Politics

Utility firms not turning up blamed on delayed A530 re-opening

Utility firms not turning up blamed on delayed A530 re-opening

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Utility firms failing to turn up for essential work added to delays to the A530 Middlewich Road closure and can’t be forced to pay compensation, a councillor has said.

Middlewich Road, which has been closed between Pyms Lane and Smithy Lane since May, was due to re-open this month.

October 21, 2022
Council clamps down on music events at Cholmondeley Estate near Nantwich

Council clamps down on music events at Cholmondeley Estate near Nantwich

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Amplified music events at Cholmondeley Estate will have to end at midnight following 234 complaints about a festival which was so loud one local family moved into a hotel.

Environmental health officer Margaret Hopley said the four-day Outlook Festival between June 30 and July 3 featured live music from 4pm to 4am and was audible up to 11 miles from the premises.

October 19, 2022
Councillors call for “safe night travel” motion in Cheshire East

Councillors call for “safe night travel” motion in Cheshire East

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Employers should take some responsibility for ensuring shift workers get home safely and Cheshire East should consider this when pubs and clubs apply for late-night licences, two councillors have said.

Councillors Laura Smith and Sally Handley have put forward a motion to next week’s meeting of the full council calling for safe night time travel for workers.

October 17, 2022
Scale of death threats and abuse faced by Cheshire East councillors unveiled

Scale of death threats and abuse faced by Cheshire East councillors unveiled

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Death threats, excrement posted through the letterbox, stalking, trolling and obscene phone calls – these are just some examples of the harassment experienced by Cheshire East councillors.

And while it’s definitely not true to say all have suffered such treatment, even some of those who said they received no abuse did qualify it with, ‘other than what you expect’.

October 16, 2022
Labour calls on Cheshire East to prevent fracking in borough

Labour calls on Cheshire East to prevent fracking in borough

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Labour is putting forward an urgent motion calling on Cheshire East Council to do everything it can to prevent fracking in the borough.

Certain areas are believed to have the geological conditions suitable for hydraulic fracturing process to extract shale gas.

October 12, 2022
Nantwich Town Council clarifies position on external markets

Nantwich Town Council clarifies position on external markets

Nantwich Town Council says it will “discuss alternative delivery methods” with organisers of external markets it plans to withdraw from.

It says the decision to withdraw from around 12 externally organised Artisan and Antique Fair markets was taken because of difficulties attracting staff and wellbeing on existing workers.

October 11, 2022
North West Tory MPs back Crewe to become GBR headquarters

North West Tory MPs back Crewe to become GBR headquarters

Conservative MPs across the North West have backed Crewe’s bid to become the home of Great British Railways.

Eighteen MPs have signed a joint letter to the new Secretary of State for Transport Anne-Marie Trevelyan including the Crewe & Nantwich MP Dr Kieran Mullan who organised the approach.

October 11, 2022
Town councillors back plan to buy £15k machine to tackle weeds

Town councillors back plan to buy £15k machine to tackle weeds

Town councillors in Nantwich are hoping a £15,000 “weed-buster” machine will help clean up its allotments and streets.

They voted to test out the new “Foamstream” machine with a view to buying one for the council’s use.

October 10, 2022
Cheshire East councillors set to receive more paid parental leave

Cheshire East councillors set to receive more paid parental leave

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council looks set to give councillors paid parental leave to encourage more people to stand for election and take part in the democratic process.

If the policy is agreed by full council it would apply to parents, regardless of their gender, and cover adoption leave to support those who choose to adopt.

October 10, 2022
Nantwich Town Council to ditch externally run markets in town square

Nantwich Town Council to ditch externally run markets in town square

Councillors have backed plans to axe around 10 externally run Antique and Artisan markets in Nantwich town centre.

The proposal would see the council stage more live music and children’s activities on the square in their place.

October 7, 2022
Councillor airs concerns to police over Nantwich drugs scene

Councillor airs concerns to police over Nantwich drugs scene

A Nantwich councillor told a police inspector that illegal drug activity in the town is “getting worse”.

Cllr Stuart Bostock said there were obvious areas where people gathered to deal or buy drugs around Nantwich.

October 7, 2022
CEC faces £12 million deficit in 2022-23, finance review shows

CEC faces £12 million deficit in 2022-23, finance review shows

A first quarter finance review of Cheshire East Council spend shows it is facing massive deficits in 2022-23 of up to £12 million.

The review, published this week, forecasts a reduction in the council’s coffers of £11.7m – with the largest rise in expenditure in the council’s adults and children’s services.

October 7, 2022
North West Ambulance Service faces strike vote

North West Ambulance Service faces strike vote

Employees of North West Ambulance Service are set to vote on taking industrial action over pay and working conditions.

The vote has been actioned by the GMB Union who announced it has launched a formal industrial action ballot.

October 7, 2022