MP,s 150th news bulletin

Friday, 16 May 2014

Welcome

Welcome to this, my 150th news bulletin.

I have been doing some research into how our key hospital services have been performing in Crewe and Nantwich.  You may remember that I have done work experience myself in several different departments at Leighton Hospital, so I wanted to keep my knowledge current, and make plain to my constituents how the NHS is doing, both locally and nationally.

We had strong performance in A&E over the winter, despite attempts by some politicians to whip up a ‘crisis’:

• A&E targets have been met for the last quarter and the last year as a whole –despite having over 1,000 more admissions each week than the previous year.
• Average waiting times in A&E have fallen from more than 70 minutes under Labour to just half an hour.
• Our A&E departments are treating on average 2,000 more people each day within four hours compared to the last government.
• Labour’s Andy Burnham MP, who has repeatedly criticised NHS performance, missed the A&E standard for both winters when he was health secretary, as compared to this Government, which hit it for both.

At Leighton Hospital in Crewe:

• The new Critical Care Unit is now open, with the first patients being treated in the new operating theatres last month.
• The £22.8m project, which I lobbied the Government for, was completed within budget and has seen the creation of 14 critical care bays and eight operating theatres.
• Women having babies at Leighton are provided with the safest possible care available, according to a recent independent assessment. The maternity unit scored 48 out of 50 to achieve Level 3 – the highest rating possible. This reflects the excellent standard of care my wife received when my three children were born there.
• 99.6% of patients received their first treatment within 31 days of diagnosis, with 100% starting their second or subsequent treatments (drugs, surgery, etc.) within 31 days.
• The majority of Mid Cheshire patients surveyed in the 2013 Adult Inpatient survey had a positive hospital experience and said that they were treated with respect and dignity.
• The Trust has seen year-on-year improvements in the NHS Staff Survey.

Overall, the NHS continues to perform extremely well compared to Labour’s period in office, with:

• 800,000 more operations carried out every year.
• 23% more patients treated for cancer and a new Cancer Drugs Fund.
• Mixed sex wards virtually eliminated.
• Hospital infections halved.
• Waiting times lower at 18, 26 and 52 weeks than at any time under Labour.

This performance is only possible because of much-needed reforms which are saving over £1bn every year in this Parliament in management costs, allowing the NHS to hire 1,700 more nurses and 7,000 more doctors than under Labour.

However Labour’s own management of the NHS has been brought sharply into focus given some worrying failures in the NHS in Wales:

• The Royal College of Surgeons say that more than 150 patients have died on waiting lists at just two hospitals there.
• A third of Welsh patients wait more than eight weeks for a scan, compared to just 1% in England.
• Welsh A&E targets have been missed since 2009 and cancer waiting time targets have been missed since 2008.
• The College of Emergency Medicine describes Welsh A&Es as being in ‘meltdown’, and the Welsh BMA have said ‘we are seeing a miniature Mid Staffs every day’.

Finally, we have made excellent progress on the compassionate care agenda. Not only is the Care Bill, which establishes in statute the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, almost law, but also:

• There are 3,500 more hospital nurses since February 2013.
• Fourteen hospitals in special measures are being turned around.
• Opinion polling shows the number of people who think their NHS care is safe has gone up by 5%, and those who feel they are being treated with dignity and respect has gone up by 10% - both to the highest levels ever.

I am very much looking forward to going ‘back to the floor’ at Leighton Hospital again this year, to spend time working with the staff who go beyond the call of duty and make sure that our health in Crewe and Nantwich is cared for to the highest of standards.

Edward Timpson MP
Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich and Minister of the Year

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.

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Locally, I have...

• Cut the ribbon at the official opening (pictured, right) of the new building at The Willows Pre-School in Wistaston. The opening celebration, attended by Peppa Pig and Crewe Alex mascot Gresty the Lion, raised more than £1,300 for the Pre-School.
• Joined in with representatives from Google, for a school assembly at Brine Leas, as part of the Well Versed internet safety school campaign.
• Held two of my regular constituency advice surgeries - please call my office if you need to make an appointment to speak to me.
• Visited Home Start, the family support charity, at their base in Crewe.
• Opened the 'Everest Challenge' at South Cheshire College, where climbers of all ages, including my son Sam, scaled the wall to reach a combined height equivalent to Mount Everest.  The event raised money for national charity CLIMB (National Information Centre for Metabolic Diseases), based in Crewe.
• Attended a meeting of the School Council at Mablins Lane Community Primary, answering questions from pupils and learning from staff how the school has improved and is going from strength to strength.

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Photo News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I met with the Children’s Heart Federation in Parliament recently, to learn about their 'Think HEART' campaign, to help improve the early diagnosis rates of children’s heart conditions.

You can read more about the campaign yourself at www.chfed.org.uk/thinkheart.

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Crewe's MP backs pothole fix funding

Crewe & Nantwich Guardian: Crewe's MP Edward Timpson has welcomed new Government funding for pothole repairs and urged Cheshire East Council to bid for support.

The £168 million Pothole Fund, announced in the 2014 Budget, has opened for bids from councils, with applications closing next month. The funding is enough to repair more than three million potholes across Britain, and comes on top of £10 billion already being given to councils in England for local roads maintenance between 2010 and 2021.

Local authorities who get funding will have to sign a pothole pledge setting out clearly how many potholes they will fix by March 2015 so that local communities can have confidence that action will be taken.

Mr Timpson said: "This is a great opportunity to improve the roads in Crewe and Nantwich and deal with the blight of potholes.

"I am delighted that Cheshire East Council is preparing its bid for this money. Investing in Britain's roads and infrastructure is a key part of the long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain.

"By fixing Britain's roads we are supporting local businesses, and making life that bit easier for the hardworking people in Crewe and Nantwich who rely on them to get around."

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Photo News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I joined children and parents at The Willows Pre-School, in Wistaston, for their fun day and official opening of their new facilities.

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Nantwich MP Edward Timpson hails latest crime figures for Cheshire

Nantwich News: Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has welcomed new figures which show crime has fallen in Cheshire over the last 12 months.

Latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that since 2010, recorded crime in Cheshire has fallen by 16%.  Figures for the period from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 show that overall total crime is down by 3.3%.

There have been reductions in violent crime, robbery, criminal damage, arson and vehicle offences. Increases have been recorded in burglary and theft from the person.

Mr Timpson said: "It is great news that crime has fallen in Cheshire.

"Local police officers in Crewe and Nantwich can be rightly proud of their success in cutting crime. The Government has cut police red tape and given them one simple target: cut crime. And that's what they are doing. This means people are safer on the streets, at home, and at work – helping to build better communities in Crewe and Nantwich."

Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick said: "Although overall recorded crime continues to fall across the county, Cheshire Police is not complacent and is committed to tackling all crime.

"Working with our partners we have focused on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour often driven by alcohol that can be linked to our town centres. It is therefore positive to see that violent crime has fallen, and is testament to the hard work undertaken by officers in tackling this type of crime.

"Crime of this nature will not be tolerated and the Force remains committed to tackling all forms of violent crime, especially domestic abuse. Theft from the person continues to be a concern, with an increase in the theft of expensive items such as iPods, iPads, mobile phones and laptops."

John Dwyer, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, added: "I am pleased to see the Constabulary continues to rise to the challenges I have set, crime continues to fall and some great work is being done by the Force."

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Firm shows MP its state of health

Crewe Chronicle: Edward Timpson visited Crewe's Baywater Healthcare to find out how it's exceeded all its growth targets.

Baywater – an independent specialist supplier of homecare services to patients with long-term conditions – applies oxygen and health support.

It was the Crewe and Nantwich MP's first visit to the company since it changed its name from Air Products in 2013 and gave him the chance to speak to staff and learn about their different roles, while also participating in some of the day to day work done at the office.

After being introduced to the senior management staff, Edward was invited into Baywater's contact centre, where he had the opportunity to listen in on calls from patients requiring assistance.

He also assisted in placing orders for oxygen required by patients, which is then delivered by the company's engineers. The contact centre receives about 5,000 calls per week from patients and is staffed by 28 members of staff.

Edward also spoke to John Platt, a local patient who uses the home oxygen service, and John's engineer, Chris McHugh.

Chief executive Adam Sullivan said: "At Baywater, we pride ourselves on the excellent service we provide to patients in the Crewe area and it was great for Edward to experience this by meeting John and our team and learning about the unique patient focused service we provide.

"We've had a great year so far at Baywater, as we continue to grow the business and expand the company's telehealth services, where we use technology to monitor patients with long term illnesses helping them to keep their independence."

Eight temporary employees have now been offered full time contracts at Baywater, as the company continues to grow.

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5 ways to contact Edward Timpson

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

‘Cheshire East revolution’ sees launch of Everybody Sport and Recreation Trust

 

Cheshire East Council has taken another major step towards its ambition of becoming a strategic commissioning council with the launch of the latest arm’s length companies running key Council services.

Cheshire East’s leisure service has been relaunched as an independent charitable trust called Everybody Sport and Recreation Ltd.

This is now responsible for running Cheshire East’s 15 leisure centres and swimming pools across the Borough as well as leisure development and partnership services.

Last month the Council launched two other arms-length companies to help bring about more innovative and commercially-astute services that better meet customers’ needs.

Waste and streetscene services are now run by Ansa, while bereavement services are being managed by Orbitas. Both are wholly-owned by Cheshire East but are run on a day-to-day basis by their own boards and managements.

Council Leader Michael Jones said: “I’m delighted to see the leisure trust up and running.

This launch is an exciting day for Cheshire East and another example of our moves to become a commissioning Council, with an innovative approach to providing better value for money for local people – putting residents first.

“We’re taking the financial challenge head-on. We’re working with staff, trade unions and our communities to provide a new way of running a council, unleashing innovation and entrepreneurialism, managing costs and improving our offer to customers.

“As part of the Council’s commitment to healthier living for residents we are also investing in the innovative creation of a new lifestyle centre in Crewe, which has just been granted planning permission.

“In future, no two councils will look exactly the same and seeking out new, innovative ways of providing services is now an essential feature of local government. Councils need to innovate rather than complain about budgets going down.

“This is certainly our view as we continue to deliver our Cheshire East revolution – which is about putting residents’ first.”

The launch of ‘Everybody’, following the creation of Ansa, and Orbitas is the latest phase of the Council’s strategy.  In July the Council is planning to launch a new alternative service delivery vehicle (ASDV) covering its public transport responsibilities.

Cheshire East is already a partner in a shared back office services company with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester called CoSocius, running the two authorities’ HR, finance and ICT support.

Last year, it also established a development company, East Cheshire Engine of the North, to maximise value from the council’s land and property estate.

Everybody Sport and Recreation chairman Councillor Andrew Kolker said: “I am delighted to be working alongside such an experienced and dedicated board of directors.

“We’re looking forward to creating many opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of all Cheshire East residents and to do so with more efficient and exciting ways of working with the leisure services team.

“This new trust model means profits will be reinvested directly in to the provision of leisure services for Cheshire East residents.”

To find out more about the new leisure trust, visit www.everybody.org.uk or follow @EBLeisure on Twitter

Don’t be a victim – fight back against the fraudsters!

 

Cheshire East Council is urging people to join the ‘fight back’ against fraudsters who are preying on households.

It comes as part of a nationwide campaign during ‘Scams Awareness Month’ to alert people to the threat posed by con artists. 

Fraudsters are ‘picking the pockets’ of up to four million people nationally each year, according to new research from Citizens’ Advice.

Cheshire East Council trading standards investigations service is warning that people in Cheshire East are being sized-up by devious conmen and conwomen, who are using different scams to get them to part with their money. 

Fraud offences in England and Wales rose by 25 per cent in 2013, compared to the previous year, with 207,252 cases reported to Action Fraud. In Cheshire East, the figure for reported cases rose 11 per cent.

Nationally, Citizens’ Advice has calculated up to four million people could be scammed each year as many frauds go unreported.

Scams Awareness Month runs until May 3, and Cheshire East Council’s trading standards investigations service is urging people to ‘fight back against the fraudsters’.

People are just as likely to be conned over the phone and via text messages as they are through letters, emails and websites. New analysis reveals:

● Over a third of scams (34 per cent) were over the phone;

● Almost a quarter of scams (24 per cent) were through visits to a web site;

● 16 per cent were letter or fax scams;

● One in ten scams were via emails.

Cheshire East Council is warning people to watch out for non-secure websites that ask for financial details. It’s important that people realise scammers are also at the end of the phone and on your doorstep.

Cheshire East residents have been reporting calls they have been receiving from callers purporting to be from Microsoft. The resident is tricked in to thinking there is a virus on their computer and it is going to cause a lot of damage if it isn’t removed.

Residents have been paying between £50 and £150 to these scammers to have the virus removed. No work is ever carried out and the virus doesn’t exist. People can totally free help with their pc and help removing any virus from http://www.ihelpforum.com which is run 24/7/365 with experts all over the world 

Counterfeit cashier cheques, fraudulent lenders offering loans to get hold of personal details, dating scams, ticket cons and computer hacking were among commonly-reported scams. Online shopping and auction fraud was the biggest single fraud type with almost 40,000 recorded cases.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Cheshire East Cabinet member in charge of communities and regulatory services, said: “Our trading standards team is right on the frontline when it comes to protecting vulnerable residents from these fraudulent scams and the criminal scammers behind them.

“Pensioners and hard-up householders face invasion not only through their computers but also via their phones, letterboxes and on the doorstep.

“Scams Awareness Month helps raise awareness of the types of cons that are out there and offers a real opportunity to educate and inform our communities as to how to avoid falling victim to these callous and insidious schemes.”

What to do if you have been scammed:

● Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to help stop it happening to others;

● Often you can’t get your money back if you’ve been scammed, especially if you’ve handed over cash;

● If you’ve paid for goods or services by credit card you have more protection and if you used a debit card you may be able to ask your bank for a chargeback;

● Get advice and report scams to Trading Standards through the Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or online advice at www.adviceguide.org.uk

For more information about common scams, visit the Council website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Leader’s letter to Prime Minister to secure jobs

 

Cheshire East Council Leader Michael Jones has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking for ongoing support to Macclesfield and Alderley Park in order to secure science jobs in the area.

Councillor Jones said: “I want everyone to know that I find this bid very difficult because it should be down to shareholders’ views – of which, there are many in Cheshire East and the North West.

“However, it is important that the Council does all it can to ensure jobs are saved. I stand ready to meet all and everybody to preserve jobs and we are pleased that comments have been made pledging job security at Hurdsfield.

“The Council is working to support AstraZeneca and its current plans that will see the site become the European centre of excellence for research and design in the packaging of pharmaceuticals. It is important that we ensure that Pfizer understand this.

“It should not be forgotten that drugs packaging originally came to Macclesfield due to the dexterity of silk workers, who were used to dealing with small, precise instruments – a perfect match!

“Let no-one be in any doubt that MP David Rutley and I are fully aware of all implications – both positive and negative – and this is why we moved in the summer rapidly to find a new owner, because we saw the potential for a bid for AstraZeneca was there.

“We are absolutely committed to protecting and growing jobs in our science corridor and Hurdsfield is essential to that.

“The people of Macclesfield, who will always fight hard for jobs, can be comforted by the fact that we have had discussions with AstraZeneca on enhancing the Hurdsfield site for future growth.”

Couple who fraudulently claimed £21,000 in benefits are put under overnight curfew for six months – and told to repay the money

 

A couple who fraudulently claimed more than £21,000 in benefits have been put under a dusk-til-dawn curfew for six months – and face having to repay every penny.

Laura Dibbens, 30, and Melvin Jones, 28, both of Greenacres, Crewe, were sentenced at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court (on April 23) after admitting a string of offences.

Cheshire East Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will now order the pair to repay the benefits they illegally claimed.

Dibbens had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to four counts of dishonestly claiming benefits after failing to report a change in her circumstances.

Magistrates’ sitting in Crewe heard that her long-term partner, Melvin Jones, had joined the household but Dibbens had continued to claim income support, housing benefit and Council Tax benefit as a lone parent.

A probe by Cheshire East Council’s benefit fraud investigation team and the DWP found that Jones had joined Dibbens as her partner in August 2007 and he had supported the family financially.

The court heard that Jones was in work and had been earning more than £400 a week during the time Dibbens was claiming state benefits.

In failing to report this change and actively maintaining the claim Dibbens and Jones received state benefits of £21,104.

Jones had previously pleaded guilty to three offences of intentionally encouraging Dibbens to commit benefit fraud.

Dibbens and Jones were both sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months with an 18-month supervision order. The court also imposed a six-month curfew from 10pm to 7am. Dibbens and Jones were ordered to pay prosecution costs of £450 and victim surcharges of £100 each.

Sentencing Judge Hussain QC said: “Dibbens and Jones had claimed monies they were not entitled to from a safeguard provided by society and in doing this they had deprived others in real need at a time when society had limited resources.”

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “This is a shameful case of a couple defrauding the public purse.

“Prosecutions such as this send out a clear message that Cheshire East is an enforcing Council – and will take firm action to protect our taxpayers from those who abuse the system.

“Benefit fraud is simply wrong and will not be tolerated by this Council. We can reassure the people of Cheshire East that we are committed to ensuring these offenders are brought to justice.”

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. You don’t have to give your name and your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Marbury Merry Days’.

Reporter Jonathan White, Crewe

The 35th annual ‘Marbury Merry Days’ - http://www.marburymerrydays.co.uk -  two-day traditional country fair took place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May 2014.

The fair is organised by St. Michael & All Angels Parochial Church Council and takes places every May in the field next to St. Michael's & All Angels Parish Church and Marbury Big Mere, located 3 miles from Wrenbury (near Nantwich) in Cheshire.

The Vikings - https://www.facebook.com/vikingsonline - re-enacted battle displays with axes and broadswords, rowed a longship on the Big Mere and setup a living history village.

Other attractions and events included a craft & gift fair, trade stands, vintage motor cycles, classic cars, vintage tractors, stalls and tombola, cake stall, refreshments, ice cream, children’s activity area, Pinxton Puppets show, model aircraft flying display, dog & terrier racing (Saturday), GLOs Dance & Cheer (Saturday), Newfoundland dogs water display (Saturday), Fun Dog Show (Sunday) and Whitchurch Dog Display Team (Sunday). Attractions inside St. Michael's & All Angels Parish Church included a spinning demonstration, organ music and floral decorations.

Despite some wet weather over the weekend hundreds of people attended and enjoyed the event.

All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the St. Michael's & All Angels Parish Church in Marbury.

Next years ‘Marbury Merry Days’ will take place on Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th May 2015.

The Magic of Musicals’

Reporter Jonathan White, Crewe

Crewe Amateur Musicals Society present ‘The Magic of Musicals’ on Saturday 17th May 2014 (7:30pm) at Nantwich Civic Hall. Tickets = £10 and are available from Nantwich Tourist Information and Mary Bolide on 07860370127.

The concert is to celebrate Crewe Amateur Musicals Society’s 90th anniversary, as the Society started at Crewe County Secondary School (The Old Students Association) in 1924.

Street Dance

Reporter Jonathan White, Crewe

A street dance crew from Crewe are heading to a European Championships and a World Championships after qualifying at a recent competition in Chester.

George Unwin, Jacob Edwards, Ellie White, Eden Vickers and Joseph Tasker, aged from 7 to 10, form the ‘XCITE’ street dance crew.  They took part in the UDO North Wales Street Dance Championships 2014 at the Northgate Arena in Chester on Sunday 4th May: http://www.udostreetdance.com/events/udonorthwalesstreetdancecompetition2014 .

‘XCITE’ crew competed in the 10 and under age category and beat off fourteen other crew's to finish in second place. They were judged on factors including timing, technique and difficulty of routine.

Their second place qualifies them for the World Championships in Glasgow in August 2014 and the European Championships in Germany in 2015.

‘XCITE’ crew are all members of Miss Caroline’s School of Dance and train twice a week at St Mark's in Crewe with their instructor Jack Robinson.

Caroline Foxley (Founder and Principal of Miss Caroline’s School of Dance) said, "We are extremely proud of XCITE. This was only their second competition so to achieve second place and qualify for the Worlds and the Europeans is a massive achievement. The hard work and dedication that the students, parents and Jack their teacher puts in has well and truly paid off. They are a shining example of our Schools talent and we look forward to their future success."

For further information in relation to Miss Caroline’s School of Dance and their dance schools in Crewe and Malpas please phone 07817511919 or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Carolines-School-of-Dance-Yoga/133329063451932

'60's Mania!' concert at Nantwich Civic Hall.

Reporter Jonathan White, Crewe

'60's Mania!' took place at Nantwich Civic Hall on the evening of Friday 9th May 2014.

Female acoustic guitar duo ‘The Sunflowers’ opened the show and warmed up the audience by singing several classics including I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Stand by Me, Homeward Bound, Brown Eyed Girl, Under the Boardwalk, Ring of Fire, Suspicious Minds and You're the One That I Want.

The Sunflowers were followed by ‘Meet The Beatles’ who performed several of the Fab Four’s hits including I Saw Her Standing There, Please Please Me, Do You Want to Know a Secret, All My Loving, I Want to Hold Your Hand, I Wanna Be Your Man, A Hard Day's Night, Can't Buy Me Love, Eight Days a Week, Yesterday, Twist and Shout, Ticket to Ride, Help!, Lady Madonna, and Hey Jude. Their set included a costume change and they were joined on stage by The Sunflowers for Get Back as the encore.

The dance floor was full with several audience members wearing 60s costumes including women wearing shift dresses, head band's and knee length boots and even a few men with a mop-top!

Well over 200 people attended the concert and for only £10 it represented excellent value for money.

Official photos will be uploaded to https://www.facebook.com/WarbleEvents .

'60's Mania!' was organised by Warble Events - http://www.warble-events.co.uk/ - in partnership with Nantwich Town Council - http://www.nantwichtowncouncil.gov.uk/ .

The next Warble event at Nantwich Civic Hall is ‘Souled Out’ for an evening of Soul and Motown classics with live entertainment from ‘Union Street’. Souled Out takes place on Friday 4^th July 2014 and tickets (£10) are on sale now from Nantwich Civic Hall and the Nantwich Civic Hall Box Office (Tel. 01270 628633).

Have your say on the location of Cheshire’s historic archives

 

Cheshire East Council wants your views about the best place to locate the county’s historic archives and local studies service.

Around 5,000 people a year visit the Record Office, in Duke Street, Chester, and a further 3,000 people attend or participate in outreach events and activities run by the service.

However, the storage conditions for Cheshire’s unique and irreplaceable written heritage – which date from the 12th century to the present – are inadequate. 

The environmental conditions do not meet current standards and there is little expansion space for the growing collection held by the service. Customer facilities at the Record Office are cramped and increasingly do not meet customers’ needs. 

Councillors from Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East councils have therefore asked for a feasibility study into potential new premises – and want the views of the public.

The two councils are now holding a public consultation, in partnership with Warrington and Halton Borough councils and Warrington-based Livewire Community Interest Company, to gather views about locations being considered as a potential new home for Cheshire Archives and Local Studies service. This is your chance to have your say.

The following locations have been identified as potentially suitable for the archives and local studies service. These were chosen by elected members both CWaC and Cheshire East councils, advised and supported by officers. They are:

● Chester: former Enterprise Centre, Hoole Road;

● Crewe: town centre site as part of regeneration programme for the town;

● Ellesmere Port: EPIC Leisure Centre;

● Middlewich: town centre site as part of regeneration programme for the town;

● Northwich: Watling Street council offices;

● Winsford: Verdin Exchange.

The existing Record Office at Duke Street, Chester, will also be assessed to see if it is feasible to bring the building up to the required environmental standards and to create space to expand.

The aim of the consultation is to determine people’s views on the general location rather than specific sites. The results will be used to inform a decision later this year about a future home for the service.

A further consultation about the design of the new facility and the services provided will take place once funding has been secured. This funding would be sourced from both councils and possible external sources, such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The service preserves and provides access to the historic written record of the county of Cheshire.  The archives reflect the lives, interests and activities of Cheshire’s communities since the 12th century. The archives, maps, books and photographs include:

● Medieval charters granting rights to the Borough of Macclesfield;

● Cheshire earliest map of about 1540, showing farmland in Allostock;

● Cheshire’s earliest photographs, dating from the 1850s;

● Records of workers at the London and North Western Railway works at Crewe; and

● 19th^-21st century records of schools, hospitals and courts.

About a million people visit the service’s websites every year and about 7,500 people each year make use of the service the archives and local studies service provides in libraries around the Borough.

Councillor David Brown, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of strategic communities, said: “This archive and local studies service is a fantastic resource for the people of Cheshire and it is important that you have your say about where it should be based and how it can best serve local people in the 21st century.

“I would urge people to take just a few minutes to fill in the online consultation questionnaire.”

The consultation runs until June 30, 2014. For more information visit the archives website at: http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk

Volunteers needed to support new project named The Ridge Rocks and Springs

 

Today, The Sandstone Ridge Trust has received £49,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting new project, The Ridge Rocks and Springs – a sandstone legacy, to be conducted over the next three years throughout the length of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge. The Trust is now looking for volunteers from the local communities to join in the project, researching the lost quarries and wells of the Ridge, seeking out their stories and recording them for posterity.

The beautiful Ridge, where Cheshire rises from the plain in a series of rolling hills and dramatic sandstone cliffs, boasts a wealth of historic and natural heritage, from Iron Age hillforts to important heathland, and the project aims to understand how the sandstone and water supplies have enabled settlers, farmers and industrialists through the ages to develop this environment. The focus will be on quarries and methods of extraction, and on historic water supplies as well as springs with reputations for religious, magical or healing properties.

There will also be stories to be read from the many carvings on the rocks. The discovery of a boulder with prehistoric carving from Eddisbury hillfort during recent excavations raised the tantalising possibility that other rock-carvings may exist locally and the project will include examination of the rock faces for graffiti and other signs of human activity through the ages.  Much of this history is in danger: the rocks are eroding, quarries are being filled in, the wells are drying up and memories are fading. This is an important opportunity to rescue and record undervalued features of our history.

The volunteers will receive free training workshops to learn more about how to research these features of the Ridge and they will be able to take part in a variety of practical research and recording activities with progress-meetings and get-togethers to share and exchange information. The results will be made available through the publication of print and digital materials, guided walks and on-site interpretation panels.

Commenting on the award, Peter Winn, Sandstone Ridge trustee, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to continue the work of the recent Habitats and Hillforts project which was also funded by HLF. We are hoping that many volunteers with interests in local history will join the teams up and down the Ridge and help to raise awareness of what a beautiful and fascinating place it is.

Anyone interested in volunteering should visit the Trust’s website: www.thesandstoneridgetrust.co.uk, or e-mail: thesandstoneridgetrust@yahoo.co.uk

Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “The Ridge contains hidden clues as to the way our ancestors lived and how this part of Cheshire developed into what it is today. By delving into this history, volunteers will not only expand their knowledge and learn lots of new skills, but it will also provide a unique record of the area for others to learn, enjoy and be inspired by.”

Mow Cop 'Killer Mile'

Reporter Jonathan White, Crewe

The 'Killer Mile' - http://www.mowcop.info/killermile/killermile.htm - took place at Mow Cop on the evening of Thursday 8th May 2014.

In this annual event a record number of over nearly 900 people started at Station Road and hauled themselves up hill to the finish at Mow Cop Castle.

The event is organised by the Mow Cop Residents Association - http://www.mowcop.info/residentsassociation/main.htm - and consisted of six races with the Junior Fun Run (up to 11 years) on a shortened course, followed by the full mile for Under 18's, Club Runners, Adult (over 18) Races 1 and 2 and Veterans (over 40).

The heavy rain in the afternoon dissipated and runners and spectators were bathed in sunshine for the whole evening. There were clear views across the Cheshire Plain towards Wales and Merseyside for those who weren’t racing and the evening was capped with a glorious sunset.

Several hundred spectators lined the route and gave encouragement to the participants. A team from the Army Reserve carried an object weighing over 60kg and a team from Trentham Boat Club put in an ‘oar-some’ effort to carry a rowing boat up the course. Several runners wore fancy dress including a squirrel and many were raising money for charity including Caudwell Children http://www.caudwellchildren.com . Lee Riley from Crewe ran in three consecutive races including one run carrying a 40lb rucksack. There were numerous representatives from running clubs including South Cheshire Harriers http://www.southcheshireharriers.org.uk/ and Congleton Harriers http://www.congleton-harriers.co.uk/ .

I took part in the Killer Mile myself for the first time this year and entered the Veterans (over 40) event. Unfortunately I was so engrossed in taking photos that I missed the start, so was the last person to start the last race! Before the race I got some excellent advice from an experienced runner who told me not look up and to keep my arms pumping. My personal challenge was to run the course without walking or stopping and I managed to achieve both. The organisation and marshalling was fantastic and the spectators were brilliant in their cheering and clapping to keep us all motivated. I covered the mile in twice the time of the course record over just over 6 minutes, but I was elated when I reached the top. I picked up my certificate of achievement and bought a Killer Mile T-shirt and hope to return again next year.

BBC Radio Stoke broadcast live from near the 'Cheshire View' pub at the steepest section of the route and interviewed several participants and spectators.

Race photos will be available from Bryan Dale http://www.racephotos.org.uk/ .

Race results will be published at http://www.mowcop.info within seven days of the event.

High-speed broadband arrives in Cheshire for 15,000 homes and businesses

 

The £28.5m Connecting Cheshire partnership today announced that its new fibre-optic network - bringing speeds of up to 80 megabits per second (Mbps) - is now available to more than 15,000 homes and businesses. 

Residents and businesses can check availability of fibre broadband by contacting their broadband provider or by visiting the Connecting Cheshire website: www.connectingcheshire.org.uk

Reaching the first 15,000 homes and businesses was marked with May Day celebrations in Alderley Edge, Weaverham and Westwood in Warrington as the first areas switched on to fibre.

Connecting Cheshire, a partnership between BT and Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington Councils, aims to have made fibre broadband available to 80,000 homes and businesses by the time it is completed at the end of 2015.

This is in addition to BT’s commercial investment in fibre across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington and by the end of 2015 a total of 400,000 premises (around 96 per cent) are expected to have access to high-speed broadband.

Mike Blackburn, BT’s North West regional director, said the completion of the first phase of the partnership’s work within 12 months was an engineering triumph. 

He added: “The BT team are working flat out to bring high-speed broadband to Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.  This is a complex engineering task that will ensure people and businesses across Cheshire can have fibre broadband as part of their everyday lives and work.”

The first phase of the roll-out, set to transform the running of businesses and home lives for families, has brought fibre broadband to communities including Alderley Edge in Cheshire East, Weaverham in Cheshire West and Westwood in Warrington with more areas to follow in the coming months.

A team of more than 100 engineers and planners from Openreach, BT’s local network business, has taken on the challenge of bringing fibre to Cheshire. They will upgrade exchanges and networks with more than 875 miles of fibre-optic cable.  More than 400 new road-side cabinets will be installed as part of the project.

Fibre broadband has already transformed day-to-day lives across the UK – from children doing their homework to caring for our elderly people and from social media to e-commerce and home entertainment, fast broadband is a crucial factor.

Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for strategic communities Councillor David Brown said the network would boost the local economy, helping to create and protect local jobs. 

He said: “Access to high-speed access to the internet has never been more important, whether you are a small business wishing to build your company, a student taking advantage of online learning resources, an elderly person living on their own or a family making use of online shopping and entertainment or just keeping in touch with friends and family. In today’s rapidly-moving world, fast and sophisticated communications are absolutely vital.”

Sir Howard Bernstein, vice chair of the North West European Regional Development Fund local management committee, said: “This programme will help local businesses make the most of superfast broadband, improving performance and helping to create and safeguard jobs.

“It will provide a major boost to the Cheshire economy and the North West European Regional Development Fund programme is pleased to be supporting it financially.”

The new fibre network is open to all broadband service providers on an equal wholesale basis so households and businesses will benefit from a highly competitive market.

Key fibre facts for Connecting Cheshire:

· The Connecting Cheshire Partnership builds on BT’s commercial investment – providing additional fibre broadband to over 80,000 premises - so that 96 per cent of Cheshire homes and businesses – some 400,000 premises – will have access to fibre broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps by the end of 2015;

· The £28.5m project consists of £9m from BT, whilst the Partnership is contributing £1.85m, with a further £4m coming from the Government’s Broadband Delivery (BDUK) funds and £13.6m from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)*;

· Connecting Cheshire Partnership was launched in April, 2013, following the signing of the contract between four authorities (Cheshire East Council , Cheshire West and Chester Council,  Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council) and  BT;

· A recent study for Cheshire, Warrington and Halton estimated full coverage of superfast broadband would generate a gross impact of £13bn in gross value-added (GVA) over 15-years and create 11,500 jobs, with a further £330m of economic benefits to households (source – Regeneris).

Neighbourhood and Home Watch news

Lock-snappers stole my girlfriend’s car
On Saturday 22nd March, Mark Davies and his girlfriend went out for a meal but when they returned to their home, they found it had been broken into and their car had been stolen from their driveway. Mark’s insurance company stated that it would only replace the snapped locks with like-for-like replacements – meaning his home would be left as at risk as it was before the burglary. Read the full story here.
Police.uk – A toolkit for Neighbourhood and Home Watch
The police.uk website was launched in 2011 to provide the public with street-level crime and anti-social behaviour data for their local area. The Home Office has recently designed a toolkit to introduce Neighbourhood and Home Watch members to the police.uk website and have produced a number of publicity materials that can be used to help promote the site. Find out more here.
Master Locksmiths Association clarifies lock-snapping standards
You may have seen the episode of Watchdog Test House that aired on BBC One on Thursday 13th March 2014. It dealt with the issue of lock snapping.  Unfortunately some vital information didn’t make the final cut, which the Master Locksmiths Association later explained on their website here.
How sharing are you?
Streetbank, the UK’s biggest neighbourhood sharing website and supporter of NHWN, has just launched a campaign to raise vital funds to support its rapidly growing neighbourhood sharing movement. Read the full story here.
Points of Light
The Prime Minister has launched a new volunteering award - Points of Light. The programme is being managed by the Cabinet Office. The new award recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Read more here.
Scams Awareness Month 2014
Scams awareness month is about the fight-back against scammers - giving consumers the information, skills and confidence to spot and stop scams. It’s a great opportunity for consumers and campaigners to learn and share then take that knowledge into the year round fight against scams. More information about the campaign is available on our website here.
Be Cyber Streetwise
Be Cyber Streetwise is a campaign that aims to measurably and significantly improve the online safety, behaviour and confidence of consumers and small businesses. You can find out more by clicking here.

Fire Link news

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

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Take Extra Care - measures you can take during the strikes

The Fire Brigades Union have announced three periods of industrial action over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

• Friday 2nd May, between 12 noon and 5pm
• Saturday 3rd May, between 2pm and 2am
• Sunday 4th May, between 10am and 3pm

We are urging residents to 'Take Extra Care'
Please make sure you have a working smoke alarm installed in your home and know exactly how to get out of your home if a fire was to break out.
Find out more about our 'Take Extra Care' campaign

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Bank Holiday safety advice

Please put safety first over the Bank Holiday weekend - use the links below to access tips and advice on road safety, barbecue safety, DIY safety, caravan safety and camping safety.

• Barbecue Safety
• Camping Safety Advice
• Caravan Safety
• Countryside Safety
• DIY Safety
• Road Safety

Have a safe and enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend.
Read our Bank Holiday safety advice

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Your views wanted on draft plans for a new fire station near M53/M56

Draft plans and designs for the proposed new fire station near to the M56 in Mollington have been unveiled by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The proposal is to build the new fire station on land off Powey Lane, Mollington. As well as a traditional fire engine, the station will also house a number of specialist vehicles to deal with risks specific to the local area in Chester and Ellesmere Port, such as heritage buildings and industrial complexes.
The location near to the motorway network will also provide these vehicles with ready access to respond to other incidents across the whole of Cheshire.
Your views wanted on draft plans for a new fire station near M53/M56

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Deaf Awareness Week

Firefighters are using National Deaf Awareness Week (May 19-25) to ensure people who are deaf or hard of hearing have the right smoke alarms in their homes.
It is vital that those people have the right smoke alarm technology in their home to protect them and give them that valuable time to escape from a house fire.
A range of alarms have been designed specifically for the hard of hearing, including an under-pillow pad that vibrates when the smoke detector is activated.
Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can book a home safety check by texting 'HSA' and your name and address to 07624 808300.
Find out more about deaf awareness week and services for people who are deaf

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Boat Safety advice

Firefighters would like to raise awareness of boat fire safety during May. The number of boat fires on our coastal and inland waters is relatively low. However, when they do occur, they quite often have devastating consequences.
Due to the remote location of moorings, the fire and rescue service can experience difficulties in gaining access to an incident. On many occasions, these incidents result in the total destruction of the boat and to surrounding property.
Please use the link below to find view some simple advice to ensure your boating activities are a safe and enjoyable event.
Read our Boat safety advice

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Register to receive the FiRELink e-Newsletter

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Benefits cheats ordered to pay back more than £7,000 – and do 150 hours’ community service

 

A benefits cheat has been ordered to pay back more than £7,000 he fraudulently claimed – and sentenced to do 150 hours’ of unpaid community work.

Josef Karicka, 43, of Glover Street, Crewe, pleaded guilty at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court to a charge of fraudulently claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Magistrates’ sitting in Crewe heard (April 17) that Karicka had claimed the above benefits since November 2011 on the basis that he was on a low income.

However, Cheshire East Council’s benefit fraud investigation team found that Karicka had, from the outset, been earning considerably more than he had been declaring to the Council.

These fraudulent claims led to Karicka receiving benefits totalling £7,090 to which he was not entitled.

Magistrates ordered Karicka to repay all the benefit money he had fraudulently received. He was further sentenced to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid community work, pay £250 court costs and a victims’ surcharge of £60. The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council’s legal team.

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “Cheshire East is an enforcing Council – and prosecutions like this send out a clear message that will take firm action to protect our taxpayers from those who abuse the system for their own gain.

“Benefit fraud will simply not be tolerated and we are committed to ensuring these people are brought to justice.”

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. You don’t have to give your name and your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Rogue trader ordered to pay more than £1,500 following successful Cheshire East Council prosecution

 

A rogue businessman has been ordered by a court to pay out more than £1,500 after admitting fraudulent trading.

South and East Cheshire Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Crewe, heard that driveways and paving trader Lee Potter unlawfully pretended to be part of a professional guild and failed to tell customers of their right to cancel contracts within seven days.

Lee Potter, 34, of High Farm, Eardswick Lane, Minshull Vernon, Crewe, who traded as Ultimate Driveways UK, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act of 2008.

He admitted three offences of using the logo of the ‘Guild of Master Craftsmen’ on his paperwork, website and adverts without the permission of the guild or meeting the qualifications for membership of the guild.

The court heard he misled two Cheshire East residents into thinking that he was a member while doing driveway work. He had previously been told by the Guild of Master Craftsmen to remove their logo from his business adverts.

The Guild of Master Craftsman aims to safeguard the interest of craftsmen and the public. It also ensures that the minimum qualifications for membership preserve the high standard of the guild by excluding the unskilled. They also have a conciliation service.

Potter also admitted two offences of failing to supply residents with their written rights to cancel the transaction within seven days, as required by law. The offences took place between May 2012 and October 2013.

Lee Potter was successfully prosecuted (on April 24) by Cheshire East Council’s trading standards investigations team.

Magistrates fined Potter £500 and ordered to pay £1,225 in court costs. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Cheshire East Cabinet member in charge of communities and regulatory services, said: “Prosecutions such as this send out a clear message that we are an enforcing Council and will take firm action to protect our residents and communities from rogue traders. Fraud will simply not be tolerated.

“It is important, for everyone’s benefit, to raise awareness of rogue trading and fraudsters. Our plea to the people of Cheshire East is to ‘please be very wary of cold-callers and buying on the doorstep’.

“Trading standards operates an approved trader scheme called ‘Buy With Confidence’ and our officers can provide you with details of reliable local trades people to carry out work around your home and garden.

“Each trader accepted on to this scheme has been vetted by officers from trading standards for compliance with consumer protection laws and their trading history checked through customer references.”

Look out for the ‘Buy With Confidence’ logo and visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or call 0300 123 5500 for more information. If you have a business and are interested in joining the scheme, call 01270 685900 or email tradingstandards@cheshireeast.gov.uk