations on behalf of Cheshire East Council, who are responsible for planning matters in Crewe and Nantwich.

“The Government’s planning reforms are primarily concerned with encouraging sustainable development while protecting precious landscapes and the green belt. By completing a Local Plan Cheshire East can bring power over the planning process back to local people in Cheshire. It is important that the council now redoubles its efforts to finalise a local plan that can be adopted speedily.”

Mr Timpson  said he was grateful to the Minister for taking the time to discuss the concerns of residents.

He added: “I have paved the way as best I can for Cheshire East councillors to submit their plan for our area.

“It is now up to them to submit a well thought through Local Plan with realistic housing estimates so that the inspectors can sign it off as fast as possible with minimum fuss. Otherwise our area will continue to be at risk from opportunistic developers.”

Bill Kirby, spokesman for Willaston Green Gap Action Team (WGGAT), said the team, which is opposing Richborough Estates’ plans for a 170-home development north of Moorfields and Richard Lee Limited’s plans to build up to 50 homes on land off Eastern Road, would be ‘delighted’ to meet Nick Boles.

He added: “We are very keen on a moratorium for the green gap whilst Cheshire East and the Government get their act together.”

Do you have community news to share? Are you involved in any projects that could be of help or interest to local people in Crewe and Nantwich? Email me and your news could be here too!

back to top

MP Edward Timpson unveils Nantwich miniature railway mural

Nantwich News: A mural to celebrate the extension of a miniature railway line in Nantwich has been unveiled by MP Edward Timpson.

The line from the Methodist Church on Hospital Street has been lengthened to link up to Morrisons supermarket car park.

The mural was painted by local artist Susannah Fishburne, and commissioned by Rev Malcolm Lorimer, of Nantwich Methodist Church.

Mr Timpson said: ”The extension of the miniature railway, together with the wonderful mural, add yet another string to Nantwich’s bow. As ever our local Methodist Church has led the way in finding new ways of bringing the community, young and old, together.”

back to top

Scheme to help teens leaving care

Crewe Chronicle: Cheshire East Council is one of nine local authorities which has signed up to a scheme to help vulnerable young people when they leave care.

The New Belongings project is run by the Care Leavers’ Foundation and funded by the Department for Education.  The Foundation believes it is important to support care leavers who are at risk of unemployment, poverty, homelessness, mental health issues and drug and alcohol misuse.

Trustee Janet Rich said: “Care leavers have already had a difficult start in life and independence at an early age can be incredibly difficult. If we are serious about these vulnerable individuals getting the start in life they deserve, we need to see a real shift in terms of support.

“This project will work intensively with a small number of local authorities, to set the bar high on how we help care leavers become independent, successful adults.

Cheshire East cabinet member responsible for children and family services Cllr Rachel Bailey said: “This Council has further outlined its commitment to supporting care leavers by signing up to this programme, which will improve the lives of this vulnerable group of people.  They need services which are integrated, easy to access, embedded within local communities, and which treat them with respect.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, who is Minister for Children and Families, said: I regularly meet with a group of care leavers and they have helped me learn a great deal about the real difficulties that care leavers face as they make their way in the adult world.

“Some of these difficulties are rooted in early traumatic events before they entered care, others arise from the unintended consequences of policies that don’t join up, or from the inconsistent application of policies across the country.

“What has been most striking about this group is that they don’t come to me to complain, they come to share their experiences and propose solutions.  They were behind the concept of the ‘New Belongings’ project, which we are delighted to fund.”

He added: “Critical to the delivery of the project’s outcomes will be the central role care leavers play in delivering the project in the participating authorities.”  The DfE is funding the New Belongings project with a grant of £80,000. It will run until October 2014.

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