Politics

Free Covid-19 testing in Cheshire East to end on Friday April 1st

Free Covid-19 testing in Cheshire East to end on Friday April 1st

PCR testing sites in Crewe and Macclesfield will be closed from Friday (April 1) as part of central government plans to close all free testing sites by the end of March.

Also, from Friday 1 April, free LFD tests will end.

March 29, 2022
CEC contacts Government over Covid pressure on schools

CEC contacts Government over Covid pressure on schools

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East has contacted Government education chiefs about the growing pressure on schools as teachers continue to pick up Covid from pupils.

Director of education Jacky Forster told the council’s children and families committee that Covid was having a bigger impact in primary than secondary schools at present.

March 28, 2022
“Quality assurance officers” to inspect Cheshire East road repairs

“Quality assurance officers” to inspect Cheshire East road repairs

New “quality assurance officers” are to be used by Cheshire East Council to inspect work carried out on the borough’s roads.

The authority said it aims to improve the quality of highways repairs after mounting criticism about the state of the area’s roads.

March 23, 2022
Cheshire Police Crime Commissioner defends 33% pay rise for deputy

Cheshire Police Crime Commissioner defends 33% pay rise for deputy

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner has defended a 33% pay rise he gave his deputy.

PCC John Dwyer told a councillor he made a mistake when initially calculating the salary for the role.

March 22, 2022
Harassed housing tenants urged to contact Cheshire East Council

Harassed housing tenants urged to contact Cheshire East Council

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Tenants being harassed by private landlords who are trying to evict them illegally are being urged to contact Cheshire East Council.

The council has developed an unlawful eviction and harassment policy aimed at residents knowing their legal rights and the support they can access if they are threatened with eviction.

March 18, 2022
Four CEC party leaders unite in Crewe Great British Railways bid

Four CEC party leaders unite in Crewe Great British Railways bid

The four leaders of the main political groups on Cheshire East Council have united in backing Crewe’s bid to be the home of the Great British Railways headquarters.

A bid is currently being prepared for Crewe to be the location of the headquarters for the new public body, which will oversee and manage rail in the country.

March 15, 2022
A dejected Laura Smith during Kieran Mullan's (Conservatives) acceptance speech

Former Crewe and Nantwich MP Smith NOT standing as candidate

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Former Crewe and Nantwich MP Laura Smith has said she will not be standing as Labour’s parliamentary candidate at the next general election.

Ms Smith won the seat from the Conservatives in 2017, beating sitting MP Edward Timpson by just 48 votes after three recounts.

March 14, 2022
Last phase of CEC “Say Hi” campaign launched to boost night-time economy

Last phase of CEC “Say Hi” campaign launched to boost night-time economy

Cheshire East Council has launched the third phase of its Say ‘hi’ campaign in a bid to support the night-time economy as it emerges from the Covid pandemic.

The campaign will be featured on social media, and includes a series of 11 films to support each of the council’s 11 towns including Nantwich.

March 9, 2022
Rise in passengers using new rural Nantwich on-demand bus service

Rise in passengers using new rural Nantwich on-demand bus service

Cheshire East Council’s new on-demand bus service is growing in popularity with rising passenger numbers, the authority says.

The “Go-Too” bus service has notched up more than 3,500 passenger journeys since its launch in October.

March 8, 2022
Supermarket and fuel vouchers for struggling Cheshire East residents

Supermarket and fuel vouchers for struggling Cheshire East residents

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Supermarket and fuel vouchers are to be included in an emergency assistance scheme to support Cheshire East residents struggling to feed families and heat homes.

The scheme was set up by Cheshire East in April 2013 to support vulnerable people facing immediate hardship, following a crisis or disaster, to prevent homelessness, to keep families together and safeguard vulnerable people.

March 7, 2022
CEC consider fines for drivers who leave engines running

CEC consider fines for drivers who leave engines running

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is to consider whether it should adopt new legal powers to fine drivers for leaving their engines running while vehicles are parked.

The council’s highways and transport committee narrowly voted in favour of asking for a feasibility study to be undertaken into engine idling and enforcement.

March 6, 2022
Coole Lane accident in icy conditions

Winter gritting cuts impacting Cheshire East district nurses, say councillors

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
District nurses have been unable to reach some patients since Cheshire East stopped gritting certain routes and there have been several accidents on icy roads, councillors said.

Cheshire East Council axed a number of roads from its gritting schedule this winter following the introduction of new scoring criteria which adheres to national guidelines.

March 4, 2022
Join consultation on police helpdesks closure plan, urges councillor

Join consultation on police helpdesks closure plan, urges councillor

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
A Cheshire East councillor is urging residents to take part in a consultation about plans to close police helpdesks in 11 towns, including Nantwich.

Cheshire Police wants to close helpdesks at stations in Nantwich as well as Knutsford, Winsford, Chester Town Hall, Ellesmere Port, Stockton Heath, Penketh, Runcorn, Congleton and Wilmslow.

March 3, 2022