West St

The revamp of West St is still on going with new lights being installed. One side of the pavements has now been done and now they are starting on the other side. The Prince of Wales pub has reopened and straight away they dug up the pavement so people have to struggle to get a pint. There is a few weeks to go yet and the Late Shop is shut next week for a refit as well. The works have caused major traffic problems in the area since July

Crime News

Please be aware that there have been four sneak in thefts reported in the Crewe area since 13/09/2009.

The majority of these incidents occurred in the hours of darkness from around 22:00 to 02:30 but one incident did occur during daylight hours. In all instances offenders gained entry via unlocked doors. In three of the four incidents a handbag was stolen and in the remaining incident a small quantity of cash was taken. In two of the incidents the offender was spotted by the homeowner before making good their escape.

Please bear in mind that with the nights drawing in that as it gets colder there are less people out and about so levels of natural surveillance is reduced, offering opportunist thieves an opportunity to operate under the cover of darkness with less chance of being spotted. It is important that you lock doors and windows even when you are in your home as it only takes a matter of seconds for someone to sneak in, take an item and be gone and it is often sometime before people notice that their possessions have gone.

The incidents occurred in the following areas of the below wards, but even if you are not a resident in this area, please be aware that these opportunist types of theft can occur in all residential areas:

Alexandra Ward - Neville Street
Alexandra Ward - Wilderhope Close
Maw Green Ward - Lime Tree Avenue (offender male 6ft tall, slim build, approx 25 years old)
St Barnabas Ward - Hulme Street (offender male, approx 5ft 6in tall )

If anyone witnesses any suspicious or out of the ordinary behaviour as always please contact the police directly via 0845 458 0000.


Trading Standards have reported that this is not a hoax scam as is often forwarded around but there have been genuine reports of this happening and they are aware of this. However, at present there are not any reports of this happening in the Cheshire area as far as I am aware.

The scam operates along the following lines:

An individual purporting to be from BT calls a householder with regards to an outstanding bill stating if they don't pay straight away their line will be disconnected. If the householder challenges this claim or becomes suspicious the caller tells the householder to put their phone down and they will prove they are able to disconnect the line. The caller remains on the line so the victim is led to believe they have been cut off. At this time many householders will then provide their confidential financial details.

Queens Park Stake holders meeting

QUEENS PARK RESTORATION PROJECT


The next Stakeholder Meeting No 14
15th September 2009 at 6pm
at Queens Park Cafe, Crewe

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of the last Meeting

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

4. ‘Friends of Queens Park’ - establishment of Constitution and Officers Elections:

Positions
* Chairperson
* Secretary
* Fund Raising Officer
- Nominations are welcome at meeting

5. Chairman’s Report

6. Buildings Design Update and Recommendations –
by -
Eric Briggs, EBM Consultants
Ian Bright, SBS Architects
Albert Bertram, Bertram Hyde

9. Any Other Business


Everyone is welcome so come along and find out whats happening

Rubbish

We did a few articles on rubbish over 4 months ago and one was about rubbish dropped in Oxford St every week. We were with the council when they found evidence of who was doing this and assumed that it would then be stopped. That was 4 months ago and every week since then the same poeple have thrown rubbish out and more evidence has been found all from the same address.
Above is this weeks rubbish dump but why havent the council done anything about it as its a health hazard with smelly nappies every week. Is the new council working from this evidence sadly not

Crewe & Nantwich News

Arrest Follows Stabbing A man appeared in court charged with attempted murder after an incident in Badger Avenue, Crewe. The man, aged 30 was remanded in custody. A 29 years old man was taken to hospital after receiving stab wounds to the neck and left arm.

“Threat to Community” Removed A 19 years old man who drove through the window of a motorcycle dealership in Crewe, causing £43,000 worth of damage was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for three and a half years. As well as pleading guilty to criminal damage, the man admitted possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply. P.C. Tony Condon said, “This man posed a threat to the community in several different ways and it is good that he has been removed from that community for some time.”

Quick Justice A man was sent to prison within 24 hours of stealing from a parish hall in Nantwich. Members of Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Team began an immediate search when a patrolling Police Community Support Officer was told that bags, wallets and keys had been stolen from people at the hall. Within minutes they located a man behaving suspiciously and arrested him. Although he first denied any connection with the incident he was questioned next morning and charged with three offences of theft. Later the same day he appeared in court and was jailed for four months. Inspector Bob Hassall, in charge of Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said, “This was a really quick and effective response by a PCSO, a Police Constable and an officer from the NPU Investigation Team. It was a great example of what teamwork can do.”

Record Catch The fourth East Cheshire Emergency Services fishing contest reeled in nearly 900 entries – a new record. Eighteen heats were fished at various venues and more than 200 youngsters, aged between seven and seventeen, took part in the finals at Gawsworth Fisheries. Chief Superintendent Mick Garrihy, the Commander of Cheshire Police Eastern Area described the contest as “an outstanding event which has captured the energy of young people”.

Kids in Danger

If you follow the park railing round down the dirt track that leads to the golf coarse go towards Morton rd past the golf club and as you come to the bottom of the dip when you see the park lake you go over a bridge(its not clear from the rd it is a bridge). Then on the golf coarse you can walk down easy from the path you will see the bridge. The bridge covers the sluice gates that go under the park to empty the lake. The fence has been cut back as you can see in the picture and there is then a 15 ft drop as you can see in the first picture.

United Utilities were in the area today and I asked them about it but they said its not their responsibility but they were horrified as they said if anyone fell in they would never get out as the walls are to steep and they said even an adult couldn't get out.
As its kids holidays and kids play in the area extremely dangerous. As its the outflow from the park UU suspect its the councils responsibility to make it safe and they say the grill isnt up to standard anyway. If a child falls in they could well die from the fall or be drowned.

This was reported to the Council months ago and nothing has been done it was reported last week as well and still we wait. How much is a childs life worth?

QUEENS PARK IN SMOKE

QUEENS PARK IN SMOKE

There was lots of smoke about this week as the Fire Cadets gave safety
presentations in Queens Park, Crewe. Visiting children were delighted
to go into the Smoke Tent and climb over the Fire Appliance in the Park
grounds.

The fire cadet unit, part of the Cheshire Fire Services, at Crewe is
open to boys and girls (13-17yrs) and gives them the opportunity to
learn a wide range of new skills within the framework of a uniformed
disciplined youth organization.

Cadets undertake a training program comparable to that of operational
firefighters. This not only provides them with an insight into the work
of the fire service but also enables them to develop leadership
qualities and team building skills, which are useful in other areas of
their lives.

Two cadet groups meet at Crewe, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder for
Cheshire East Council, said, "Everyone always loves to see the Fire
Services with the interesting promotion and safety demonstrations. They
also get involved with a whole host of supportive and fund raising
events in the local community. The cadet teams are extremely dedicated
and these young people are the Fire Fighters of tomorrow, we are
extremely proud of them and the good works they do."

For more details about the fire cadets based at Crewe Fire Station,
please contact:
The Crewe Community Safety office, Fire Station, Crewe Road, Crewe,
Cheshire, CW1 6DS
Tel: 01270 254907

The Fair comes to town

The Fair has arrived at Tipkinder ready for the Carnival this weekend. The procession is earley this year starting at 11 am. The main events will be held on the Georges playing fields as the park isn't open so there will be a long trek down to the fair.
Is the fair safe? Every year when the fair comes the fair ground caravans plug their electric into the power supply 3 feet from the skate park and the cables lead a long way to the caravans. You can see the control box and the cable loop all these cables carrying main electricity go all over the field were children play. They are a trip hazard and all these cables should be tested by the council for leakage and they should have a trip on them and be armored so kids cant damage them.

Every year the council are informed and no one ever does anything are they checked and why arnt they buried so kids cant play with them

Distraction Burglary

Please be aware of the following incident that happened on 21/08/2009

During evening hours an unknown individual approached a property in the Elm Drive area of Crewe claiming he was from the Water board and needed to check the water as there had been an explosion down the road. He claimed that he needed to run the tap for 15 minutes to check the colour of the water. The landline rang and the owner left the kitchen to answer it and found three further unknown males exiting the living room and the property. The owner noticed that one of the drawers was open in the living room and that some money had gone missing from the drawer. No vehicle was seen and offender headed off on foot.

Description of males are as follows:

Male 1: White, 5'10"/5'11", 18 - 20 years old, dark shortly cropped hair, proportionate build, black pullover, black trousers, black boots, Irish accent
Male 2: White, 5', 18-19yrs, black bushy hair, average build, multicoloured pullover
Male 3 & Male 4: White, one was at least 6' and the other was slightly smaller, no further details.

Queens Park

Its all go down at the park and on the main Queens Park Website I have had lots of old photos sent in including this one but what is the band stand in the picture? Pop over to the main site for more pictures.
The Park its self is looking spectacular with the summer bedding at its best.
The band stand work is well under way as you can see with a few people working on it. The park is full of machines clearing a blocked pipe which runs under the park from Alton St to Victoria Ave. The blockage isnt in the park but the pipe has to be replaced. The new contractor should be anonced soon with work hopefuly starting in Septemeber

ON THE GRAPEVINE

Farm Machinery Thefts Admitted Eight men arrested as part of a Strikeout operation against thefts of valuable farm machinery across a wide area of Cheshire will be sentenced in September. The men appeared at Chester Crown Court and admitted charges including theft and handling stolen property. The investigation was carried out by a team of officers from Eastern and Western Areas of Cheshire Police.

Drugs Arrest A man arrested after Police Officers discovered a large quantity of cannabis bush in a car at Crewe has appeared in court. He was charged with possessing cannabis and ecstasy with intent to supply, possessing heroin and possession of criminal property. He was remanded in custody.

Illegal Goods Seized Officers from Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Team took part in an operation which resulted in the seizure of 47,000 illegal cigarettes, nearly 24 kilos of counterfeit tobacco and 50 litres of illegal vodka. Most of the haul was recovered from houses on the Middlewich Street estate in Crewe. Shops and stalls at a market were also checked as part of the operation, which included investigators from HM Revenue and Customs and officers from Cheshire Trading Standards Service and from housing organizations. Police Sergeant Andy Collier said, “This kind of illegal selling often attracts children and teenagers as customers, involving them in criminal activity and exposing them to health risks. It is certainly not a victimless crime.”

Safety Choice for Drivers A new series of “driver engagement days” have begun across East Cheshire, focused on roads where local people have expressed concern about safety. Police Officers stop drivers for offences such as speeding, not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones. Some are then given the choice of the usual fines and penalty points or a fifteen-minute roadside safety presentation delivered by Fire Fighters. The action has been organized by Cheshire East Local Road Safety Partnership.

Reducing Biker Casualties “Biker Roads” in East Cheshire are being targeted in another summer safety campaign. It will combine enforcement measures with education. In 2008 seven motorcyclists and pillion passengers were killed and 48 seriously injured on roads in East Cheshire. Constable Paul Burke said, “Nationally motorcycles account for less than one per cent of vehicle traffic but fourteen per cent of the death and serious injury traffic collisions involve motorbikes.” This campaign is organized by the Cheshire East Local Road safety partnership and funded by the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership.

Have Your Say Community Payback Schemes and local sentencing issues will be featured in the next Eastern Area “Have Your Say” meetings, organized by Cheshire Police Authority. People will also hear about the latest developments in local policing and have a chance to ask questions about them. The meetings are on Thursday September 3^rd in the Municipal Buildings at Crewe and on Monday September 14^th in the Town Hall, Congleton. Both begin at 7pm.

Digital Signs

Sign all down West St today reminding us that we go digital in November when BBC2 goes of the analogue signal and you have to re tune you digi box and watch it on Freeview. In December all channels go digital and you have t re tune your Freeview box again

West St

The chaos continues in West St with half the road closed. The new flags are going down rapid now but they are leaving a gap were they have to cut them. Two people have fallen already but it does look posh. It still leaves us with the rocky hills of Calcutta up to the church then we have a posh bit. It make sit look as if only the middle bit matters or they are the only ones to pay their taxes

Square Update

I was around town today and the square is nearly finished and should be fully open by weekend. I decided to road test the new seats and they are terrible they seat isnt flat but curved and after a few mins sitting down you feel very uncomfortable. Maybe they are designed to stop you hanging around. They havent planned the layout very well as after a few short while it started raining or so I thought until I noticed they have put the seat under the flower baskets so when they are watered they drip onto the seats

The Mystery stone

The boulder (rock) in the picture is reputed to have been swept down from Scotland after the last Ice Age. There was originally a sign on the boulder but it disappeared many years ago."
Its millions of years old and the oldest thing in Crewe.

Anyone have any further information on it please let us know It can be seen in the old picture bottom middle with a plaque on it by coronation walk

Queens Park Update

This week has seen another local contractor earth moving, utilising the clay-soil deposits from the debris of the lake, to form the basis for new raised footpath improving access and supporting the original failing retention wall, all on the North West side of the Park.

Even more exciting is that the Cheshire East specialist restorers ‘Lost Art’ has been appointed to complete the Bandstand refurbishment and works commenced this Monday (20th).

At a recent meeting with the Heritage Lottery and Cheshire East Council all parts demonstrated their commitment seeing the works progresses and finalised.
As the original contractor went into administration, the project legalities and the stoppage of works caused frustration, both within the Authority and to members of the public.
Full update on The Queens Park Page

Tipkinder SK8 Park

You may remember in the winter I reported how someone had stolen the rail from the SK8 park despite the fact that they have CCTV and the rail is bolted to the ground. How it was stolen without being caught on CCTV is a mystery. But today the man came along with a replacement rail and bolted it in place. Lets hope it last a bit longer this time. The area has been a hive of activity as everywhere is cleaned up for the big 2 day BMX event this weekend 1st/2nd August

The Bob Field Memorial Grands" will be hosted by CGR in partnereship with Cheshire East Council at the Shanaze Reade BMX Track, Tipkinder Park, Crewe.
The event is being held in memory of Bob Field, the driving force behind the Cheshire Ghost Riders BMX Club for many years & trainer of a host of top level riders including multiple World Champion Shanaze Reade. The track will be renamed after Shanaze Reade full details here