Midcheshire Independent Issue 171

NOVEMBER 2024 2 No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2024. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. Tel. 01204 478812 EDITOR Ged Henderson ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com CONTACT JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 • 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk ADVERTISING Robin Atkins 07767 840274 robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk CONTACT US A MAN was convicted of ‘plying for hire’ as a result of intervention from two licensed Cheshire East taxi drivers. Majid Mahmood,43, of Williamson Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was approached by a customer in February for a ride outside Crewe railway station after the customer had initially approached the two licensed drivers. A court heard Mahmood was chal- lenged and warned that what he was doing was against the law, but he refused to give up his fare and drove off with his passenger at high speed. Mahmood pleaded guilty at Crewe Magistrates Court to the offence and was ordered to pay a total of £546 in fines, a victim surcharge and legal and investigation costs. Speaking after the caseMickWarren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s envi- ronment and communities committee, COMPANIES are being stopped from advertising unhealthy food and drinks on land, build- ings and vehicles owned by Cheshire East Council. It says the “bold move” is part of attempts to reduce obesity and improve children’s health in the borough. Councillors have approved a ‘Healthier Food and Drink Adver- tising Policy’ that will switch the spotlight away from unhealthy foods and drinks on council-owned advertising spaces. The new policy, which is one of the first of its kind in the North West, will classify food and drink products based on their nutri- tional content. It has worked with Sustain, an organisation campaigning for bet- ter food and farming, to draw up the policy. Fran Bernhardt, Sustain’s com- mercial determinants coordinator, said: “This policy is a bold step in the right direction: prioritising not just health but equality and sus- tainability too. “Evidence shows that putting the spotlight on unhealthy food increases the risk of food related ill health like diabetes, heart dis- ease and tooth decay. Companies target low-income areas, resulting in people living there being more likely to experience poor health. “Additionally, many of the restricted products are unsustain- able containing climate damaging ingredients, such as sugar, cocoa and palm oil, as well as requiring lots of energy to process them. “We hope the terrific news from Cheshire East will inspire even more councils to take this important step for their resi- dents’ health.” Advertisements for products high in fat, salt, and/or sugar will be restricted, setting the stage for healthier options. Jill Rhodes, who chairs the council’s adults and health com- mittee, said: “We recognise the significant impact that exposure to unhealthy food advertising can have on the health and well-being of our residents, particularly children. “By taking this proactive step, we are prioritising the health of every- one in Cheshire East and demon- strating the council’s commitment to reducing health inequalities.” The council says its decision to restrict unhealthy food advertising aligns with the growing national movement towards healthier com- munities. Similar policies have been adopted by other Cheshire and Merseyside local authorities. PEOPLE and businesses in Congleton are being urged to take part in a consultation and give their views on the town’s draft Neighbourhood Plan. The town council aims for the plan to be adopted as an official planning document to guide future development within the area. The public consultation exercise is nowunderway and will run until Monday December 9. The draft plan, which includes 28 policies, focuses on key issues including protecting the town’s heritage and enhancing its green spaces. Congleton’s chief officer David McGifford said: “We believe the policies in this draft Neighbour- hood Plan will benefit Congleton, but it is vital that we now engage with as many people as possible. “We want to ensure that local people, organisations, and stake- holders agree that this is the right vision for Congleton. T “he Neighbourhood Plan Work- ing Group will consider all feed- back and, where appropriate, make amendments before pass- ing it to Cheshire East Council for further formal stages.” Councillors have also approved a detailed communications plan, to ensure maximum participa- tion with people living, work- ing or interested in the future of Congleton. Consultation activities will include information stalls, face-to-face meetings, school assemblies, leaflets, banners, questionnaires, and social media posts. For more information and to view the draft Neighbourhood Plan, including its policies, justi- fications, and evidence base, visit www.CongletonNeighbourhood- Plan .co.uk CHESHIRE East’s old Sandbach headquarters Westfields is set to become a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), according to reports. The cash-strapped council took the decision to shut the building in November last year and move staff to offices in Macclesfield and Crewe. Now, according to the BBC, its preferred option for the site would be to create a SEND free school, which would be funded by the Department for Education. Cheshire East has revealed that much of the financial pressure it has been facing has been linked to an increase in the number of children needing special educational support. A GOVERNMENT minister has confirmed that land in Cheshire purchased for the scrapped leg of HS2 will not be sold off for the time being. Transport minister Lord Hendy said the land bought for the route of the now abandoned phase 2a of the high-speed rail project would be ringfenced while an alternative proposal was considered. He was responding to a question in the House of Lords over the proposed Midlands-North West Rail Link – which would act as a replacement to the axed plan to run HS2 from Bir- mingham to Manchester. A report, led by the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands and involving a private NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF INDEPENDENT charity Everybody Health and Leisure will take over the delivery of the One You programme across Cheshire East for an initial three-year period with three optional extension years. One You is a funded service offering support with weight management, smoking cessation, falls prevention and physical activity programmes. ALDERLEY Edge Methodist Church is celebrating 20 years of hosting lunchtime concerts which have raised tens of thousands of pounds for a range of good causes. SUBSCRIPTIONS to renew or sign up to Cheshire East Council’s Garden Waste Recycling Scheme are now open. People will need to opt-in to the scheme to use their garden bin to recycle their green waste Subscriptions are £59 per garden bin per year, with a 25 per cent reduction available for those receiving qualifying benefits. GRANTS have been award to 30 Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and town and parish councils across Cheshire East to improve energy efficiency community facilities and buildings. Projects benefitting from the Improved, Greener Community Facilities Fund include a Macclesfield church which needed a replacement heating system. WILMSLOW Town Council is looking to recruit a community coordinator. The successful applicant will support the development of community activities and a key task will be the organisation of cross sector volunteer recruitment campaigns and recruitment fairs, alongside working with schools, young people, and other organisations in the town. Council takes a stand on food adverts Have your say on plan Clampdown on ‘plying for hire’ SEND role for HQ building HS2 land sale freeze consortium, has called for the new rail link between Staffordshire and Cheshire which would connect to the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail project. The report recommended that land sales be frozen. Lord Hendy said: “We recognise the concerns about connectivity between Birmingham, Manchester and the north of England. “We will consider advice and engage with the mayors and the detail of the report. “And of course we will give ourselves time to do that before any precipitant action is taken on the land concerned.” said: “I sincerely hope that this sends out a very clear message that we will not tolerate drivers illegally collecting fares in our borough. “There’s also another very important message here on public safety. If you need to book a taxi in the borough, you will always be better served looking for a vehicle that has been licensed to work in the borough. “Any vehicle licensed by Cheshire East Council displays a Cheshire East licence plate on the front and rear of the vehicle”. Cheshire East says this is the second recent successful prosecution for ‘plying for trade’ brought by the council, after a similar case in August. Just the ticket for young people A NEW bus ticket for young people aged 16-19 has been launched in Cheshire East. offering significant discounted fares across the borough. The 16-19 bus saver card offers a third off the standard adult fare and is valid on local bus services for journeys that start and/or finish within Cheshire East at any time. Care leavers aged 16-22 are also entitled to the pass, which will pro- vide them with free travel on local bus services. The scheme is supported by the government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which has come from the Department for Transport (DfT), to support increased bus service provision and passenger numbers within Chesh- ire East. To receive their pass, young people will be able to apply online through a portal on the Cheshire East Council website, to confirm proof of identity and age. The only qualifier other than age is that they are a Cheshire East resident. A smartcard pass will be sent to them, which they will need to present on the bus each time they travel to receive their reduced adult single fare. Care leavers will receive free travel on presenting their pass to drivers. The initial trial scheme will last for two years and passes are valid until October 31, 2026 or the day before the pass holder’s 20th birthday. In the case of care leavers, it is their 22nd birthday. The scheme is being delivered by the Cheshire East Bus Part- nership, and all bus operators pro- viding services in the borough are taking part, with the intention of encouraging more people to travel by bus. Laura Crane, vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s high- ways and transport committee, said: “Bridging that gap between childhood and the start of adult life is a difficult enough time for a young person without having to be thinking about the affordability of getting around. “This two-year trial is a great way to help young people and I hope that we get some excellent take up for this really important offer. I ask that if you know a young person of this age that youmake themaware of this brilliant trial and get them to start making savings now.”