ARTIST’S IMPRESSION GIVES GLIMPSE INTO FUTURE OF CREWE’S RAILWAY STATION

 

This is the very first glimpse of how the new entrance to Crewe Railway Station will be transformed following £6.5m cash injection that will pave the way for Crewe to become a gateway to the North.

The graphic shows a shiny glass facade to replace the outdated Royal Mail sorting office and a lower ground access to platforms via a revamped pedestrian subway.

The new state-of-the art layout also caters for vehicle drop-offs at the front of the station, new taxi rank and disabled access.

This week sees start of the demolition of Weston House which will be replaced by the new development and will enhance the customer experience at the station.

Commuters will have the option of parking at the front of the building, creating a convenient and easy travel hub destination.

It’s all part of the Council’s strategic plan to enable Crewe to become an economic power house by 2030 with new jobs, businesses and investment.

The unveiling comes at a key stage in the project, with the demolition of Weston House and eight weeks of traffic restrictions on Weston Road beginning next Monday, August 12.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: 

“The revitalisation of Crewe’s Railway Station is a keystone for long-term regeneration as part of the wider 20-year ‘All Change for Crewe’ project.

“It is about time Crewe Railway Station got the presentation it deserves with an entrance that is prestigious and impressive.

“There is still a lot of hard work to be done - and we will not be complacent about this, as a revitalised rail hub providing enhanced connectivity will be critical to boosting the town’s visitor economy and its attractiveness to business.”

“We would ask that motorists and commuters are patient during this period and plan their journey in advance.

Network Rail’s route managing director, Dyan Crowther, said:

”This is much needed investment in an important station on a critical rail artery – the West Coast main line.  The £6.5m injection will create a much more welcoming and accessible station for its thousands of daily users.”  

For further information about the project, visit the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/crewerail

Blind spot campaign takes to the roads

 

Cheshire Police have gone out across the county with a rural road safety campaign which seeks to raise awareness to tractor drivers about their blind spot but also highlights the dangers to other road users when trying to overtake agricultural vehicles on country lanes. ‘Am I in Your Blind Spot?’ was initially launched at the Cheshire Show this year, where officers were able to engage with the farming community and distribute free ‘blind spot’ mirrors to farmers to support the campaign launch. The mirrors are based on a new design to facilitate tractor drivers who are carrying heavy loaded trailers and who may find it difficult to see traffic approaching from the rear.

Following a series of fatal motorcycle collisions on rural roads with agricultural vehicles over the recent months - a small amount but still fatals - Cheshire Police has released ‘blind spot’ video footage on YouTube which highlights the dangers of tractor drivers making left or right turns on rural roads and how this can result in road collisions with other road users.

Sergeant Rick Weaver - Road Policing, who is leading the campaign, said that "We recognised the need for a campaign that would focus on rural road safety. Following some research, I was able to source a ‘blind spot’ mirror that could be fitted to any existing tractor mirror. This affords the tractor driver extended views to the rear and more importantly a clear view behind when negotiating a right turn into farm entrances or fields.

"We are in the process of handing out free tractor mirrors for local farmers. If you want to mail me at richard.weaver@cheshire.pnn.police.uk with your details, we can get one out for you to trial."

Cheshire Police will be taking ‘Am I in Your Blind Spot’ workshops out locally to agricultural students from September. If you are a college who is interested in receiving the workshops or a farmer who would like to attend a workshop in their local area, you can email sharon.boddy@cheshire.pnn.police.uk for more information.

For more information on tractor road safety, you can visit www.cheshire.police.uk.

Taking to the road with a helping hand from emergency services

 

Think Drive Survive has been running for 13 years in Cheshire and has seen over 17,500 young people attend the course.

A road safety course with a difference, it is aimed at young people and is ideal for first time learner drivers as well as those who are fully licensed but who need some road safety advice. 

The award winning course is presented by the emergency services and is a short, intensive course where young road users are exposed to and asked to discuss the risks associated with being a driver, rider, passenger or pedestrian.  Think Drive Survive seeks to influence driver behaviour and play a part in reducing the amount of deaths and injuries on our roads to promote safer, more responsible attitudes towards road use by young people. 

The courses are coordinated and delivered by Dave Murray - Road Safety Officer for Cheshire Police and Pete Shields − Assistant Road Safety Manager - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Road Safety Unit.

Dave Murray said, "Think Drive Survive is an established initiative aimed at young drivers.  It is well documented that road death is the single biggest killer of young people aged 15 - 24 in this country and that whilst that age group makes up only 12% of licence holders, they account for over a quarter of injury collisions.  The course tries to positively affect these statistics by giving young drivers the information they need to make the right choices when using the roads. 

We want to influence the way they think when out in cars on their own or with friends so that they can enjoy the experience instead of it being something that will end or change their lives forever. The consequences of poor driver and passenger behaviour can be devastating for many people and the course seeks to help young drivers remain safe and gain experience. The feedback we get from students, teachers and group leaders is overwhelmingly positive and the fact that we are still going strong after 13 years is testament to the value of this initiative."

What you will learn from the course

• To raise awareness of the risks present whilst using the roads and to promote responsible behaviour whilst driving

• To learn how a road user can behave in a certain way whilst driving and the life changing consequences of those behaviours

• Gives students the confidence to behave appropriately when pressured, and to challenge others when behaving inappropriately

Pete Shields said that, "Courses are available to all schools, colleges and youth organisations within Cheshire. We can deliver the free course at your school, college or university to accommodate larger groups"

If you would like to enquire about course availability or speak to your teacher about booking a course at your school or college, please contact:

Dave Murray, Road Safety Officer: david.murray@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

Pete Shields, Assistant Road Safety Manager, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Road Safety Unit: peter.shields@cheshirefire.gov.uk

Please visit cheshire.police.uk, upbeat.uk.com or cheshirefire.gov.uk for more information.

BBC Tv in the Queens Park

 

Over the weekend the Queens Park was a battle ground between the CEC and protesters complaining about the state of the park. The protest came from a facebook group and was a bit rushed as the BBC came down but, the CEC turned up and some of his reported comments were

There are no muggings in Crewe and he can prove it.
He wants a group of volunteers to police and maintain the park.
He regards us all as having "A Crewe mentality"
He says we are all "Apathetic"
He wants to create jobs in Cheshire rather than throw money away, but would not create a "Park Warden" or "Park Keeper" job.
He wants a permanent police presence in the park, so shifting the responsibility of funding back onto the Police.
CEC did not put money in to Macclesfield Football Club.
CEC is one of the richest councils in the country. But why should they put any more money into the park given the fact that no one in Crewe actually cares about the park.

The cost of the wardens is not as great as the cost of the damage done in the park the quoted cost of damage in the park is £1000 per week. The main complaints are that even after over 7 million being spent the park is far from finished  and many of the paths are dangerous. The actions on Sunday were not part of the Friends of Queens Park who are the elected committee of the park. The friends meeting was held tonight and more volunteers turned up to get things done in the park. They will be picking up litter, repairing benchs, weeding, patrolling the the park and raising money.

On the plus side the Cafe now has CCTV installed monitored 24/7 as the cafe has suffered a lot of damage and break ins. More CCTV is to be install in the near future and the Police have provided Mosquitos for the project there is all so radio on site to instantly call the Police if there is any trouble. If you want to get involved you can contact the blog here

Young people & the police – your views are needed

 

The Youth Ambassador for Cheshire, Dominic Rogers is urging young people in Cheshire to give him their views on the police and crime in their local community.

Dominic said: "I want to hear from you to find out what you think about the police service and types of crime that occur in your area. I want to find out what issues you’re having so I can prioritise them and try and help where I can. The feedback I receive will be passed to the All Parliamentary Group for Children to help them answer some of their questions regarding young people’s opinions.

The information will also be passed to the Commissioner and will help to guide him when he’s shaping policing services in the future."

People who fill in the survey before 4pm on the 9 September will be entered into a prize draw and be in with a chance of winning an iPad 2, which was kindly donated by the Brian Kennedy Trust.

Dom added: "I want to thank the Brian Kennedy Trust for donating the iPad 2. The charity works hard to help young people, and I hope that the feedback I receive from this survey will help me to help the 23% of the Cheshire population who are under 18."

More information about the online survey is available on the Commissioner’s website www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk

Further information about the work that the Brian Kennedy Trust does can be found on their website www.briankennedytrust.com

Council secures conviction over unsightly home in Crewe

 

A homeowner from Crewe has been punished as part of Cheshire East Council’s get-tough approach on unsightly empty homes.

The authority serves notices on dilapidated empty properties as part of a campaign to help bring more houses back into use and to improve the appearance of the area.

The Council’s ‘empty homes team’ served a notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require that the front of David Moreton’s house, on Gainsborough Road, Crewe, be upgraded and brought into a better state of repair.

Mr Moreton, who failed to show for the hearing at South Cheshire Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 23, was fined £1,000 for failing to comply with the requirements of the notice, which is the maximum for this type of offence.

The Council was awarded costs of £550 and Mr Moreton was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge, making it £1,650 in total.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cabinet member in charge of housing, said: “Empty properties are a wasted resource, particularly as affordable family homes are in short demand throughout Cheshire East.

“This is about sending a clear message to absent property owners that they cannot simply dodge their maintenance responsibilities and leave the neighbours and the rest of the community to suffer the effects of their negligence.

“The Council would like to help empty home-owners to bring their properties back into use, but will take a stern stance on those who do not comply or look to work with us.”

This property had been left empty and also completely neglected for more than five years. The Council had asked Mr Moreton to cut and tidy his garden and hedges, remove the boards covering his broken windows, repair broken windows and repaint frames, repair broken guttering, replace missing roof tiles and repaint fascia boards.

If Mr Moreton continues to choose to ignore his maintenance responsibilities, he could face further legal action.

Owners of other unsightly empty properties, in Crewe, Weston, Willaston and Alsager have also been issued with notices, and will also be brought before magistrates if they fail to comply.

If anyone would like to complain about an unsightly empty home, please email privatehousing@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Those who own an empty property and require help or advice on how to bring it back into use, including financial assistance, should also get in touch at the same address.

For more information, call 0300 123 5017 and select option 4.

Cheshire’s Tim Burgess takes his solo set to Reading & Leeds Festivals

 

One of Cheshire’s most famous sons will be one of many top drawer acts at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Northwich singer-songwriter Tim Burgess, frontman with The Charlatans, is making a name for himself as a star in his own right with his solo shows and DJ sets.

Tim, 46, has enjoyed a busy year following the publication of his autobiography in 2012 and the release of his solo album Oh No I Love You on his own label, O Genesis Recordings.

He has been a regular on the festival circuit this summer and headlined the Kendal Calling Festival last week (Saturday, July 27) with The Charlatans.

And he takes to the Festival Republic Stage at Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Populating his setlist with tracks from Oh No I Love You, he is also expected to throw in The Charlatans’ classic The Only One I Know into his performances at Reading and Leeds.

It was the song that broke his band into the mainstream in 1990.

Managed for much of their career by Sandbach man Steve Harrison, The Charlatans have released a massive 11 hit albums and numerous top 10 singles.

During his career, Tim has moved to Los Angeles and Nashville, USA, in search of inspiration but regularly returns to Cheshire.

When not on tour, Tim and The Charlatans often decamp to the Big Mushroom studio in Middlewich. His band usually end their sets with the song Sproston Green – dedicated to the village near Holmes Chapel.

Tim plays the Festival Republic Stage at Reading on Saturday, August 24 and at Leeds on Sunday, August 25.

Also on the bill are Green Day, Eminem, Biffy Clyro, System of a Down, Foals, White Lies and The Lumineers.

Reading and Leeds are a pair of annual music festivals that take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill.

Reading, the original and senior leg of the two, is the world’s oldest popular music festival still in existence, officially being established in 1961. It moved to a permanent site in Reading 10 years later and in 1999, the Leeds leg was added.

Tickets for Leeds (www.leedsfestival.com) are still available to buy but there are only a handful of Sunday day tickets left for Reading (www.readingfestival.com).

For more information on Tim Burgess and The Charlatans, visit www.timburgessmusic.com and www.thecharlatans.net

Are Cheshire East flouting law with £10.5m profit on parking charges?

 

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor Brian Silvester is asking the question if Cheshire East is flouting the law with their £10.5m profit on parking charges.

He said,"Cheshire East Council has made a profit of £10.5m from car parking charges since it was formed in 2009. I have been informed that the surplus goes to the General Fund and is not ring fenced. (See below and link) The 1984 Road Traffic Regulation Act – “does not authorise the authority to use its powers to charge residents for parking in order to raise surplus revenue for other than transport purposes”.If all the profit goes to the General Fund there is no way of knowing whether it is being used illegally to pay for other services. Many motorists will think they are being ripped off to pay for  none transport services which is not legal.I have written to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Raynes, asking him to provide evidence that all the £10.5 milllion surplus has been spent on transport purposes."

Cllr Brian Silvester

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor

Tel 01270 567757

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2382178/500m-tax-drivers-greedy-town-halls-Parking-charges-soar-councils-flout-law.html

Councils forced to stop cashing in on parking

All councils will be forced to stop using parking charges as a means of raising revenue, after a high court victory by Barnet CPZ Action Group campaigning against a huge increase in the cost of their parking permits. Residents in the borough began legal action against the council in 2011 after it hiked the cost of permits from £40 to £100, and vouchers for visitors from £1 to £4. At the high court Mrs Justice Lang declared that the legislation under which Barnet had increased the charges - the 1984 Road Traffic Regulation Act – “does not authorise the authority to use its powers to charge residents for parking in order to raise surplus revenue for other transport purposes”.

Urgent action to replace  bollard.

I reported the need for urgent action be taken to replace a bollard in Gresty Lane ,Rope. Because there is a problem with speeding vehicles in Gresty Lane chicanes were placed at either end of the residential part of the lane to slow the traffic down. Some irresponsible people use the road as a speedy rat run and the Police are  investigating the complaints of speeding vehicles.

The bollard on one of the chicanes had been missing for months and there was a danger that a vehicle would hit the chicane, not realising it was there. I am pleased that the Highways Department have now replaced the bollard.

Staffing Shortage Leads to Customers  'trapped in a Kafkaesque loop'

  I have called on the Cheshire East Council (CE) to take urgent action to improve customer service. I  received a complaint about  the service residents receive when they ring the Council. The resident told me, ' I have tried on numerous occasions in the last week to pay my additional fee for refuse collection only to become trapped in a Kafkaesque loop. I have waited for anything up to 20 minutes three or four times while being repeatedly told I am the next call to be dealt with. I even had the same message when trying to telephone another department to complain about the telephone system.'

The response to me from the Council was that they had had staff leave and it was taking time to replace them. I am calling for urgent action to be taken because the current level of customer service is not acceptable. I am concerned because this is a front line service and when it is not working efficiently this reflects badly on the Council's reputation for customer care. Perhaps the standing message could be re-recorded in times of extreme difficulty. The public would surely prefer this to hanging on indefinitely.

Elections

On the 1st August there were by-elections for the Crewe West Ward of the Crewe Town Council. They were caused  by the resignations of two Labour Councillors, just 3 weeks after they had been elected in April. The cost to the Crewe Council taxpayers of the by-elections  was £12,000. The by-elections were won by Labour and I congratulate the Councillors elected and wish them well in their new role.

There was a good swing to UKIP at the election, there was an increase in  the UKIP share of the vote and the UKIP Candidates came in a strong second. The Conservative and LibDem Candidates  came third and  fourth and saw their vote collapse disastrously. In the Crewe Town Council elections in April, UKIP were second in every seat and they have improved on that  performance in the by-elections. It is now absolutely clear that UKIP are the main opposition to Labour in Crewe. Only UKIP can beat Labour in Crewe. For those who want to defeat Labour  a vote for the  Conservatives or the LibDems is just a wasted vote.

Commissioner and Youth Ambassador echo Police internet safety message

 

Nowadays, young people are becoming more and more computer literate due to the amount of technology available at their fingertips. Many of them talk to friends using a variety of different channels, including the ever increasing social networks.

It’s now the start of the summer holidays and John Dwyer, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire and Dominic Rogers, the Youth Ambassador want to remind people about staying safe on the internet.

The importance of keeping young people safe on the internet was brought to the fore front again this week when a local paper printed a story about an 18-year-old man who groomed and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl after meeting her online.

The man was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders’ institute (he was 17 when the incident took place) after the court heard how he befriended his victim on Facebook, spoke to her over a number of weeks making the girl think that he cared about her. However, as time progressed he started to make inappropriate comments and eventually asked her to meet up with him, and then sexually assaulted her.

Cheshire Constabulary are warning parents to be vigilant, and urging them to make use of the help and advice that is available to ensure that their children are safe online.

John Dwyer said: "There are some horrible people in this world, who enjoy preying on the vulnerable and the innocent. This case highlights some of the issues that we face when using social networks.

I fully support Cheshire Constabulary’s stance on this. It’s important for parents to check and monitor what their children are doing on social media. I’d urge parents and young people to look at the advice and information out there, and think twice before they befriend people they don’t know on social networks."

Dominic Rogers said: "It is important that young people learn from this shocking event and do not befriend people on social networking sites that they do not know. If any young person is worried about someone on social media I would encourage them to talk to an adult."

A quick guide to staying safe on the internet can be found below:

Dos

If you feel uncomfortable with what people are saying to you online, or they send you inappropriate photos/videos, tell someone.

If you have a profile on Facebook, Twitter (or any other social media site) make sure that your security settings are set to private. This way only people you choose will be able to see your profile

Use a screen name or nickname in chat rooms

Report any suspicious activity to the social media site (e.g. fake profiles)

Don’ts

Post anything you wouldn’t want to share with the rest of the world.

Be careful. People that you’re talking to may not be who they say they are.

Meet up with people you’ve met on the internet. They may not be who you think they are.

Give people private information about yourself. This can be your phone number, address, bank details, etc.

Use your full name, or your real name in chat rooms

Send inappropriate photos/videos of yourself or others.

Additional information about keeping yourself safe online can be found on the Think U Know website www.thinkuknow.co.uk.

A fall in arrests drives motorists down the right road

 

Figures published on Thursday 1 August reveal that across Cheshire, 112 motorists were arrested as part of a month long operation, which ran from 1 June to tackle drink driving. Men under 30 continue to be the main offenders but with arrests down by 28% on June last year this shows a move in the right direction.

Assistant Chief Constable, Ruth Purdie said, "The outcome of the 2013 summer drink driving campaign shows the excellent work, and tenacity of our officers in keeping our roads safe. By stepping up enforcement measures, this has allowed us to take a hard line to drink and drug driving by identifying those motorists who are still not heeding our warnings."

The summer campaign was heightened this year, with a further 91 blood alcohol tests carried out by the roadside. Compared with the same period last year, more people were breathalysed than in 2012 but fewer arrests were made (1,926 alcohol tests in June 2012 resulting in 156 arrests).

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer said: "It’s clear that whilst certain people across Cheshire have ignored the ‘don’t drink or drug drive message’, I’m delighted to see that lots of people have taken heed and listened. This is shown in the number of drink drive arrests being down in the county. One of my aims is to make Cheshire’s roads safer by reducing road traffic collisions, fatalities and serious injuries that still occur on our roads. I’m heartened by the fact that this message is hitting home."

Drivers were also tested for being under the influence of drugs. Across Cheshire, 18 drug driving (or field impairment) tests were carried out and 7 arrests made.

Dave Murray, Road Safety Officer said in relation to this, "many young people I speak to genuinely believe that certain drugs - mainly cannabis and stimulants make you a safer driver; this is a myth.  The reality is that taking drugs and attempting to drive carries serious consequences. Drugs, like alcohol, have the capacity to distort your perception of things in all kinds of ways.  One thing is certain, they definitely do not enhance your ability to carry out the complex task of driving, and they only make it more difficult and dangerous"

Drink driving is a 365 days a year issue for Cheshire Police which is why targeted enforcements are not just limited to national ‘anti-drink driving’ campaigns. A crash car is also taken out to events across Cheshire to educate the public − called the ‘Think’ car - it is a badly damaged vehicle which was involved in a collision in which a young driver was killed. This summer’s anti-drink drive focused on young people under 25, but also those who attend drink fuelled events such as barbecues and then drive home − often with passengers in the car.

A digitally led campaign has been launched by the police called ‘don’t treat your passengers like dummies’ − targeted at young people but to raise awareness to the dangers of driving irresponsibly whilst passengers are in the car. If you would like to read more about this, please visit cheshire.police.uk

An iPhone enabled Cheshire App has now been launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner which includes a reporting tool so that the general public can report drink drivers. Please visit www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk

Roadside breath tests 2017 tests across Cheshire This breaks down to Eastern 259, Northern 273 and Western 253, HQ (Motorway, ARV's and Motorcycle Unit) 1232 Arrests by area: Cheshire East – 32, Halton – 14, Warrington – 22, Cheshire West and Chester – 38, Motorways - 6 Arrests by locality: Congleton – 8, Crewe – 9, Knutsford – 5, Macclesfield – 5, Nantwich – 1, Wilmslow – 4 Runcorn – 9, Warrington – 22, Widnes – 5 Chester – 9, Ellesmere Port – 9, Northwich – 8, Western Rural – 10, Winsford – 2

The Show Must Go On the Road for Fundraising Actors

A trio of Nantwich thespians are gearing up for their toughest performance yet - a gruelling London to Paris cycle ride in aid of St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice.

On 10 August, Nantwich Players actors Charlie Gobbett, 47, Tony Hoy, 61, and Gareth Roberts, 58, will begin an exhausting 345-mile bike ride from the London Eye to Paris’ iconic Notre Dame, to raise money for St Luke’s.

Charlie, a tourism and marketing translator, Tony, a retired GP and bicycle instructor Gareth expect their endurance challenge to take an impressive three days. 

The trio of keen cyclists, who are no strangers to punishing journeys, will travel more than 100 miles per day in order to raise funds for St Luke’s, which provides invaluable care and support for people from Mid and South Cheshire with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

Charlie explains: “Over the last few years we have taken on similar challenges such as the Coast to Coast event which saw us bike 140 miles from Whitehaven to South Shields and also the gruelling Welsh 3000s, a punishing 15 peak walk for charity.

“This is definitely the hardest we have had to push ourselves but knowing that we are raising money for such a fantastic cause makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

St Luke’s Head of Corporate & Community Development Diane Eeley commented:

“We wish the team all the very best of luck and a safe journey to Paris.

“More than £6,500 a day is needed for St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice to open its doors and the majority of that money is found through its incredible network of supporters and fundraisers such as Charlie, Tony and Gareth.”

The trio are funding the bike ride themselves. You can sponsor them by visiting their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/GCTcyclists.

To find out more about St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice visit: www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk

Green Flags galore for Cheshire East Council

 

Six of Cheshire East’s treasured green spaces have again been awarded Green Flag Awards.

The Council and hard-working volunteers have ensured that the awards, given by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Green Flag, remain with Cheshire East’s parks and green areas, some for the third year running.

Awards have been given to:

· The Moor in Knutsford;

· Congleton Park;

· Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Macclesfield;

· Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve;

· Sandbach Cemetery; and

· Bollington Recreation Ground.

Sandbach Cemetery was the first of its kind in the county to win a Green Flag Award and retains the status for a third consecutive year.

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of the environment, said: “I am delighted that our parks, green spaces and even cemeteries continue to be recognised in such a positive way. We already know Cheshire East is a beautiful area and this is partly down to the people who look after these spaces.

“These beautiful areas are a direct result of the Council Tax which our residents pay and hopefully they will see that it is worth it and that they get all-year round benefits from them.

“I often walk around Brereton Heath and very much recommend it to anyone who simply wants to get out into the open and enjoy what Cheshire East has to offer.

“Management of these sites is by dedicated staff, such as our park gardeners and rangers, together with volunteers, such as Friends of Congleton Park and dedicated individuals.”

Police seek witnesses to a serious collision in Holmes Chapel

 

Cheshire Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision in Holmes Chapel.

At 6.20pm on 26 July 2013 a silver Subaru was travelling along on the A535 Macclesfield Road towards Chelford.

As it approached a bend between Twemlow Lane and Manor Lane, it passed a dark coloured pickup truck travelling towards Holmes Chapel.

The Subaru was then in collision with a grey Audi Estate which had been travelling behind the pickup truck.

The pickup truck then drove off towards Holmes Chapel. The driver of the Subaru, a 42-year-old man from Macclesfield, was airlifted to Hope Hospital and remains in a serious but stable condition.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the pickup truck driving off should contact PC Nicola Rimmer on 101 quoting incident number 889 of 26 July 2013.

Crewe is ‘on the move’ says Council Leader

 

Crewe is now a town “on the move” says Cheshire East Council Leader Michael Jones, following last week’s landmark announcement that Bentley Motors is to invest £800M at its site in the town, creating 1,000 jobs at the plant and in the local supply chain.

Councillor Jones said: “Our ‘All Change for Crewe’ strategy sets ambitious goals for the town, turning it into one of the leading centres for advanced engineering and manufacturing. Last week’s announcement by Bentley shows we are getting there and Crewe is now a town on the move. 

“The university technical college we are currently developing will provide the skilled young engineers we need to develop our automotive sector and make Bentley’s commitment to the town a sustainable investment.

“The council is fully committed to making the changes and improvements needed to turn Crewe into a great place to live, work and invest and I am determined to work with all parties to make this happen – businesses, trade unions, the voluntary sector and political and civic leaders across the board.”

He added: “In particular, I would like to thank Councillor Kevin Hickson, Leader of Crewe Town Council, who respected the commercial confidentiality of the Bentley announcement.  It is co-operation like this that will see us regenerate Crewe in the months and years to come.”

Councillor Hickson said: “On behalf of Crewe Town Council, I welcome the much needed investment in the town at the Bentley factory which will create 1,000 jobs.  It shows that Crewe has the skilled local workforce and manufacturing expertise that makes it a great place to invest.  The Town Council has as its priority the economic development of Crewe and we will work cooperatively with all interested parties to make that vision a reality.”

Police appeal for witnesses following assault in Crewe

 

Police are appealing for witnesses to a racially aggravated assault in Crewe.

At 5.50pm on 19 July 2013, an incident involving two motorists and a passenger occurred at Ruskin Road at its junction with Nantwich Road.

PC Kev Lloyd said: "There were plenty of people around at the time who would have witnessed the assault on the driver of one of the cars which had slowed down as it approached the junction.

"I would appeal to them if they have not yet spoken to police, or anyone that may have caught the incident on CCTV to contact us.

"Hate crime is taken extremely seriously by the Constabulary and anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 945 of 19 July."

Alternatively information can be passed anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Two men aged 32 and 34 have been charged with racially aggravated assault and are due to appear at Crewe Magistrates on 6 August 2013.

COMMISSIONER TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME

 

John Dwyer, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire and Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove, have met to discuss how the needs of victims of crime can be better addressed in Cheshire.

John Dwyer said, "I had an excellent meeting with Baroness Newlove, we are both seeking the same outcomes which is a greater focus on meeting the needs of victims across the whole criminal justice process and improved support and follow up care.

We are looking to introduce victim’s advocacy services and provide a single point of contact for victims to direct them to relevant support services. I am not aware of this happening elsewhere in the country. We are seeking to identify innovative solutions to improve the support provided to victims of crime as I pledged in my Police & Crime Plan".

Baroness Newlove said, "As part of my work as Victim’s Commissioner, I am advising Government ministers on aspects of the criminal justice system in England and Wales affecting victims and witnesses. I was impressed with the work already done by John to look at victims services in Cheshire and to map out the victims journey. It is a national problem that all too often victims do not know which organisations to turn to for the support that they need through a process which can be very traumatic. I was encouraged by his enthusiasm and passion for seeking to improve victims services and we will be working closely together to do just this."

From 2014, the Ministry of Justice will transfer the commissioning of some victims services to Police & Crime Commissioners.

Cheshire Police to deliver road safety messages at CarFest

 

Cheshire Police will be on hand for this year′s CarFest to speak to spectators about road safety.

The motoring event, which is held in aid of Children in Need, takes place from 2^nd to 4^th August at Oulton Park Race Circuit.

Cheshire Police will share a stand with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as Road Safety teams from Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils.

The stand will include the ‘Think′ car, a badly damaged vehicle which was involved in a collision in which the driver was killed. The vehicle is used as a platform to illustrate the potential consequences of drink driving.

Road Safety Officer David Murray said: "CarFest provides an excellent opportunity for us to engage with motorists and promote safer, more responsible driving.

"We always receive positive feedback from the public when attending events such as this and encourage anyone attending the festival to come over and speak to us."

This year will be the first time that motorcycles will be on display at CarFest and police will be promoting safe riding and encouraging other motorists to "think bike".

Cheshire Police are currently running an enforcement operation in partnership with North Wales Police which focuses on motorcycle safety.

Operation Caesar II provides a high policing presence across the county in a bid to reduce the number of motorcycle casualties.

As part of the operation, officers will be stopping and engaging with motorcyclists who commit moving traffic offences such as speeding and dangerous riding as well as anti-social offences such as excessive noise.

They will also be dealing with other road users who endanger the lives of themselves and others.

For more information on road and motorbike safety, visit the advice and information section on the Cheshire Police website: http://www.cheshire.police.uk.