Replacement bus services confirmed in mid Cheshire

Date: 14 April 2023

Reference Number: 6122

Replacement bus services confirmed in mid Cheshire

New and replacement bus services have been confirmed following the decision by Arriva North West to close their depot in Winsford and cancel all bus services in the area from 22April.

Service 31 will now be operated by D&G Bus on an hourly basis between Northwich and Crewe providing a link to Winsford, Glebe Green and Leighton Hospital.

Service 37 will also be operated by D&G (hourly) between Northwich and Crewe serving Bradbury Road, Winsford, Middlewich and Sandbach. Evening journeys between Winsford and Sandbach will be retained.

D&G Bus will also operate service1 from Weaverham to Rudheath via Northwich town centre. Journeys to Weaverham will operate every hour throughout the day, journeys to Rudheath will be supplemented by extensions to service 82, providing a combined half hourly service at certain times of the day. Service 1 will operate at suitable times for children travelling to and from Weaverham High School.

Stagecoach will operate service 84 between Crewe and Chester via Nantwich, Tarporley and Tarvin. Revised evening and Sunday services will be provided.

The X31, known as “Nightlife Express”, operates a Friday and Saturday evening service between Winsford and Northwich (last bus from Northwich 11.40pm) designed to support Barons Quay and the night-time economy.

A new service number N4 will operate hourly between Barnton, Winnington and Northwich. This service will extend to Leftwich and Kingsmead at certain times of the day and will also include journeys to Sir John Deane’s College for students.  

A circular town service W7 in Winsford will operate between 9.30am and 2pm Monday to Friday starting at Winsford Library then on to Dene Drive, Mount Pleasant, Over and Grange residential areas.

Cheshire West and Chester Council will financially support X31, N4, the circular town service W7 and the 84 evening and Sunday services.

A maximum single adult fare of £2 continues to be available on all services until 30 June 2023.

Timetable information can be obtained from the bus operator and council websites listed below: 

Cheshire West and Chester Council: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/public-transport

D&G: https://www.dgbus.co.uk/closure-of-arriva-depots-in-cheshire.html

Stagecoach: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-14/03/2023-13:56:43:549

Warrington’s Own Buses: https://www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk/news

New Funding Opportunities in Cheshire West and Chester

Date: 03 April 2023

Reference Number: 6111

Charities, Organisations and businesses across the borough can apply to the Cheshire West and Chester Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund, for project funding from Monday 3 April.

The Council is allocating £1.805m to support heritage, cultural and community projects as well as those that support business start-up and growth over the next two years.

This is an opportunity for local organisations to show how they can offer solutions to meet needs across the borough.  The funding will encourage innovative and sustainable projects that will have a positive lasting impact across the whole of west Cheshire.

There is funding available for both activities and capital works that can address local challenges, fill gaps in provision and help residents, communities and local businesses to thrive.

This will be the first opportunity for organisations who feel they can help deliver in the local area, but the Council will also hold some funding back until Autumn 2023 to enable partners who need a little more time to prepare proposals or better understand the cost of capital work. 

The funding is part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances though investing in three themes: Communities and Place; Supporting local business; and People and Skills. The Cheshire West and Chester Investment Plan sets out the focus and outcomes for each of these themes and was approved by Government in December 2022. To apply to the Shared Prosperity Fund visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/business/shared-prosperity-fund/communities-and-place

For further details email: UKSPF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Giant observation wheel will provide breath-taking views of Chester this Easter

Date: 28 March 2023

Reference Number: 6107

Giant observation wheel will provide breath-taking views of Chester this Easter


Chester’s Grosvenor Park will be home to an observation wheel this April, giving visitors breath-taking views from 35 metres above the ground.

The wheel will be offering rides for visitors to the park between 1 to 28 April.

Users will experience 360° views of the surrounding area, which means on a clear day a view of up to ten to twelve miles is possible.  The wheel will have 24 gondolas each holding up to six people.

Some gondolas are also available to accommodate a wheelchair or mobility scooter user and two people.

The price for a standard ticket is £7, a child under 1.4m is £5 and a family of four £20. Riders can expect a minimum of two rotations to take in the views.

There is a dedicated website with info, opening times and where discount tickets can be purchased online:

www.chesterwheel.com

This attraction will add to the Lodge Café, miniature railway, and Victorian carousel already available in the park this spring.

While the wheel is in the park an archaeological dig will also be taking place alongside it, so people on the wheel will have a bird’s eye view of the dig in action.

Cheshire West and Chester Council maintains a variety of great outdoor spaces available to hire for public events.  The Council works with several event organisers each year, to increase the visitor experience in its parks, helping to boost the local economy, create a strong sense of community, support local innovation and imagination, and to create an environment for culture to thrive.

Rural touring theatre returns this spring with a varied menu of live performances across Cheshire

Date: 21 March 2023

Reference Number: 6101

Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, a partnership between Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council, will be sharing a slice of their artistic programme for the spring season, at various venues across Cheshire.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “Reserve your seats now for some great shows. This spring season includes music from the 1920s and 30’s a story about fierce Lancashire Women and some tall tales especially for children. “The Rural Touring Theatre will be appearing at venues across our area including Great Budworth, Tarvin, Kelsall, Weaverham, Neston, Backford, Ellesmere Port and Farndon. Have a look at the website for more details about the many different shows and venues.”

Performance details and online booking is available on the CRTA website: www.cheshireruraltouringarts.co.uk

‘About Time’

Multi-talented Mitch Benn, a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show for more than a decade and described by The Times as “the country’s leading musical satirist”. ‘About Time’ combines music and comedy and is his first touring show in years.

‘Routes to Classics’, ‘Splendidly Spiffing Musical Fun & Frolics from the 1920’s and 30’s’, ‘A Night of Swing Jive Music with the 309s’

There are three music shows, starting with the welcome return of classically trained fingerstyle guitarist, Gus Glyn; his show ‘Routes to Classics’ traces the music we love today from its roots in traditional folk and blues, through to contemporary classics and all-time favourites.

Followed by The Casablanca Steps: ‘Splendidly Spiffing Musical Fun & Frolics from the 1920’s and 30’s’; these four exceptionally talented musicians and entertainers will bring a Great Gatsby band experience.

Rounding up this musical menu is ‘A Night of Swing Jive Music with the 309s’ a fantastic high energy swing jive band featuring twin vocals, swinging rhythms and soaring fiddle – guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your eyes smiling.

‘Miss Nobodies’, ‘Gertrude Lawrence: A lovely Way to Spend an Evening’

Ruth Cockburn brings her two-hander ‘Miss Nobodies’ a funny, poignant, heart-warming show about fierce Lancashire women and the mark they’ve left on this country’s history, including Ethel Carnie Holdsworth, a writer who is cited as the UK’s first working class female novelist.

The latest collaboration between gifted actor and singer, Lucy Stevens and pianist Elizabeth Marcus brings ‘Gertrude Lawrence: A lovely Way to Spend an Evening’; telling the story of the woman Noel Coward wrote Private Lives for, who became the leading lady of the West End and on Broadway; this play is funny, revealing, and full of music.

‘Moonsmile’ and ‘The Extraordinary Time -Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen’

There are new shows for children and families; Goofus Theatre present ‘Moonsmile’ (ages 4+) the story of a lonely museum Caretaker, who loses something dear to him and finds himself on the moon where the Moonlings, with a ritual of trust and friendship, help him restore what was lost; blending music, movement, puppetry, play, and mask this nonverbal performance immerses audiences in storytelling, where imaginations thrive.

‘The Extraordinary Time -Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ (ages 6+) is Jackanory meets Whose Line Is It Anyway, creating amazing tales elegantly told.  Three top comedians are challenged to invent ridiculous tall tales using their wits, some silly hats and the (not always kind) suggestions of an audience of children to ensure it all ends happily ever after. Featuring pirates, princesses, unicorns, dragons, swordfights, and spacemen. All the stories are completely and irrefutably true, winner: Best Children’s Show at Leicester Comedy Festival and Greater Manchester Fringe.

Let’s Talk

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 – 3rd and 4th Friday of every month from 10am to 12noon


– Lache Community Centre – 1st, 2nd and 5th 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.

Council’s work to make play areas inclusive

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.