Midcheshire Independent Issue 177

APRIL 2025 8 Feel the benefit of solar power, save money on your energy bills, and help tackle climate change. Scan to see if you qualify for free or discounted home upgrades. Or call Your Home Better on 0161 883 7979 THE stars of Mac- cles f ield youth chess made all the right moves in the Northern Finals of the English Chess Federation Primary School’s Challenge. Eight teams from five local schools played four hotly contested rounds as they went head-to-head for a place in the prestigious national finals. You could almost hear the young brains whirring as the super bright boys and girls plotted their moves and went in mercilessly for the checkmate. There were three teams from The King’s Infant and Junior Divi- sion, two teams from Rainow County Pri- mary with A teams from Marlborough Primary, Alderley Edge Com- munity Primary and Altrincham Prepara- tory School. The tournament went to the wire with four teams still in conten- tion at the final round. In the end, the scores left Rainow A in third place, with King’s B and Altrincham Prep School tied for first. Both schools will now progress to the National Chess Final to be played in Nottingham in June. Margo Hrebinchyk, age nine, originally from Ukraine and now one of King’s very best players, playing number two on team A, had special rea- son to love the game. Her grandad taught her how to play when she was only two-and- a-half. He is still in the Crimea and although she is still able to play online against him, she said: “When I play the game, I always think of him and remember how much I love him and miss him.” Jeanelle Menakaya, also nine, who plays number one on King’s C team and lives just five minutes from her good friend Margo, added: “Margo still beats me. She’s very, very good. Chess is a really good way to get your brain moving and make you think more.” Victoria Atkins, who runs King’s Infant and Junior chess clubs, said: “It develops so many dif- ferent life skills. You can play anyone, anywhere, at any time. You don’t CHESHIRE East Council has publicly refuted claims it has the most potholes wait- ing to be repaired than any other borough in England. National newspapers carried reports that that the authority had 17,197 potholes to repair, based on a study of reports on the Fix My Street website. But in a statement the council said the figure was inaccurate, and revealed it is launching its own new online tool for report- ing road defects. Mark Goldsmith, who chairs the local authority’s highways and transport committee, said: “Thankfully, Cheshire East does not have 17,197 potholes as incorrectly reported in a recent national newspaper. “Instead, at the time of this article appearing, we had 550 defects. This is across a net- work of almost 1,680 miles (2,700kms).” And he added: “Last year, we fixed over 35,000 potholes, and the 550 represent a normal number that we could expect to be assessing. “There will of course always be enquiries in the system waiting to be processed but we believe the discrepancy is due to the way reports have been showing on Fix My Street. “The council will soon be mov- ing away from Fix My Street though and will be launching a new online tool. “It will allow residents to easily report a wider variety of issues like potholes, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles and fly-tip- ping within their community. “It will also more accurately record the number of potholes we have too! More details will be announced about this in the coming weeks.” He added: “We absolutely understand the frus- tration that potholes cause to our residents though and we’re working effectively to tackle them and are currently putting together our investment pro- gramme for 2025/26. “We’re not alone in facing this challenge, with councils across the country battling with this same issue.” He said that the council was using its “limited budgets” in the best possible way in order to ensure road repairs were carried out correctly. Pothole claim sparks council protest NEWS IN BRIEF Top moves: The King’s teams Check mates! even need to speak the same language.” “We have found that, like Margo, it is the granddads who often teach the young ones how to play, then after a few months in one of our chess clubs, they can go back home and beat their granddads. We have some wonder- ful young players who are a joy to coach and watch develop.” CONGLETON Pride held a St Patrick’s Day quiz at the Lion and Swan in the town. AMERICAN cartoonist and writer Tom Scioli will be attending this year’s Mac Pow! comic art festival later this year, organisers have announced. This year’s event will take place on June 26-29. A TEAM of volunteer community gardeners have helped to tidy Portland Walk on Macclesfield’s Weston Estate. Their next session is planned for Wednesday April16 at 10am with all welcome to join them in their work. WILMSLOW Albion FC has been awarded a town council community grant of £1,850. One of Cheshire’s oldest active football clubs, first established in 1919, Albion will use the cash to on clubhouse repairs and ground maintenance.