Acton Bridge Parish Council

Date: 14 November 2022

Reference Number: 5942

Top tips to shop wisely during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Shop wisely this sale season and avoid getting less than you bargained for with top tips from Cheshire West and Chester Council Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Cheshire West.

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season fast approaching, the Council and Citizens Advice have released top tips to remind bargain-hunters how to shop safely online.

Their top tips for shopping wisely are:

1. Do your research: Before buying from a website you have not used before, spend a few minutes checking it out. See what people have said about the person or company you are buying from by looking at reviews on different websites – do not rely on reviews the company has put on its own website. If you are worried that something you have seen online might be a scam, you can get help from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
2. Be wise to scams in disguise: If a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it is branded but a lot cheaper than it appears on the brand’s website, it could be fake. If it isn’t branded, it could be a ‘look-a-like’ product but either way, it might not be the quality you were hoping for.
3. Ways to pay: Beware of a seller who asks you to pay by direct bank transfer. Bank transfers have limited protection if things go wrong, so avoid using them. You should only send and receive money through the online marketplace app or website using a debit or credit card, or via trusted methods of payment such as PayPal.
4. Know your rights: If you have purchased from a retailer you should be entitled to a replacement product or a repair or even a full refund if the goods are faulty. If you have bought from an individual, perhaps via an online marketplace, you have far fewer rights. In fact, you have no right to return, as long as the goods are ‘as described’. Always be sure to take a screenshot of the description and be sure to check and double check before you buy.
5. When things go wrong: Sometimes things just don’t go to plan. If you have bought something that is broken, damaged, unsafe or not what you expected then contact the seller and give them a chance to put it right. If that does not work – reach out to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.

These top tips mark the start of National Consumer Week (Monday 14 November – Sunday 20 November).  The annual campaign is run by Citizens Advice in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Partnership (CPP), which includes Trading Standards and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Citizens Advice Cheshire West and the Council are aware that across the borough purse strings are tightening and financial pressures are increasing every day.  With sales season fast approaching, it is vital to recognise the red flags when trying to bag a bargain in the run up to the holidays.

Anyone can be a victim of a scam, and even the savviest of shoppers can be left getting less than they bargained for. You should not feel embarrassed if you are caught out. By knowing how to shop wisely, and what to do if something goes wrong, we can better protect ourselves and each other.

For information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West by calling Adviceline: 0808 2787 806 or using the email enquiry service Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm.  Click on this link for up-to-date information on services and opening hours. Online advice is available via webchat accessed through the Citizens Advice website. 

Date: 14 November 2022

Reference Number: 5944

Help us make Cheshire West and Chester more age-friendly

Residents of all ages and backgrounds are invited to lead the way in making Cheshire West and Chester somewhere everyone can live life to the full for longer.

Age-friendly Cheshire West is appealing for anyone who lives in the borough to get involved.

Dr Louise Taylor, chair of Age-friendly Cheshire West, said: “Cheshire West and Chester residents are living for longer, which is a fabulous issue to have, but later life can bring its own challenges.

“Getting older happens to everyone, so the issues older adults face are relevant to all of us, every day.

“Joining Age-friendly Cheshire West is a brilliant opportunity for residents of all ages, backgrounds and life experiences to make a difference now for all our futures.”

The aspiration of the Cheshire West and Chester Age-friendly network is to ensure people of all ages are treated with respect and the borough is a place where older adults feel included and valued.

Following an interruption to its work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the network relaunched in the summer with a determination to develop and work through an action plan for the next three years.

Being involved would include reviewing policies and overall direction of the network and bringing together groups of residents and local organisations.

Joining a group would require attending meetings, being out and about in your community talking with people and helping your neighbourhoods to be more welcoming to older adults.

For more information, or to get involved, contact the Council before 25 November by calling: 0300 123 8 123 and stating ‘Age-friendly’, between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday, or emailing: publichealth@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Date: 09 November 2022

Reference Number: 5939

The countdown to Christmas in Chester

Chester’s Christmas Market opens on Friday 18 November. The ever-popular market will be back in Town Hall Square and to ensure a festive feel, the Christmas lights will be on across the city centre. 

The Christmas Market will be open Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 6.30pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10.30am to 8pm.

Chester’s new indoor Market is now open and another new attraction this year is a weekend Makers Market being held in the new Exchange Square at Northgate from 19 November until 18 December. Exchange Square is expected to be the number one selfie spot, with a new Christmas decoration bringing a sparkle to the square.

Also new this year is the Rows Christmas Bazaar running on Thursday’s and weekends during November and December. There is a programme of activities, part of the Heritage Action Zone Project, supported by Visit Chester and Cheshire. The activities will include Christmas carols, crafts, face painting and storytelling.

In the lead up to Christmas there will be a host of parades and activities:

The key dates for the diary        

• Christmas Market – Friday 18 November to Wednesday 22 December
• Makers Market – each weekend from 19 November to 18 December
• The Rows Christmas Bazaar – from 19 November to 18 December
• Twelve Days of Christmas Parade – Thursday 24 November at 7pm
• Santa’s Grotto – 25 November until 24 December
• Christmas Past at Chester Castle – 26 November 11am to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm
• Lantern Parade – Wednesday 30 November at 7pm
• Winter Watch Parade – Thursday 8 December at 7pm
• Saturnalia Parade plus Second Winter Watch Parade – Thursday 15 December 6.30pm

The Twelve Days of Christmas parade on Thursday 24 November starts on Bridge Street at 7pm. Organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ is the first of four parades to return this year.

Community groups and local artists will parade through the city centre from Bridge Street, travelling towards the Cross, Eastgate Street, St Werburgh Street, past the Town Hall and ending in Watergate Street.

Father Christmas will greet the parade with pyrotechnics at key locations, at the Cross, Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral, and the Town Hall.

Don’t worry if you only catch a brief glimpse of Father Christmas during the Christmas parade, he is returning to his own grotto in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre from 25 November until 24 December (details on the Chester BID website).

Chester Park and Ride is running late night services over Christmas, the last bus from Foregate Street will be 9pm on Thursdays from 17 November and then each night during Christmas week 19 to 23 December up to 9pm, the last Park and Ride bus on 24 December is 6pm.

For details about Christmas events in Chester visit: https://www.visitcheshire.com/chester/christmas/christmas-in-chester

Date: 01 November 2022

Reference Number: 5931

Beware of bogus doorstep sellers posing as ex-offenders

There have been reports of bogus doorstep sellers posing as ex-offenders targeting homes across Cheshire West and Chester, following a rise in such incidents nationally.

The unwelcome callers tell residents that they are visiting homes as part of a probation service scheme.  There is no such scheme in operation, but the callers may also show a bogus ‘pedlar’s certificate’ or permit to try to validate their scam.

The Council’s Director of Environment and Communities, Maria Byrne said: “Our Community Safety Partnership is concerned that vulnerable residents could be targeted by these scammers.  We have been told the so-called ‘ex-prisoners’ try to sell household items, often at inflated prices.

“When residents declined to buy anything, they ask for a donation instead.  The individual may be very polite at first but may become aggressive and abusive.  If you or anyone you know is targeted, please report it.” Residents are being advised to report any incidents to Cheshire Police on 101, or to Action Fraud to help track down a scammer.

There are a few things you can do to feel safer when answering the door, such as:

• Putting up a deterrent sign – You could put a ‘no cold callers’ sign up on your door or window, which should deter any cold callers from knocking on your door.
• Setting up passwords for utilities – You can set up a password with your utility companies to be used by anyone they send round to your home. Phone your utility company to find out how to do this.
• Nominating a neighbour – Find out if you have a nominated neighbour scheme where a neighbour can help to make sure if callers are safe.

Date: 24 October 2022

Reference Number: 5924

Choices in challenging times

Over the next six weeks Cheshire West and Chester Council will be asking the public for its views on how to balance its budget in challenging times.

A public consultation has launched to give the opportunity for local people to share their views. The consultation will run to 4 December and will inform decisions the Councillors make in February on the overall Council budget.  

The Council currently spends £862million on services for local people, which have an impact on everyone’s lives and futures.  These services range from schools to social care and support for vulnerable families, from public protection to economic growth and from libraries to highways and street cleaning, plus many more.

Financial pressures, the increase in demand for some services, and inflation are all taking their toll on what the Council can deliver, leading to increasingly challenging choices having to be made.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “We are in the middle of a social and economic crisis. We know that the cost of living is making it hard for many local people to make ends meet.

“Like organisations up and down the country, our costs have gone up. We also have increasing numbers of children and adults with complex needs that need our help, placing pressure on our finances. Now, accelerating costs and inflation are squeezing out the headroom available in our capital programme to invest in our borough’s future. 

“We will put all our efforts in continuing to provide help within the resources we have available. Overall, we could face a funding gap of around £105 million over the next four years.  After additional business rates and council tax income are accounted for, alongside existing savings proposals that we have already consulted on, the gap remains around £42 million, with £19 million we need to bridge in the first two years.

 “This represents the biggest funding challenge faced by this Council in its history.  And it may yet increase in severity.

 “Our proposed response is to be innovative, and in line with our values. We want to protect the vulnerable who depend on our help. We want to introduce new ways of working that are as efficient and effective as possible, and to invest in prevention to avoid more people requiring more expensive care.  However, some incredibly difficult decisions may need to be considered, informed by your views.  

“I urge people to take part in the consultation.  Your responses matter, now more than ever. Have your say and play your part in shaping your services and helping us make hard decisions.” 

Cllr Carol Gahan, Lead Member for Legal and Finance said: “The Council has been recognised for strong financial management and this continues in our approach to engaging residents on how we spend our scarce resources.  But we face a stark financial challenge. We must plan for the next two years, and a future beyond that. We need our residents’ views on some of the ideas we are proposing to address the budget gap in the medium term. 

“These ideas include areas where we could save money but also areas we want to protect.

“This year, as well as commenting on the budget proposals, local people can have a go at a Budget Simulator Challenge which asks, ‘If it was up to you, how would you spend the Council’s budget?’.”

Here’s how you can have your say.  

• Visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/choices to find out about the budget proposals, complete a survey and try out the budget simulator.
• Email your views to: councilbudget@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Write to: Choices in challenging times, Insight and Intelligence, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA.
• Call the Council’s Contact Centre on: 0300 123 8123 quoting ‘Choices in challenging times’ to give your thoughts. 
• Pick up a paper questionnaire from your local library.  Alternative formats are also available on request.

Date: 26 October 2022

Reference Number: 5916

Council joins national fight against “zombie batteries” in bid to tackle recycling and waste fires

Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting the new national ‘Take Charge’ campaign, which urges consumers to recycle dead batteries and to never throw batteries away alongside general rubbish.

Consumers across the UK are being urged to “join the fight against Zombie batteries” in a bid to tackle the growing number of fires caused by carelessly discarded dead batteries.

Dead batteries thrown away with other waste and recycling, which the campaign refers to as “zombie batteries”, are likely to be crushed or punctured once the waste is collected and processed.

Some battery types in particular, like lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH), can ignite or even explode when they’re damaged. Once this happens, the batteries can quickly set fire to other materials present in the waste, like paper, leading to serious incidents that put lives at risk.

Although safe to use normally, powerful lithium-ion batteries are typically the most dangerous if they are not recycled properly. These batteries are often found in products like laptops, tablets, mobile phones, radio-controlled toys, bluetooth devices, shavers, electric toothbrushes, power tools, scooters and even e-cigarettes.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “Many people may not be aware of the potential risks from discarded dead batteries.  Our residents can recycle batteries using their kerbside collection service.  All you need to do is put them in a separate container beside your recycling bins on collection day.  Batteries can also be recycled at the HWRCs.  Please play your part and never throw dead batteries into your general rubbish bin.”

The recycling and waste management trade body, the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which launched the campaign, conducts an annual survey of its members to record the proportion of fires occurring at recycling and waste facilities that are known or thought to have been started by lithium-ion batteries in particular.

Recent data collected by the ESA shows that, between April 2019 and March 2020, lithium-ion batteries alone were thought to be responsible for more than 250 fires at its members’ facilities during the year – or well over a third (38%) of all fires.

Members of the ESA hope that by encouraging the public to recycle batteries responsibly, it will reduce the number of “zombie batteries” present in general waste and recycling, thereby reducing the number of fires in future.

Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Jacob Hayler added: “Unfortunately, the majority of batteries thrown away in the UK at the moment are not recycled properly. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives; cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services. We urge consumers to please recycle batteries responsibly by using widely available local battery recycling services.” 

Consumers can find out more about the dangers of Zombie Batteries, by visiting the campaign website at www.takecharge.org.uk

Date: 26 October 2022

Reference Number: 5927

Libraries boosted reading over summer holidays

Challenges and events arranged by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s libraries have boosted reading during this year’s summer holidays.

The Summer Reading Challenge for children and the Adults Read Two scheme have been a great success across the borough both in libraries and on-line.

The Summer Reading Challenge is for children under 12 and takes place during the school holidays each year.  The 2022 theme, chosen by The Reading Agency, was Gadgeteers, it focused on how children can discover science and innovation in the world around them.

The Adults Read Two challenge also encourages adults to read more and celebrate their love of books and reading.  Entrants needed to read two books between 9 July and 4 September.  They could choose from a library book, eBook or eAudiobook and this year 13- to 15-year-olds could also enter again with parental permission.

The Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “By the end of the Summer Reading Challenge an impressive 3,912 children had signed up to take part.  This year an amazing 93,005 children’s book were borrowed across our borough over the holidays.

“It’s wonderful to see that so many children were able to boost their reading over the summer months before the new school term, it can make all the difference to their reading confidence.

“On-line children’s events were also a big success with on-lines shows, professional storytellers and question time with famous authors.

“The Adults Read Two programme saw a 116% increase compared to last year with 341 participants.

“And just for fun we encouraged customers to take part in our #BooketList.  Staff selected their 30 favourite reads from the last 12 months which could be used for ideas for reading over the summer.  Staff also sent in images of their books which we were posted on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts – we got some great comments back.”

For environmental reasons, the medals given out to children this year included a combination of wooden medals and generic medals from previous years.

Councillor Gittins added: “This meant children were delighted not to have to wait for their medals and parents told us that they appreciated the immediacy of the reward and that it saved them having to remember an awards evening a few weeks later in their already busy schedules.”

Date: 27 September 2022

Reference Number: 5880

Trading Standards issue energy rebate scam warning

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Trading Standards officers are advising residents of an energy bill scam.

Some residents have received text messages, claiming to be from the Government (GOV.UK), inviting them to apply for the £400 discount under the Energy Bills Support Scheme.  However, the £400 will be paid automatically and you do not need to apply.

The £400 energy discount scheme introduced by the Government will see households in England, Scotland and Wales with a domestic electricity account get a non-repayable grant of £400 between October 2022 and March 2023.  

It will be paid in six instalments, with the first two instalments of £66 paid in October and November, followed by four payments of £67 from December to March. 

How you’ll receive the discount depends on how you pay for your energy. You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.

More information about how the discount will be paid to households for all payment methods, including prepayment meters and payment cards is able on the GOV.UK website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-discount ).

Councillor Karen Shore, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategy Transport, said: “Please watch out for fake text messages claiming to be from the Government, inviting you to apply for the £400 energy discount.  It’s a scam – the £400 will be paid automatically. You do not need to apply.

“This scam has been widely reported, the messages invite people to apply for the £400 “non-repayable discount” and instruct the recipient to follow a link to a fake website to provide personal details.  It then encourages people to set up a direct debit to receive the money.”

If you think you’ve been scammed, take the following steps:

• If you’ve already responded to a scam, end all further communication immediately.
• Call your bank directly and cancel any recurring payments – or, for speed and ease, you can call the new, secure159 hotline that connects you directly to your bank if you think you might be being scammed.
• Report the scam to the police through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report a scam anonymously on the Action Fraud website.

If you want more help, contact Citizens Advice Scams Action via the Citizens Advice website, or call its Scams Action helpline on 0808 250 5050

Date: 29 September 2022

Reference Number: 5886

Cheshire West Crowd helps Cycling Without Age Chester get up and running

Cycling Without Age Chester has used the Cheshire West Crowd to raise nearly £10,000 and help people get out and about in the local community.

The Cheshire West Crowd, which is being run by Cheshire West and Chester Council in partnership with Spacehive, is the ideal chance for community-led ideas to be created so the borough can become more vibrant, resilient and connected.

Cycling Without Age Chester attracted 41 different backers through the Cheshire West Crowd, including more than £7,000 from Council funding pots.

The successful crowdfunding campaign helped the charity purchase two trishaws, providing an opportunity for Cycling Without Age Chester to take elderly people to local green spaces.

Zoe Boustead, Trustee at Cycling Without Age Chester, said: “Raising nearly £10,000 through the Cheshire West Crowd was an amazing sum for us.

“A really interesting by-product, which was unexpected, was the amount of people we met through the project as we’ve been introduced to some really helpful advocates for us.

“The process was very straightforward and there was a lot of communication to guide us along the way.

“It’s very accessible so people could donate a very small amount and we also attracted large sums.

“It’s open to everyone and I think that’s really important for any community projects out there.

“I’d definitely recommend it for its easy use, access to a range of funds that we wouldn’t have necessarily known about and how we’ve been able to meet new people to promote our project to a wider audience.”

Andrew Foster, Trustee at Cycling Without Age Chester, added: “I take people out for rides and excursions from care homes, residential homes or anyone else who is living at home in the community.

“It’s something I do for a couple of hours each week and we’re looking for more people to help us do more of that.

“It’s literally having conversations with people, learning about what they do and giving them the opportunity to get out and about.

“There are those who can’t get out very often so it’s nice to be able to do that for them.

“We’re now engaging with more organisations and the people we’ve engaged with have really enjoyed it.

“With more people, we’ll be able to do even more and ideally we’d be able to do it five, six or seven times a week with different organisations.”

Cycling Without Age Chester is looking for more people to get involved, whether that is pilots taking people out and about in the trishaws or new organisations that could benefit from the project.

For more information about the project, visit: cyclingwithoutage.org.uk/chester.

Use the Cheshire West Crowd to crowdfund your project

After launching in 2021, the Cheshire West Crowd has already had two funding rounds and, with around £400,000 contributed by the Council and nearly £770,000 raised in total by local projects, it is one of the most successful initiatives Spacehive has run.

The deadline for projects being added to the Cheshire West Crowd is Wednesday 2 November 2022 as the Council will be allocating funds from the various pots in December 2022.

All projects will need to reach their crowdfunding targets on the Cheshire West Crowd by Tuesday 28 February 2023.

The following funding pots will be available from Cheshire West and Chester Council in the autumn 2022 round.

• Community Innovation Fund – £250,000
• Youth Fund – £20,000
• Cheshire West Crowd Fund – £90,000
• COVID Recovery and Renewal Fund – £47,885
• Climate Change Emergency Fund – £10,000
• Tackling Poverty Fund – £9,865

For more information about the Cheshire West Crowd and how you could get involved, visit: spacehive.com/movement/cwc.

Date: 29 September 2022

Reference Number: 5887

Ukrainian welcome events to take place in Chester and Northwich

Cheshire West and Chester Council is holding two events for Ukrainian guests and their sponsors in Chester and Northwich during October. These events will celebrate Ukrainian culture and be full of advice and support for guests and sponsors.

Ukrainian guests, their sponsors, and the whole community are invited to join the Council and its partners for advice, support and a day of Ukrainian culture at:

• Saturday 1 October, 12noon – 4.30pm – Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HJ (organised in partnership with the Lord Mayor)
• Saturday 8 October, 10am – 2pm – Northwich Artisan Market, Applemarket Place, Apple Market Street, Northwich, CW9 5BB

The Council has been working with refugees and sponsors on what they would like to see at the events, which will include advice and support on work, welfare, skills, training, health and more, as well as Ukrainian food tasters and cultural activities.

Advice and support will include:

• Advice from the Department of Work and Pensions on work and welfare.
• Support from Cheshire West and Chester Workzones regarding skills, training, support and getting into jobs.
• Community and voluntary organisations will provide advice and support for guests.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“As a Council we are proud to be playing our part in welcoming people from Ukraine and are incredibly grateful for the role that our communities are playing in helping refugees to settle here in our Borough. These events are a great opportunity to foster that community spirit and togetherness and provide a continued warm welcome for our Ukrainian guests.”

Councillor Samantha Dixon, Leader’s Champion for Refugees, said:

“The events in Chester and Northwich are great opportunities for our Ukrainian guests and their sponsors to get advice on matters such as work, skills and welfare, and to find out where they can access support and training. We encourage all of our residents to come along and get involved to sample tasty Ukrainian food and find out more about Ukrainian culture.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council is playing its part in providing safety and shelter for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The borough has a proud history of welcoming refugees and others seeking sanctuary and we are doing what we can to support Ukrainian people at this time of crisis.

The Government has committed to making funding available to councils to provide support for refugees coming to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Council are helping to make sure sponsors and their guests are safe and supported, that refugees have access to services like health, education, work and benefits and that Ukrainian families are supported to integrate into local communities.

Find out more about the Council’s response to the Ukraine conflict at:

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ukraine