Acton Bridge Parish Council need new team members; if you want to know more about the role or are interested in supporting the village and are over 18 years of age, please contact Carole on 07594 297691 or email clerk@actonbridgeparishcouncil.org

What is a councillor?

Acton Bridge Parish Councillors represent the village in local decision making and support. They are generally elected by the public every four years, but there are currently spaces available that we are looking to fill without election. We are particularly keen to ensure that the Parish Councillors are representative of all members of our community.

What do councillors do?

Councillors have three main components to their work.

1. Decision making – Through meetings, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
2. Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
3. Getting involved locally – As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties are optional depending on the level of commitment made, but may include:
4. Going to meetings of local organisations
5. Going to meetings of bodies affecting the wider community
6. Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public

How much time does it take up?

We meet on a monthly basis for a couple of hours (followed by an optional trip to the Hazel Pear!). The amount of time spent being a Councillor is down to the individual, but duties typically take about an hour a week.

What are the benefits of being a Parish Councillor?

As a Councillor representing your community you will help keep it a great place to live and work.  You will be provided with any training required to enable you to do the role and will develop new skills and friendships as part of the team. Being part of the Parish Council is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work.

If you are interested in applying or want to know more, please contact the clerk to the council using the above details.

Acton Bridge Parish Council need new team members; if you want to know more about the role or are interested in supporting the village and are over 18 years of age, please contact Carole on 07594 297691 or email clerk@actonbridgeparishcouncil.org

e clerk to the council using the above details.

The closing date for applications to be considered at the July Parish Council meeting is 30th June 2023

Peak Cluster

We are hosting a public community drop-in event, please do come along and engage further with us:

➡️ Thursday 1 June – Memorial Court, Northwich – 2pm-7pm

Peak Cluster will play a vital role in decarbonising nationally essential industries, safeguarding UK jobs and accelerating the UK’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Peak Cluster is an innovative collaboration to capture, transport and permanently store carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from neighbouring industries and across Staffordshire and Cheshire.

The cement and lime industry plays a vital role in global society, creating the foundations for everyday life, therefore it needs to decarbonise.

Do you need to improve your chances at your next interview? Do you need some guidance/ hints and tips? Then give us a call for one of these dates on Northwich 07833 236675 or Winsford 07766 205389

Northwich

• 17^th May or 21^st June 10am – 12 noon

Winsford

• 30^th May or 20^th June 1pm – 3pm

SSmith  

Stephen Smith

Area Skills and Employment Coordinator for Winsford/Northwich Work Zones

Economic Growth

Cheshire West and Chester Council

Tel: 01606 288910

Email: stephen.smith@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Location: Work Zone Winsford, Wyvern House, The Drumber,  Winsford, Cheshire  CW7 1AH

Location: Work Zone, Waterside House, Navigation Road, Northwich, CW8 1BE

Visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Hi friend

As part of the Big Help Out, can you help us build a nationwide picture of the health of our hedgerows?

Hedgerows are the vital stitching in the patchwork of our countryside. Not only are they beautiful, with shifting seasonal colours, but they also provide homes and corridors for wildlife. And all the while they help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon.

How you can get involved

Hedgelife Help Out is a family-friendly volunteering opportunity and you don’t have to travel far to take part! Between now and 31 May, simply find a hedge near you and answer a few questions about it by clicking on the button below.

Complete online form

Your results matter!

We will use the information you gather to build up a picture of hedgerows around the country. It’ll help show how diverse our hedgerows are and how they make countryside and urban places more beautiful.

Did you know that this year National Hedgerow Week takes place 8-14 May? So that’s another good reason to get out into your local countryside or green space and show support for our hedgerows!

Submit your results

You can also use our ‘A little rough guide around the hedges’ to help you identify the different hedgerow plants you might spot.

We look forward to seeing your hedgelife results!

Best wishes,

Cat

Cat Rowland
Digital Engagement Officer | CPRE The countryside charity

Date: 02 May 2023

Reference Number: 6133

Cheshire West and Chester Council is reminding voters in Thursday’s elections that they will need photo ID if they are voting in a polling station.

Thursday, 4 May, is the first date electors in England will need to show an acceptable form of photo identification before they are issued with a ballot paper at a polling station.

This change has been made by the UK Government as part of the Elections Act 2022.

Andrew Lewis, Returning Officer said: “Election staff are committed to ensuring that everyone entitled to vote is able to do so.  But the new ID requirements mean that, regrettably, people who do not show a valid ID cannot vote.  Presiding Officers at our polling stations have no discretion to wave this requirement.  So please do remember to bring photo ID from the approved list, and make sure you exercise your right to vote.”   

Only original documents are acceptable – scanned images, pictures on mobile phones or copies will not be accepted.  Electors can still use a photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it’s still a good likeness.  The name on the photo ID shown at the polling station should be the same name the elector has used to register to vote. If the names are different, polling staff may ask to see additional documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce papers, deed poll paperwork, a birth certificate, or a bill.

720 electors from Cheshire West and Chester applied and been issued with Voter Authentication Certificates, with the deadline for applications now passed. 

A Presiding Officer can refuse to issue a ballot paper if they have reasonable doubt about the authenticity of any photo ID. They will advise the elector to return with an alternative form of accepted photographic ID. The Returning Officer will be made aware of any cases of suspected forged ID and can refer these to the police.

Any elector who is turned away from a polling station because they don’t have an accepted form of photo ID with them can return later on polling day. If they are then able to show an accepted form of photo ID, they will be issued with a ballot paper.

Any elector can ask to show their photo ID in a private area of the polling station. This will include electors who are wearing any kind of face covering. A mirror will be available for these electors to be able to fix their face covering before returning to the main part of the polling station where they will be issued with a ballot paper.

Where electors request that a female carries out an ID check, a female member of polling station staff will be asked to do this. Polling station teams will include female members of staff where possible, or will be able to contact other election staff such as Polling Station Inspectors. These team members will be authorised to check photographic ID and on call to attend polling stations at short notice.

Proxy voters, who are authorised by another elector to vote on their behalf, will have to show their own accepted form of photo ID before they are allowed to make a proxy vote. They do not need to show ID for the person they are a proxy for.

You can find out more about acceptable versions of Photo ID on the Council’s website.   Photo ID at polling stations from May 2023 | Cheshire West and Chester Council 

Date: 26 April 2023

Reference Number: 6128

Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed that work is beginning on the regeneration of Winsford town centre. The development includes the demolition of some existing buildings and the construction of new units for businesses and open public spaces.

In the coming weeks, Kier construction workers will be on site erecting hoardings prior to commencing work on the project.

The public is being advised that there may be disruption to pedestrian access and routes around the town centre while work is taking place. Signage is being installed to advise of alternative routes.

The small Dene Drive car park in the middle of the site will be closed, and residents are advised to please use alternative car parks around the town centre while work is going on.

All businesses in the town centre remain open as usual for people to visit.

Construction is due to be complete by the end of 2024.

Whilst acknowledging that the works will create some inconvenience, the Council will provide regular updates regarding progress for the duration of the works so that people are aware of what is happening at the various stages of the project.

Further information can be found on the Council website:

Town centre | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Date: 27 April 2023

Reference Number: 6126

Cheshire West and Chester libraries will be celebrating the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort with some wildflower themed activities.

Some libraries will sow wildflower seeds, so they will bloom red, white and blue this summer, seed bookmarks will be given away and there will be themed children’s craft sessions.

The Coronation’s themes are “youth, community, diversity and sustainability” which led the Library Service, which is already involved in the Council’s plans to tackle the Climate Emergency, to think more about sustainability.

The outside space at five libraries – Barnton, Hope Farm, Lache, Sandiway and Tattenhall – will be wildflower seeded.  Flowers will include the patriotic colours of red, white and blue.  The wildflower areas are being created by the Council’s Your Streets team as they work their way around the borough creating this year’s native wildflower meadows.

This follows on from the wildflower seeding of Upton Library last year and it is hoped that more libraries will have wildflower areas in the future.

One thousand plantable seed paper bookmarks, specially printed with the Coronation logo, will be distributed by the borough’s libraries.  After being used in books, watering them will allow the wildflower seed to germinate and grow. Simple instructions on how to do this will be given out with the bookmarks.

In addition, libraries will be doing children’s crafts and other activities in the weeks before the Coronation.  Please ask at your local library for details, or see the library events webpage: Library events | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Arts Council England have provided library services in England with £1,000 to mark the occasion in whatever way they think will be most relevant and enjoyable for their users and local community.  In Cheshire West and Chester this funding has been used for the wildflower seed and bookmarks.

It’s free to join and use a library.  In addition to printed books, there is free access to  computers, wi-fi and study space. Membership allows access to the popular BorrowBox app which provides thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks for free. As well as this, the Libby app provides free access to hundreds of magazines online.

The library events are part of the Council’s programme to celebrate the Coronation. For more details see Coronation events in west Cheshire | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire Wildlife Trust are running a short survey asking people what they want their council to do for nature and the climate.

They are asking people across Cheshire what issues should be a priority, be it leaving the grass to grow for bees, planting trees, challenging damaging developments or supporting communities to take their own action. If you’d like to know what people in Cheshire care about most, then please share the survey. The more people that take part, the more we will know about what matters to local people.   

Take the survey here: https://survey.app.do/make-nature-a-priority

Date: 13 April 2023

Reference Number: 6119

‘Slow Mow May’ will balance grass cutting operations in the borough

Cheshire West and Chester Council has announced it will support this year’s No Mow May campaign 

After listening to feedback, following supporting the campaign last year, the Council will ensure there is a balanced approach, as not everyone agreed with leaving the grass uncut.

National charity, Plantlife, launched the #NoMowMay campaign which encourages everyone to leave their mowers in their sheds for the month of May to allow pollen rich flowers for nature’s emerging insects.

Grass cutting operations will slow down during the month of May and teams will leave selected areas of grass to grow on some high-speed routes to help biodiversity.

This means that wildflowers such as dandelions will continue to flower and provide important sources of nectar for insects. The campaign coincides with World Bee Day on Saturday 20 May which promotes the importance of pollinators like bees.

As part of its Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy, which began last year, the Council is committed to planting wildflowers, with additional meadows being created across west Cheshire during 2023. Once this year’s phase of planting is complete, there will be 101 new mini meadows across the borough, the equivalent of four full size football pitches.

Over the next three years more native wildflower meadows will be created which will then be the equivalent of 24 football pitches.

The project is in partnership with Chester Zoo, who funded machinery to help prepare the soil via their Nature Recovery Corridor project.

Park Friends groups are also getting involved. The Friends of Westminster Park in Chester have asked for large areas of the park to be left for nature. These areas will be monitored and maintained by the groups, in partnership with the Council.

Residents may wish to take part in No Mow May in their own gardens to boost biodiversity in the borough. Whether it’s a small patch or a whole lawn, it can have an impact on plants, insects and animal life. May is a particular important month as the first nectar rich flowers begin to emerge.

Road safety is a priority for the Council, so as always grass cutting will continue in areas such as road junctions and bends to avoid any potential road hazards. The grass on areas like football pitches, play areas and paths will also still be cut to ensure these areas can still be enjoyed.

Regular grass cutting schedules will resume across the borough in June.

More information on the Council’s wildflower strategy can be found on the Council website:

Wildflowers | Cheshire West and Chester Council