Politics

Empire Cinemas sign up to Royal Arcade scheme in Crewe

Empire Cinemas sign up to Royal Arcade scheme in Crewe

Regeneration plans for Crewe town centre have taken a step forward after Empire Cinemas agreed terms for a new state-of-the-art eight-screen multiplex.

The 800-seat cinema will be centre-piece of the Royal Arcade scheme, shown in these newly released artist drawings.

September 24, 2018
Councillors want “world class mitigation” when HS2 rail link built in Cheshire

Councillors want “world class mitigation” when HS2 rail link built in Cheshire

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council chiefs have reiterated support for the planned HS2 route between Crewe and Manchester – but are calling for “world class mitigation” for the environment.

Phase 2b of the high-speed rail link is due to be built to the west of Middlewich and Knutsford – including through the Cheshire Showground in Tabley.

September 22, 2018
Nantwich fire station among 21 “deterioating” bases to be revamped

Nantwich fire station among 21 “deterioating” bases to be revamped

By Stephen Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Nantwich, Audlem and Tarporley fire stations are among 21 earmarked for improvements as part of an £8.5 million project agreed by Cheshire Fire Authority.

The service has opened new fire stations in Alsager, Lymm, Mollington in Chester and Penketh in Warrington over the past three years.

September 21, 2018
Councillors could call in Cheshire East wheelie bin charges

Councillors could call in Cheshire East wheelie bin charges

By Stephen Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors are expected to call in a controversial decision by Cheshire East Council to introduce charges for new wheelie bins.

From next month, residents will need to pay Cheshire East Council £30 for a new 240-litre bin, or £25 for a smaller 140-litre bin.

September 20, 2018
Bus user group calls on councillors to build new bus station in Crewe

Bus user group calls on councillors to build new bus station in Crewe

By Stephen Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Bus users are urging councillors to back their call for a new bus station in Crewe – claiming the current one is an ‘accident waiting to happen’.

Cheshire East Council says the station will be improved as part of wider regeneration plans for Crewe’s Royal Arcade, which it bought in 2015.

September 19, 2018
MP Laura Smith champions Back British Farming Day in Westminster

MP Laura Smith champions Back British Farming Day in Westminster

Crewe & Nantwich MP Laura Smith MP has thrown her support behind the Back British Farming Day in Westminster.

Farmers play a key role in producing food and caring for the countryside, and employ thousands across Cheshire.

September 18, 2018
Election date set for new Nantwich Town councillor South Ward

Election date set for new Nantwich Town councillor South Ward

An election will take place to select a new Nantwich Town Council south ward councillor.

The position became vacant following the death of Cllr Norma Simpson back in July.

September 10, 2018
Councillors call for more action against illegal gypsy and traveller sites

Councillors call for more action against illegal gypsy and traveller sites

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Councillors call for more to be done in battle against illegal gypsy and traveller sites across Nantwich and Crewe.
Members of Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board gave thumbs up for consultation to begin on the next phase of the local plan.

August 30, 2018
CPRE hits out at lack of brownfield site development in Cheshire East

CPRE hits out at lack of brownfield site development in Cheshire East

By Stephen Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Campaigners are urging developers to build on brownfield sites first as thousands of homes are set for Cheshire East’s greenbelt.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has identified plans to build 4,747 homes on greenbelt land across the borough.

August 21, 2018
Campaigners blast £55,000 spent by Cheshire East on Mayor’s Bentley car

Campaigners blast £55,000 spent by Cheshire East on Mayor’s Bentley car

By Stephen Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A campaign group has hit out at Cheshire East Council for spending £55,000 in the past three years to lease a Bentley for the mayor.

A Freedom of Information request sent by TaxPayers’ Alliance has revealed that between April 2015 and March 2018, CEC spent a total of £67,980.50 on a Bentley Flying Spur – including its £55,000 lease, plus fuel and maintenance.

August 21, 2018
Rise in refugee children dumped at Cheshire’s M6 service stations

Rise in refugee children dumped at Cheshire’s M6 service stations

EXCLUSIVE
More children fleeing war-torn countries were abandoned at Cheshire’s M6 service stations in 2017-18 than in every other year this decade.
In a special report, Stephen Topping speaks to those on the front line dealing with rising numbers of young asylum seekers dumped in Cheshire.

August 15, 2018
Cheshire East Council chiefs leave air quality data investigation to police

Cheshire East Council chiefs leave air quality data investigation to police

By Stephen Topping
Cheshire East Council chiefs say they did all they could to try to get to the bottom of the air quality scandal before handing it to police.

Cheshire Police has been looking into the deliberate manipulation of Cheshire East Council’s air quality data over the past year after it was revealed that some figures between 2012 and 2014 were changed.

August 2, 2018
Auditors refuse Cheshire East Council “value for money” certificate

Auditors refuse Cheshire East Council “value for money” certificate

By Stephen Topping
Auditors have refused to give Cheshire East Council the all clear for a third year running as the investigations swirling around it continue.

Grant Thornton has approved the council’s finances for 2017-18, but it has refused to issue a ‘value for money’ certificate over governance concerns.

August 1, 2018