Last year, Cheshire West and Chester Council piloted the first Let’s Talk site in Ellesmere Port Market, which is proving beneficial to the local community.

Let’s Talk sites offer people across the borough an opportunity to have a face to face conversation about their health and wellbeing and are also a place where people can go for practical advice and guidance.

This is a partnership initiative delivered together with a range of service providers such as Citizens Advice and ForHousing, community organisations such as Cheshire West Communities Together and Pathfinder, as well as the Council’s Adult Social Care team.

There are now four Let’s Talk sites across the borough located in Ellesmere Port, Blacon, Lache and more recently Winsford. Each one has a unique offer as they have been designed to meet the needs of local residents.
People’s health and wellbeing can be affected by lots of different issues including housing and financial challenges, that’s why it’s important for our residents to have access to the help they need through a friendly conversation.

Let’s Talk locations and opening times:

– Ellesmere Port Market – every Thursday from 10am to 12noon

– Matthew Henry Evangelical Church, Blacon – 3^rd and 4^th Friday of every month from 10am to 12noon

– Lache Community Centre – 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th Friday of every month from 11am to 1pm

– Winsford Library – last Thursday of every month from 12.30pm to 2pm

For more information about available support at each location, visit:

Let’s Talk health and wellbeing | Cheshire West and Chester Council

The video link below provides more details of what we offer at Let’s Talk. Please can we ask that you share this information and video link with your communities via social media and other available channels.

Let’s Talk video

We are currently exploring the opportunity to open Let’s Talks in Northwich and rural areas. We will be back in touch with more information on these later in the year.

The Arriva depot closure has brought great uncertainty for residents so Cheshire West and Chester Council have set up a Frequently Asked Questions which will be updated as the Council  knows more about the future from providers:   

Latest news on Arriva bus services | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Date: 09 March 2023

Reference Number: 6063

Cheshire West and Chester Council has started working with a social enterprise company created to ensure play areas are inclusive.

The Council has been working with Plan Inclusive Play Areas (PiPA PLAY) to review the Council’s website to provide updated information on inclusive play currently offered at outdoor play areas managed by the Council.  The second part of the work will then look at a selection of outdoor play parks across the borough in terms of opportunities to improve their inclusive play potential.

The following factors will be looked at as part of the play area assessment work: improving entry and exit points at play areas, pathway improvements, surfacing and also feasibility for additional equipment to encourage inclusive play.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “All children deserve a safe play area that works well for them and their families within a reasonable distance from their home.  Working with PiPA PLAY means our play areas will be independently assessed to help make them even more inclusive.

“The Council’s work with PiPA PLAY is unique, in that we are the first local authority to engage on this level, from delivering play area audits to involvement in website content.”

Becky Maddern from PiPA PLAY said: “We are delighted Cheshire West and Chester Council asked PiPA PLAY to support them in ensuring the play parks they manage are accessible and inclusive for all.

“Here at PiPA PLAY our aim is to empower the true meaning of inclusion, equality and diversity in play area design.  As a mum to a child with profound disability, I have first-hand experience of what it feels like to see your child excluded from play parks. My son loves to be swung high on a swing and to go fast down a slide, however very few parks cater for his needs.  Play is fundamental to a child’s development and by creating inclusive and accessible parks we can create an environment where children can play and grow together, because all children and families deserve and have a right to access their local play park.”

This work will also feed into the review of the current Play Strategy (2020-2024), which is to be updated in 2024 and also any future plans for play area investment, including funding applications.

Date: 09 March 2023

Reference Number: 6071

Cashless parking will be available across Cheshire West and Chester Council’s car parks from Thursday 16 March 2023 making it more convenient for residents and visitors to park and help support town centres and local businesses.

A number of user-friendly apps will be available including RingGo, JustPark, PaybyPhone and APCOA connect. This offers an alternative means of payment to the existing pay and display machines enabling payment via your mobile phone.

With these apps, there is no need to have the right change, display a ticket in your vehicle or look for the nearest Pay and Display machine. You simply register your details on an app and enter a location code, displayed when you park.

In addition, you can extend your parking session, where permitted, if you need more time from your phone, without having to rush back to the car.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “Moving to cashless parking will not only make it easier for residents and visitors but also support ongoing local economic recovery by encouraging people to shop local.  

The new apps will make it convenient for residents to pop into town without the need to find change for parking.  The ability to extend your parking session also means visitors can take their time and enjoy everything the borough has to offer.”

There is a small transaction charge for cashless payments but ticket machines across Council-owned car parks will continue to offer different payment options. More information on parking is available on the council website.

Date: 13 March 2023

Reference Number: 6079

Cheshire West and Chester Council has reported the theft of highway grid covers across Winsford and Northwich. 

Over 30 gully/grid covers were taken on Thursday night (9 March), leaving a dangerous hole in the road at each site. A white van has been spotted in areas of Winsford, Weaverham, Banton and Hartford. 

The Council has made the areas safe with cones and are arranging for permanent repairs. 

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member – Environment, Highways & Strategic Transport said: “These recent thefts of highway grids are a challenge for our highways team. The thieves are creating a hazard for road users, and the grids are costly to replace. We are working with the Police to catch the culprits but would appreciate any assistance from residents to report any suspicious activity they may have seen”. 

Gully grids, prevent large debris as well as animals from entering the drainage system. 

Please call the Police on 101 and quote incident number: IML1496847 or call the Council on 0300 123 7036 if you notice any suspicious activities.

Date: 02 March 2023

Reference Number: 6062

A fraudulent Cheshire plumber who preyed on pensioners to fund his cocaine habit has been given an eight-month custodial sentence.

Christopher Hankey, 43, of Oak Lane, Cuddington, previously pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading at Chester Magistrates Court in February.

Hankey was a self-employed plumber who would take up-front payments but fail to undertake the jobs required.

He also cold called residents, falsely stating that plumbing parts had been recalled, seeking money for the replacement parts in advance and claiming that the supplier would reimburse the cost.

In this case, many of the complainants were retired, with an age range of between 68 and 85.

When interviewed, Hankey admitted the offences, saying he was using the money for his cocaine habit which was costing him between £120 and £160 a day.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “Another successful outcome for our Public Protection Service and Legal team.

“This case shows that we will pursue those who take money from residents for poor or unfinished work, protecting both residents and the reputation of the vast majority of Cheshire West and Chester traders who do the best for their customers.”

When sentencing HHJ Thompson said: “It seems to me that you chose some of these victims because you had previously gained their trust and there has been an element of targeting, it can’t be a coincidence that they are elderly. “You are a deeply dishonest individual and these are particularly nasty offences.”