Politics

Meals service closure hitting schools hard, warn CEC councillors

Meals service closure hitting schools hard, warn CEC councillors

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
The closure of Cheshire East’s school meals service is causing “real distress” to some headteachers and one small school faces losing a full-time staff member.

The council’s children and families committee voted last month to close its loss-making school meals service next April, saying it could no longer afford to subsidise it to the tune of approximately £515,000.

June 4, 2024
Willaston couple’s letter to Party leaders in memory of daughter

Willaston couple’s letter to Party leaders in memory of daughter

A Willaston couple have written an open letter to Party leaders ahead of the General Election, calling on them to commit to preventing sudden heart deaths in young people.

Alison and Robert Howells lost their 22-year-old daughter Ceri from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) 10 years ago.

June 3, 2024
Cheshire East Council go ahead for Basford East employment areas

Cheshire East Council go ahead for Basford East employment areas

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for two large employment developments near Crewe which could create 2,900 jobs despite claims “grey sheds” will be a “blot on the landscape”.

Muse Developments was granted full planning permission for three large units for light industrial or warehousing and distribution on land at Basford East, near the A500.

June 1, 2024
Works on Southern Gateway project in Crewe to begin in June

Works on Southern Gateway project in Crewe to begin in June

Works to improve access to Crewe town centre will continue in June as Cheshire East Council’s Southern Gateway project gets underway.

The Southern Gateway works aim to improve the route for pedestrians and cyclists from the south of Crewe into the town centre from High Street to the Lifestyle Centre.

May 29, 2024
Labour kick off election campaign in Crewe and Nantwich

Labour kick off election campaign in Crewe and Nantwich

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Labour kicked off its election campaign in Crewe and Nantwich by wheeling in one of the big guns as it fights to snatch back the seat from the Conservatives.

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry was in Crewe yesterday (Tuesday) to support local parliamentary candidate Connor Naismith, who is hoping to overturn a Conservative majority of 8,508.

May 29, 2024
Cheshire East briefing for Crewe & Nantwich election candidates

Cheshire East briefing for Crewe & Nantwich election candidates

Cheshire East Council is to stage a briefing session for all candidates standing for Crewe & Nantwich in July 4 General Election.

Candidates and their agents are invited to the session on May 31 in Macclesfield Town Hall.

May 27, 2024
Cheshire East Council given share of £1 million to fight fly-tipping

Cheshire East Council given share of £1 million to fight fly-tipping

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is one of 26 councils to receive a share of a £1 million government pot to tackle fly-tipping and help protect communities.

The grants have been awarded to support various schemes to crackdown on criminals who dump rubbish in towns and the countryside.

May 24, 2024
Nantwich councillors urge residents to back Leighton Hospital bus

Nantwich councillors urge residents to back Leighton Hospital bus

Community leaders are calling on Nantwich residents to back plans to reintroduce a direct bus service between the town and Leighton Hospital.

Cheshire East proposals include restructuring the existing 70, 72 and 73 bus services between Nantwich, Wrenbury and Audlem, and cutting sections to make possible a new direct link to Leighton Hospital.

May 22, 2024
Cheshire East schools should consider not-for-profit meals model, says councillor

Cheshire East schools should consider not-for-profit meals model, says councillor

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Head teachers impacted by Cheshire East Council’s decision to scrap its school meals service should consider a not-for-profit model such as one which operates in Liverpool, a Crewe councillor said.

The council’s loss-making catering service is due to close next April, leaving 87 schools looking for alternative providers.

May 22, 2024
New Mayor elected for Cheshire East Council

New Mayor elected for Cheshire East Council

Cheshire East Council has elected its new mayor for the borough.​

Councillor Marilyn Houston, who represents Crewe West, was handed the chain of office by outgoing mayor Rod Fletcher as part of the ceremony in the Tenants’ Hall at Tatton Park.

May 19, 2024
Nantwich residents join forces for new River Weaver steering group

Nantwich residents join forces for new River Weaver steering group

A number of Nantwich residents have united to devise a plan to safeguard the River Weaver in the town.

“The Weaver Steering Group” has been formed at the initiative of town councillor Anna Burton and will report to Nantwich Town Council.

May 17, 2024
Damning Ofsted report into Cheshire East Council children’s services

Damning Ofsted report into Cheshire East Council children’s services

A damning Ofsted report has rated Cheshire East Council’s children’s services “inadequate” and “requiring improvement” across a range of problems.

The report follows an inspection carried out between February 26 and March 8 this year.

May 16, 2024
Cashless car parks plan for Nantwich “discriminatory”, town council told

Cashless car parks plan for Nantwich “discriminatory”, town council told

Cheshire East Council could be discriminating against older people with its plans to make all but one car parks in Nantwich cashless.

That was the claim made at Nantwich Town Council, as they discussed CEC’s bid to make all car parks cashless apart from Snow Hill.

May 15, 2024