Pebbleart

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

‘Pebbleart’ is making an artistic impact in the Crewe and Nantwich area.

The Pebbleart project was started in Morecambe by a woman called Jacky Burns with participants encouraged to paint a rock, write Pebbleart on the back and then hide it in the hope of making a stranger smile when they find it.

Pebbles from craft shops or public places are taken home and painted with acrylic paints or permanent pens. The pebbles are then hidden or placed in public places such as next to a path, a park bench or even on a high street.

Anyone who finds a painted pebble can leave it where it is for someone else to find, rehide and take a photo of it for a Facebook group page, or take it home and keep it if they wish.

A national ‘Love on the rocks uk’ Pebbleart Facebook group now has 40,000 members and has resulted in local Facebook groups being started across the United Kingdom in recent months.

Sharon Cattell from Wistaston has setup a ‘Love on the Rocks Wistaston (Crewe & Nantwich)’ Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/283759602126716/ - for people to post the location and a photo of local Pebbleart.

Sharon said, “I discovered the ‘Love on the rocks uk’ Facebook group and thought that Pebbleart was a great way to entertain my children with combining painting when its wet and walking when its dry. The children love to do arts and crafts and also love walking. We have hidden Pebbleart in Wistaston, Wolstanwood, Delamere Forest and Cat Bells in the Lake District. Plus, we even hid one in a Hobbycraft! I setup the ‘Love on the Rocks Wistaston (Crewe & Nantwich)’ Facebook group to hopefully get the local community involved. We love to see when someone posts where Pebbleart has been found and a photo - hopefully it makes the finder smile as well.”

New drop-in gentle movement sessions for older adults in Crewe

Cheshire Dance is inviting residents from Crewe and the surrounding area who are living with dementia, those with early onset dementia and those keen on prevention to come and join us with their loved ones or carers to move in a fun and relaxing environment.

The perfect choice for Social Prescribers, dance and movement is a popular physical and social activity; it’s like an elixir, packed full of the things we love about life.  Alongside the more obvious physical and social aspects, Cheshire Dance wants us to know that it’s good for our brains too, they want to encourage the residents of Crewe to dance, which greatly enhances the quality of life; something that dementia can steal from people living with the condition, as well as from their loved ones and their friends too.

According to research, studies indicate that regular dancing once or twice a week lowers the risk of cognitive decline.  A robust 21-year study amongst older people, undertaken by Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECM) in New York City showed that ‘Of any activity that you do, regular dancing was found to offer the most protection against dementia, offering a 76% risk reduction.’

Further studies too are showing that people living with dementia and their families are seeing benefits to their quality of lives, whether playful moving at home or taking part in an organised class.  In a recent Arts4Dementia project in London the benefits of dancing lasted for a week or more, for some right up until the next session the following week.  Whilst not a guarantee, dancing is clearly a good choice of hobby as we get older. 

In THIS Moment - Dance and Dementia Project (which has been created in partnership with Cheshire East Council (Cultural Services), Leighton Hospital and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and supported by additional investment from Cheshire East Council Participatory Budgets scheme (Public Health) for Crewe based community sessions) has three main strands:-

• The first strand launched last November introducing weekly dance sessions on the rehabilitation ward, 21b at Leighton Hospital, facilitated by Lead Dance Artist, Jody Morgan.  Here the patients are generally 70+ and are transitioning out of hospital after illness or surgery. 

• The second strand has seen the project roll out into the community, with three regular sessions running in and around Crewe with the following aims:- 

• To contribute to the prevention of the early onset of Dementia 

• To offer people a way to live well within dementia friendly communities 

• Finally, Cheshire Dance is designing a movement resource for families to use at home.  With the music on, the resource encourages the whole family to play, move and to enjoy the moment together. 

Teacher of community session Shirley Brocklehurst of Cheshire Dance says "Sheila and Derek have been married for 60 years.  Derek is his wife’s main carer and socialising and keeping active has become difficult and understandably they both feel lonelier.  So how lovely is it to see them waltzing on the dance floor like they used to, enjoying precious time together.  The tea dance is all about reducing social isolation as residents are feeling the joy and excitement from being able to access a community activity welcoming of dementia - there is magic in the medicine of music and dance as it stimulates memory and helps to keep people active.”

“I really enjoyed the gentle exercises, moving muscles, just doing a little bit, getting your shoulders moving. You’re sitting or in bed a lot usually. I think the breathing exercises too are very good at helping you relax.” Participant

“Patients were more engaged than normal, it was interesting to find out different information about each other and see them come out of their shells more. It was a really enjoyable session.” Rebecca, Staff Nurse

Details of all the sessions including the cost and how to book on in is detailed below:-

Chance to Dance:-

Tuesday’s from 3.30-4.30 pm – Belong Village, 20 Brookhouse Dr, Crewe CW2 6NA - £3.50 per session

Thursdays from 10.30 to 11.30 am - The Wishing Well, The Georges, Crewe - £3.50 per session

Pickmere Tea Dance:- 

15th November and 13th December from 1.30 – 3.00 pm - Pickmere Extra Care, Rose Terrace, Crewe CW1 3ET – Session is free refreshments will be provided

For information on all the above sessions call 07760428554 or email shirley@cheshiredance.org

Phishing - How to protect yourself

Subject: Phishing - How to protect yourself

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Businesses celebrate at Nantwich Food Awards

The Nantwich Food Awards were staged last week at the town’s Civic Hall, with a Gala celebration of local businesses that have delivered outstanding products and services to customers.

Local food and drink lovers voted online in their thousands in recent months to select the best eateries, speciality producers and customer service champions.

The awards recognise businesses that promote the South Cheshire region, and follows the annual Food Festival that brings over 40,000 visitors to Nantwich every September. 

The evening kicked off with live music from Callum Wright & Oli Ng and the soulful sounds of Charmaine Baines and her band, Matrix Club Matrix, made it a party atmosphere to remember.

Close-up magician Russ Appleby wowed guests with some clever trickery around the tables, and a photo booth was provided by the Bazaar Media Group to capture special memories.

An excellent buffet was produced by the award-winning South Cheshire College Academy Restaurant, while Rodney Densem Wines kindly supplied champagne for category winners. Concorde Trophies provided the unique awards, and McCarthy’s Salon offered additional prizes.

The awards organiser, Nanna Pedley, said: “The Nantwich Food Festival and Nantwich Food Awards go from strength to strength, but they are only possible with the ongoing contribution from hundreds of volunteers and generous local businesses.

“The awards ceremony recognises the outstanding contribution made by the excellent food and drink businesses in the area, but it’s also a way to thank everyone who has been involved in staging the showcase events, including the outstanding group of volunteers.

“Holding the evening at the Nantwich Civic Hall this year makes it extra special as it’s such an important venue at the heart of the historic town.”

In attendance for the prestigious evening were The Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, M.B.E., K.St.J., the Mayor of Cheshire East, Councillor Arthur Moran, the Mayor of Nantwich, Councillor Penny Butterill, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, Laura Smith, and Chairman of South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Shaun Cafferty

VIPs, guests and nominees waited eagerly for news from the judges as the seven category winners were announced. Results were as follows:

Best Restaurant (including Hotel Restaurants): Romazzino

Best Pub with Food: The Leopard

Best Café or Coffee Shop: Ginger & Pickles

Beer Champion: Beer Dock, Nantwich

Best Newcomer: Deadwood Smokehouse

Best Local Producer: Snugburys

Excellence in Customer Service: Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge

There were additional awards for people who took part in competitions at the Food Festival in September.

A special presentation was also made by the organising committee to Roger Mills who has stepped down from his position as a Director. To celebrate his long-standing association with the festival, and to acknowledge his never-ending hard work, he was given the honorary position of President.

Festival Directors Chris Farrall and John Coulter said: “Roger has given so much over the years to help the festival become the success it now is. He is known throughout Nantwich as someone who is prepared to give his time and knowledge to help others.

“Running the annual festival is an ongoing commitment across twelve months of the year, so it’s right that he enjoys time to pursue other interests. We know that Roger will always be available to offer advice and support when needed."

Further details about the food awards, the annual food festival and how to get involved can be found on the official website: www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk.

Rail firm gets scout centre on right track

Crewe-based Train Bits & More (TBM) has donated bathroom equipment and expertise to help the Wistaston 35th Scout Troop complete their new scout centre and community facility.

The new-build, located off Elm Close in Wistaston, has been constructed to replace the old building that became outdated and unsafe.

TBM has supplied washroom and toilet equipment and helped to transport materials during the build phase that has also seen many other companies and volunteers offer support.

Neil Smith, TBM director, has enjoyed working with the group for over year, offering help on several fronts.

He said: “My lad is part of the scouts, so I know how important these organisations are to the community. They are run by dedicated volunteers and parents. They can always do with a hand.

“TBM supplies a range of products and services to transport operators, and that includes washroom facilities for trains and coaches. So donating a few toilets, sinks, dryers and some facilities for people with disabilities was the least we could do.

“We also move some large engineering items for our customers, so we have vans and lorries available to help the scouts get the job done.”

Gerald Newbrook, Honorary Group President, has been involved with the scout group for nearly sixty years.

He said: “I was the first scout here when this unit was formed in 1958. There have been a lot of changes since then but we have always stuck together and ensured there’s a facility here.

“The original hut burnt down in 1969, but we soon had a new building up and running. That served us well, but in recent times it wasn’t suitable and didn’t meet the high standards expected of community buildings.

“The time was right to plan for the next sixty years. We now have a super community centrepiece.”

The new centre has taken nearly two years to build, costing around £265,000 in total. This has been achieved by generous donations of cash, time and materials by individuals and Cheshire companies.

John Bennett, Group Scout Leader, added: “It’s been a tremendous effort by so many people to get this far.

“There are a few final jobs to complete, some joinery and then gaining the necessary health and safety certificates.

“We are confident that the new centre will be fully open before Christmas, and we’re planning a special official opening ceremony to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Wistaston Scout Group in June 2018.”

For more information about the Wistaston 35th Scout Troop visit their website: www.wistastonscoutgroup.org.uk.

Gold for Oliver at National Championship Gala

Seahorse Swimming Club’s Oliver Daley came away with a gold medal in the Halliwick National Championship Gala in Southgate, London, on 14^th October 2017 as winner of the Men’s 25m race. Oliver was part of the North West team that won a tally of seven medals  – two gold and five bronze.

Other Seahorse members who won medals were Erin Yoxall (bronze in the girls 25m), Rosie Borowski (bronze in the girls 50m), Zack Beeston, Ethan Carroll, Jamie Cramer and Erin Yoxall (bronze in the junior relay) and Paul Edwards, Tracy Jones, Mark Mansell and Sean Savage (bronze in the senior relay).

“There was stiff competition at this year’s championship with only seconds between first, second and third place in many of the races. All the swimmers gave a really good account of themselves and were a credit to Seahorse and the regional team.” - Rob Dutton (Chairman).

Seahorse are based at Crewe's Lifestyle Centre and are affiliated to the Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy, which develops the teaching of swimming to people with disabilities.

Council Leader announces changes to her cabinet

At full Council on Thursday October 19, 2017, Councillor Rachel Bailey, Leader of Cheshire East Council, announced changes to her cabinet which include councillors Peter Groves and George Hayes stepping down from their cabinet positions.

Councillor Jos Saunders, ward member for Poynton East and Pott Shrigley, takes on the children and families portfolio. There are a number of other changes to the portfolios of other cabinet members to accommodate the responsibilities of the democratic and public engagement, assurance and ICT portfolio. The key changes are:

· Cllr Liz Wardlaw – Deputy Leader Health, also customer operations, public engagement and libraries;

· Cllr Ainsley Arnold – Housing, Planning and Regeneration, also trading standards, licensing, environmental health and air quality;

· Cllr Janet Clowes – Adult Social Care and Integration, also safer communities;

· Cllr Paul Findlow – Corporate Policy and Legal Services, also civil protection and emergency planning, democratic services and corporate risk management;

· Cllr Paul Bates – Finance and Communication, also bus service review, car parking (interim), ASDVs;

· Cllr Don Stockton – Environment – formerly Assets and Regeneration – now including local transport plan, car parking and cultural services.

Councillor Bailey said: “I am very grateful for the contribution which both Peter Groves and George Hayes have made through their work in the cabinet.

“Councillor Peter Groves has served on the cabinet in a variety of roles, including the portfolio brief of finance in what are well recognised as uniquely challenging times for local government funding.

“Councillor George Hayes started as my deputy cabinet member in children and families before going on to become the cabinet member for children and families. He has been a passionate advocate for the young people of Cheshire East.  I’m pleased that Cllr Hayes will continue leading The Skills and Growth Company, as he has done throughout its successful first year of operation."

Speaking on the announcement, Councillor Groves said “It’s been an interesting and at times challenging journey, dealing with the media and working to improve our communications with residents and getting to grips with new IT systems, which will help us become even more effective going forward.

“I have also enjoyed the challenges involving the council’s democratic process and dealing with risk and complaints, and emergency planning. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all at Cheshire East Council who have helped and supported me, both officers and members.

I would also like to wish the leader Rachel Bailey and the cabinet every success going forward.”

Cllr Hayes added “I have loved every minute of serving children and their families through my work at Cheshire East Council since I was first elected in May 2015.

“During this time, we have made some remarkable achievements, sustaining examination results at all key stages above national averages, remaining in the top 20 local authorities for the percentage of Good and Outstanding schools and having the lowest number percentage of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets).

“Our work surrounding the ‘Emotionally Healthy Schools’ programme should also not go unrecognised - rolling out to schools across the borough in order to ensure that our young people truly get the best start in life. I remain dedicated to serving children and their families through my continued involvement, primarily as a school governor.

The leader and cabinet have my support, as I focus on the Skills and Growth Company, and we all strive forwards for Cheshire East and our residents.”

Winter Wellbeing – prepare your home for winter

Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

This week, we remind people that there are numerous checks that can be completed which can minimise the affects of bad weather.

Advice includes:

● Insulate pipes and drain off outside taps to prevent frozen pipes.

● Know where your stop tap is and make sure you can turn it on and off with ease.

● If you are going away, consider asking a friend or neighbour to check on your house regularly. That way, if you have a burst, it will be discovered early.

● Leave your heating on if the weather is forecast to be freezing.

● Insulate your loft or walls to keep the heat in. Free and impartial advice about energy saving measures, grants and discounts is available from the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151.

● Fit draught proofing to seal any gaps around doors and windows.

● Get your boiler serviced regularly by a qualified engineer. Remember, for gas boilers, check that your engineer is Gas Safe registered. Oil-fired heating needs servicing too.

● Be prepared for clearing ice and snow this winter – have a snow shovel, brush and grit or salt ready.

● If a member of your household is of a pensionable age, has a disability, is chronically sick, has hearing and/or visual difficulties or you have a child under eight years old, you may be eligible for free services. You can contact your energy supplier to check whether you are eligible for free or priority services. Suppliers have a duty of care to households with customers who may be vulnerable regarding their energy supply.

● Winter is also a good time to be aware of what to do if electricity supplies go off. Don’t assume that suppliers will know that power supplies are down – call them and have your name, postcode, house number and telephone number handy.

● Winter is also a good time to know what to do if you have a burst pipe. If you do, collect the water in a bucket and switch off your central heating. Turn off your stop tap and turn on your sink taps to drain your water system. Don’t touch wiring or switches which you suspect may have been affected. If in doubt, turn off your electricity at the mains and call a plumber. For more information, call 0845 746 2200 or visit the United Utilities website.

● Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained, ensure that embers are properly put out before you go to bed and always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks.

Councillor Liz Wardlaw, cabinet member for health, said: “We know that winter can be a daunting time of the year for some people but there is support out there for residents to access to help them stay warm, well and safe.

“Throughout winter the council will be issuing advice and information to help our residents to prepare for the colder weather. I’d also urge residents to keep an eye on friends, family members and neighbours who may need a little extra help during the colder weather.”

For further winter-related advice, visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section. Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter: @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

Winter looms and council highways teams geared up for all weathers

Cheshire East Council’s highways teams are all geared up to face whatever winter weather throws their way in the coming months.

Cheshire East highways’ dedicated winter service starts at the end of October and preparations are well underway should the temperature plummet or strong winds impact on driving conditions.

Recent autumn storms saw gangs clearing the roads of fallen trees and other debris and from next month, the service’s full-on cold-weather response programme swings into operation.

Salt stocks are high and the service’s fleet of 19 gritters are on standby and ready to be mobilised throughout the winter season. Gritting routes are planned and include the recognised high-level roads to the east of the borough, where snow and ice tend to have the most severe impact in extremely cold weather.

Councillor Glen Williams, deputy cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “Using digital technology and Met Office weather warnings, we constantly monitor changes in weather and are able to anticipate sub-zero temperatures and the need to grit our roads. Major transport routes and access routes for emergency services and other key routes, are a priority.

“Although we grit a significant proportion of the borough’s 2,700 kilometres of highway, we cannot ensure that all roads will be clear of snow and ice.

“Residents and motorists can be reassured that if things turn unpleasant we are ready to respond.  This is also the case where storms and heavy rain can lead to fallen trees and flooding. 

“We urge residents to take care in adverse driving conditions or when out walking.”

Cheshire East highways work closely with neighbouring authorities to ensure that a consistent level of service is provided to roads that cross council boundaries.

Residents and commercial operators can keep up to date with gritting operations by following Cheshire East highways on Twitter @CECHighways or they can go to: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways

The service can also be contacted on 0300 123 5020 for any enquiries, or to report debris on roads and other hazards.

Crewe and Macclesfield roads get huge boost

On the day that Cheshire East Council announced that the £58m Middlewich bypass would go ahead, there was more excellent news for residents in Crewe and Macclesfield as well.

The authority has been successful with two national productivity investment fund bids totalling £8.5m, which is in each case a major step towards improving the local road networks in both towns.

In Crewe, the funding will go towards new roads and junctions that will ease congestion in the north of the town near Leighton Hospital and the Bentley factory.

In Macclesfield, the funding will go directly towards improving the busy Silk Road and Hibel Road junction in the town.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Fresh off the back of the news that we have been successful with our funding bid for the Middlewich bypass, this is another terrific boost for two of the other major towns in our borough.

“This funding is a big step towards providing much needed relief to some of the more congested areas around Crewe and Macclesfield. Alongside the council’s own funding and that from developers, it will bring further economic advantages to the borough in the form of job creation.

“We will also be able to better meet the housing provision needs of residents of Cheshire East by enabling delivery of vital new development.”

Construction on both schemes is scheduled to get underway within the next two years.

Modelling Jobs Advanced Fee Fraud Alert

Subject: Modelling Jobs Advanced Fee Fraud Alert

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The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have recently noticed that Fraudsters have been setting up fake adverts on social media (including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and job browsing websites to dupe people into believing they are recruiting for prospective models.

Once victims show interest in the job, the fraudsters contact potential victims on the false promise of a modelling career and subsequently advise the victims to come in for a test shoot.

The fraud can then potentially be carried out in two ways;

Firstly, the fraudsters can pressurise the victims in sending an upfront fee to book a slot for the test shoot. Once they have received the upfront fee, the victim will never hear from the fraudsters again.

The second possible method is that the fraudsters will take the advance fee that the victim sends for a photo shoot and arrange a photo shoot with the victim. After the photo shoot, the fraudsters will contact the victim after a few days and convince them that their shoot was successful and offer them a job as a model. The victim will then be asked to sign a contract and pay another upfront fee, usually to secure the modelling contract.

Fraudsters are also creating fake adverts for supposed modelling opportunities for children which do not exist. Fraudsters will inform parents or guardians that a potential career in modelling awaits their child. This tactic convinces the parent or guardian to sign up their child and send an advance fee.

The suspects will also convince the victim that in order to become a model, they will need to have a portfolio. The fraudsters will recommend a number of packages and stress that if a package is not paid for in advance, the process of becoming a model cannot continue.

Over a two year period (September 2015 – August 2017), an average of 28 reports of advance fee modelling frauds have been received per month by the NFIB. In August 2017, 49 Action Fraud reports of this fraud type were received and may continue to rise. The total loss in August 2017 alone was over £71,000.

Tips for staying safe:

• Carry out your own research prior to paying any type of advance or upfront fee.
• Be wary if you are asked to pay for a portfolio, as many legitimate agencies will cover that cost.
• Don't give your bank account details or sensitive information to anyone without carrying out your own research on the relevant agency.
• If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Its Autumn in the Queens Park

More branches falling and still Cheshire East have taken no action to make the park safe these are big enough to kill but they dont seem to care. The MP is now looking into the case

Council secures £1m European funding for its ambitious energy programme

Cheshire East Council has secured £1m of European funding to help establish a landmark community heating pilot scheme.

The European Investment Bank funding will help create the borough’s first district heating schemes and accelerate the development of large-scale energy storage combined with smart grid technology.

The investment will contribute to setting up the heat networks and help fund feasibility studies and development activities to give the pilot programme the best chance of success. It will include market testing and supply chain development.

Cheshire East is the first non-city region to receive funding for this type of project and will act as a pilot for similar schemes by other local authorities in the UK and Europe.

District heating schemes – also known as heat networks – are a system for distributing heat generated in a central location for residential and commercial heating requirements across a local area. Smart grids are electricity supply networks that use digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage.

This specialist technical assistance grant from the European Union’s long-term lending institution was provided under the European Local Energy Assistance (Elena) scheme, managed on behalf of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Having previously received support from the government for our heat network projects, it is hugely encouraging to obtain backing from the European Investment Bank. This shows we are at the cutting edge of the local energy supply agenda.”

Jonathan Taylor, vice president of the European Investment Bank, said: “We are pleased to support Cheshire East’s aspirations to reduce energy use and help accelerate the development of innovative local energy projects. This represents the EIB’s first support to a predominantly rural borough in the UK and will help to cut energy costs for both residents and local businesses.’’

The Elena project is managed by Cheshire East Council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company on behalf of the authority.

Cheshire East Council responds to storm Ophelia

Hurricane Ophelia passed through Cheshire East last night bringing strong gale force winds to the borough.

Once a yellow warning was issued by the Met Office prior to the storm, Cheshire East highways team was fully prepared with additional resources and worked through the night to ensure the safety of road users.

Approximately 40 reports were received from the public, ranging from fallen branches and trees, debris in the road and fallen power lines. Teams worked to reopen all major routes, including the A50 in Cranage and the A49 in Ridley.

There were a number of minor road closures. However, all closures that were implemented on key routes were cleared overnight.

Councillor Glen Williams, deputy cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “The priority was to protect the safety of residents and road users, so it was important to clear the key routes and all other routes when safe to do so. All major roads have now reopened and our teams are continuing to clear up any remaining debris and damage.”

The council’s highways team is monitoring all remaining minor road closures and is working to make roads safe. It is also removing any trees that were felled yesterday.

The council is asking the public to report any issues, via the customer contact centre, by calling 0300 123 5020. This will allow the authority to ensure that each report is appropriately logged and responded to.

Council welcomes Royal London decision to relocate to Alderley Park

Cheshire East Council has welcomed the news that insurance giant Royal London will remain in the borough and will take up the opportunity to relocate to Alderley Park.

The announcement (Thursday) ends speculation around the future location for the company and means that up to 1,200 high-skilled jobs will stay in Cheshire East, with the potential to generate far more employment opportunities at its current base in Wilmslow.

The council’s wholly-owned Skills and Growth Company has taken the lead n making the case as to why the company should stay in the borough.

The news was announced to staff and management at the Wilmslow site this morning.  Cheshire East Council leader Rachel Bailey was also informed and broke the news at this afternoon’s meeting of full council in Macclesfield.

Councillor Bailey said: “This is excellent news and I wish to thank Royal London for demonstrating its faith in and loyalty to the borough by choosing to stay in Cheshire East.

“Royal London has recognised that our expanding economic base, together with the skills and talents of our working residents, combine to offer a sustainable and successful future for the company based in Cheshire East.

“I wish to thank Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company and its managing director Julian Cobley for the hard work they have put in to this matter.

“They will continue to work with Royal London through the relocation process and offer support to help the business thrive.

“The name of Royal London has been a part of the employment and economic fabric of Cheshire since the company moved to Wilmslow from Manchester in the early 1980s, and, therefore, it is so reassuring to learn that this prestigious company will continue to be based in the borough.”

Royal London also announced today that Royal London Asset Management will remain committed to its Wilmslow site and hopes to see its masterplan come to fruition.  This includes mixed-use commercial, retail and housing opportunities – subject to planning – which would have the potential to create a further 1,500 to 2,000 jobs.

Neil Kilshaw, head of group facilities and estate transformation at Royal London, said: “It has long been recognised by Royal London and by Cheshire East Council that our existing buildings in Wilmslow no longer meet the needs of a growing modern business like ours.

“We have thoroughly investigated a range of possible sites, including remaining at a redeveloped Wilmslow campus or moving out of the borough. Our exhaustive search has convinced us that Cheshire East and Parklands, at Alderley Park, is the best possible location for our business and our staff.”

Councillor Ainsley Arnold, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “Not only do we see Royal London stay in Cheshire East, but we also have a golden opportunity here to generate new jobs, including specialist skills in financial and technical services.

“We look forward to seeing Royal London’s plans in more detail.”

Royal London will move to the Parklands office complex where staff will have access to family-focused amenities, modern sports and gym facilities and the benefits of an expansive rural location comparable to their existing home at Wilmslow. The move is expected to take place before 2020.

Royal London is the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company.

The current Royal London site is a strategic site allocation in the Local Plan. The ambition is to develop the site as a ‘living campus’, to create a thriving environment for business, as well as opportunities for living, employment and leisure.

Cheshire East responds to bus services consultation

Cheshire East Council has responded to the borough-wide consultation on subsidised bus services with a set of proposals, which retain day-time buses for 99 per cent of residents.

The proposals, which are to be discussed at the council’s environment and regeneration scrutiny committee on Monday, would save more than £1m from the council’s budget. Cheshire East received more than 3,900 replies to the consultation and has improved its plans for services as a result.

The planned changes maintain weekday and Saturday services, though the council proposes to no longer support buses during evenings and on Sundays, as these are some of the least used of its subsidised services. 

The plans would also phase any changes to ‘little bus’, to ensure there is a safety net for anyone who cannot get access to another local bus service.

Councillor Paul Bates, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for finance and communities, said: “Changing the way services operate is always a very complex issue. The council has weighed up the needs of all service users after our in-depth consultation. 

“We have tried to strike the best possible balance between making savings and protecting vital services for residents.” 

The views of the scrutiny committee are a vital part of the overall decision-making process. Cabinet is due to consider a set of recommendations on the bus review at its meeting on Tuesday, November 7.

Any changes to services would not take place before April 2018. After any changes, the council’s proposals would mean that the authority would still be investing more than £2m per year in subsidised bus services.

FiRELiNK eNewsletter for October 2017 from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Subject: FiRELiNK eNewsletter for October 2017 from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

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Ashley Lawton (Cheshire Fire , Administrator, Cheshire Fire)

FiRELiNK eNewsletter for October 2017 from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

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

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Cheshire fire cadets ready for Nepal trip

Following two years of fundraising, a group of our fire cadets are heading to Nepal to help finish off much needed classrooms at a village school.

The group have raised £70,000 for a project to build six classrooms on the side of a school in Kangel, which is in the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of North-Eastern Nepal.

For more information - Cheshire fire cadets get ready for Nepal trip

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Are you ready for winter?

Most incidents in the home can be prevented by using common sense and taking precautions.  Winter, particularly, can be a dangerous time with the higher than usual use of candles, electrical appliances and more hazardous roads.

The Service supports national initiatives that help our communities to understand just what precautions they can take to keep them and their loved ones safe.  Here are ones we have been supporting since the last newsletter.

Candle fire safety

With the days growing darker and winter setting in, a few candles scattered round the room can lend a warm glow to an evening. But with candle fires resulting in around 350 casualties each year, we would like you to take extra care with candles this winter - nearly 40% of all fires started by candles result in a death or injury.

Find out more - Candle fire safety

Get your chimney ready for the winter

With the colder, winter months looming, people will begin to start using open fires and their chimneys again.  In order to keep you and your family safe from fire, you need to take necessary steps such as ensuring your chimney is swept regularly, depending upon what fuel you burn and we would urge all householders to have a working smoke alarm in their home.

Find out more - Get your chimney ready for the winter

Is your car ready for winter?

Cheshire firefighters will be out and about around the county, offering drivers the chance to have their cars checked before the colder weather sets in. Along with partner agencies, firefighters will be carrying out free safety checks on cars as part of their continuing campaign for safer roads in Cheshire.

Find out more - Is your car ready for winter?

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National Burn Awareness Day

National Burn Awareness Day takes place on 18 October. The aim of the day is to raise awareness and reduce the number of burns and scalds each year.

Cheshire firefighters fully support Burn Awareness Day’s goal of preventing injuries

Find out more - National Burn Awareness Day

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Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

Cheshire residents are being urged to check their smoke alarms as they prepare to turn the clocks back.

The clocks go back at 2.00am on Sunday 29 October and, as summer time officially ends, we're asking people to prepare for the autumn and winter by checking their smoke alarms.

Find out more - Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

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Diwali

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to offer fire safety advice to people celebrating Diwali on 19 October.

Diwali is known as 'Festival of the Lights' and sees an increase in the use of 'divas' or oil lamps. It is believed that light signifies goodness therefore various lamps are burnt throughout the day and into the night to ward off darkness and evil.

Statistics show that there is an increased fire risk during Diwali, because of divas, candles and fireworks - but by taking just a few simple precautions you can  reduce the risks for yourself and your family.

Find out more - Diwali

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Bonfire Night - list of organised bonfires in Cheshire

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to encourage residents to attend an organised bonfire this year, because most injuries throughout the bonfire period occur as a result of people building their own bonfires, and setting off their own fireworks.

If you would like to add a community bonfire to the list on our website, please email digital-media@cheshirefire.gov.uk

Find out more - Bonfire Night - list of organised bonfires in Cheshire