News in Congleton

A Cong Bear Easter Mystery

Christmas is not even here yet, but after the fantastic amount of interest in the upcoming 'A Cong Bear Christmas', a sequel is already being written by Cong Bear's creator Stuart Neild called 'A Cong Bear Easter Mystery'.

CHESHIRE East Council is sitting on more than £33 million of section 106 contributions from developers, with some money dating back from a planning application 28 years ago.

A freedom of information request by the LDRS has revealed that the authority currently has £33,428,764 in unspent section 106 funds, having collected £39.7 million of such contributions since 2010.

Shoppers will be able to park for free across three car parks in Congleton over the weekend.

Free car parking will be available in the Fairground (by library), Princess Street (by the market) and Back Park Street (behind Lawton Street from 10am tomorrow (Saturday, 5 December) until Monday morning (8 December).

Plans for 35 affordable homes in Buglawton, which received more than 100 objections, have been unanimously refused by Cheshire East councillors.

The application site is Hawthorn Cottage, Harvey Road, and the proposal, by David Poyner, of Davico Properties UK, included vehicle access from Gordale Close and landscaping.

Cheshire East Council is to develop new schemes to promote cycling and walking in the borough after being awarded £588,000 by the government.

The grant follows a successful bid by the council for a second phase of active travel funding from the Department for Transport.

AN ATTEMPT to secure more free parking in Cheshire East towns by the Conservative group has been rebuked by the ruling Labour-Independent coalition, after figures show footfall in Congleton has shrunk in the pandemic.

At yesterday's CEC cabinet meeting, December 1, Conservative group leader Cllr Janet Clowes called on borough chiefs to relax some charges in council car parks in key market towns from December 3 until January 2021.

From yesterday (December 2nd), as retail starts to re-open, it will be possible to obtain your personal star for the Congleton Tree of Light from the Visitor Information Centre at Congleton Town Hall in the High Street.

Opening times are weekdays from 9am – 4pm, closed for lunch from 12.30 – 1.15pm and Saturdays open from 10am – 2pm.

With the support and cooperation of Tesco Congleton, Churches in Congleton are holding a drive in Christmas carol celebration to which an open invitation is extended to people throughout the local community.

Joy to the World will be one of the carols and in these days of Covid-19 restrictions it is hoped there will be a full car park to enjoy the singing of traditional carols.

Cheshire East's consultation on the future of the borough's recycling centres does include an "option" for procuring a new replacement site in Congleton a cabinet member has "assured".

Last month, Cheshire East Council cabinet members voted to launch a consultation into the proposals, which sets out a variety of scenarios for the future of the centres.

Keeping spirits up is never a problem for nurses at East Cheshire Hospice, especially now they have a supply of free beer!

Dozens of cases of pale ale were delivered to the Hospice by Beartown Brewery as a thank you for its work during Covid-19.