News in Congleton

Congleton Town Council is appealing to local residents to write to Cheshire East Council and confirm that they want the borough to deliver the promised work on Congleton Leisure Centre.

A cross-party group consisting of Congleton town councillors and the chief officer, David McGifford, have arranged a meeting with senior officers and councillors at Cheshire East to discuss the issues regarding the leisure centre refurbishment, but warned that people not just councillor power is needed to make the difference.

Central government have asked all borough councils to implement measures that facilitate active travel, the tight time scale to implement these measures is why consultation about the schemes is happening whilst the measures are in place, and we welcome feedback, both positive and negative.

The emergency monies provided only allows us to achieve changes that are quick and easy to implement and sharing space in town centres creates safety for people to cycle around the town avoiding main roads, which with heavy vehicles and speed of traffic feels dangerous to cycle on and discourages people from cycling, especially for young and inexperienced people.

The second biennial Congleton Heritage & Antiques Festival is going ahead, despite the current restrictions, with an exciting virtual programme of over 40 items, starting on Saturday (12th September) and continuing for two weeks.

These pre-recorded items on the Our Events page can be viewed from the date on the listing; and are available throughout the festival fortnight (and many beyond that).

Cheshire East Council's cycling and walking champion sought assurances that the borough would not "buckle" and take out the active travel measures introduced before they were given a chance to become "effective".

The Congleton active travel trial scheme is part of eight across the borough as a first phase to improve walking and cycling and improve access to town centres, areas for employment and schools.

Cheshire East Council is working with schools to put additional measures in place to make school drop-off and home times safer for pupils, parents and teachers.

Schools in Cheshire East have seen a positive start to the autumn term, despite Covid-19. Attendance has been high and measures planned and put in place over the summer, to minimise the risks of Covid, have been largely successful so far.

Social gatherings of more than six people in Congleton and beyond will be banned from Monday (14 Sept) - with some exceptions - under a tightening of Government coronavirus restrictions.

The move comes after a spike in infections has prompted concerns over a second wave.

Firefighters used a hose reel jet to extinguish a tree fire in Congleton last night (Tuesday).

Just after 9:15pm, a Congleton fire engine attended Riverdane Road, Congleton.

Officers are currently investigating an incident relating to the theft of solar power electric fencing, which has been stolen from a farm in the North Rode area.

A Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team spokesperson said: "The impact of this crime has had an immediate effect not only on the farmers pocket but also on the safety of his livestock as they have escaped once already.

Providing two hours of free car parking in Congleton would have a loss implication for Cheshire East Council in the region of £108,000 per year according to the borough's deputy leader.

Speaking at today's (Tuesday) Cheshire East Council cabinet meeting, Congleton town councillor Robert Douglas (Liberal Democrat), who is also a member of the Congleton Traders WhatsApp group, expressed his dismay at Cheshire East's decision to reintroduce car parking charges.

The latest estimations of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Cheshire East council have been revealed.

At September's council cabinet meeting, officials estimated that the authority would lose roughly £50m of income due to the coronavirus pandemic.