Mayor's Christmas Message
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December 2011 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 1 2 www.frodshamlife.co.uk December 2011 Editor Gary Skentelbery Production Paul Walker Business Manager Editor’s Comment James Balme THE public inquiry into the proposed Frodsham Wind Farm is effects of noise, "Ticker" and other well under way, and objectors and supporters have already problems. Local wildlife may be Advertising started to make their representations. disrupted. The list goes on. Freephone OfScially, people who did not The arguments against the wind But perhaps the most potent 0800 955 5247 register their intention to speak at the farm have been well rehearsed in argument against the development is hearing, have missed the boat but we these columns and they remain as a general one. Britain is getting less Editorial windy. Last year was the least windy, would urge anyone in that position to valid as ever. We live, work or have 01925 631592 by at least one authoritative measure, go anyway. A big presence in the our being in an area of great natural public gallery will show the inspector since 1824. Between October 2009 Email beauty which is vital to the local and September last year, wind [email protected] something of the strength of local economy. Frodsham has been turbines in the UK achieved only 23.6 feeling - and it is not unknown for described as a "walking town" per cent of their generating capacity Websites inquiry inspectors to bend the rules attracting people from far aSeld who - the lowest Sgure since these records www.frodshamlife.co.uk and allow latecomers to have their wish to explore the Sandstone Ridge, started in 2002-3. www.culchethlife.com say. the local hillforts, etc. These people During last winter's cold snap, the www.lymmlife.co.uk will be less inclined to visit, or to climb wind turbine industry generated www.warrington- Frodsham Hill or Helsby Hill if their virtually no power at all - at a time worldwide.co.uk reward is to be a view blighted by when it was most needed. Pink and Tuffy 19 giant wind turbines. Going ahead with a wind farm on Address Some of the local population live Frodsham Marshes, which is hardly New Media Centre night raised £492 close enough to the site of the the windiest corner, could result in a Old Road Warrington proposed wind farm to suffer the colossal white elephant. WA4 1AT A "PINK and Fluffy" cabaret night in Frodsham raised £492 for the Breast Frodsham Life is published Cancer Awareness charity. monthly by Orbit News Ltd. Guests at the event at the Best Western Forest Hills Hotel entered into The contents of this magazine the spirit of things, dressing to impress are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in pink. or reproduced without prior RafTe prizes were donated by permission of the publishers. local companies and leisure club The publishers are not liable for members. any statement made or opinion Sales manager Helen Davenport expressed by third parties in this said: "The donations from local publication. companies were overwhelming. We Printed by TwentyFourSeven had some superb prizes donated and would like to thank everyone who helped." December 2011 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 3 £7 million health centre now open FRODSHAM'S £7 million new Princeway Health Centre is now Surgery and Frodsham Medical Chester, Runcorn or Warrington are open. Practice - the new name for the old now available at Princeway. speech and language therapists, Rock Surgery - will continue to The new, state-of-the-art centre, built operate as separate practices. The development has been funded on the site of the former Frodsham primary care mental health services, by Western Cheshire Primary Care physiotherapy, podiatry and falls Many services which could be only High School, houses the town's two used by travelling to hospitals in GP surgeries and a wide range of classes will all operate from the new Trust. other health and community care centre. services previously provided by the The centre opened with a unique Rock Clinic, the Knoll Medical ceremony - with local family doctors Practice and Helsby Health Centre. marching into the building to the District nurses, health visitors, strains of a Scottish piper. school nurses, community matrons, The two GP practices - The Knoll ‘Awake the Harp’ A CONCERT entitled "Awake the Harp" presented by Frodsham and District Choral Society, will feature selections from Bach, Vaughan Williams, Finzi and Britten. The choir will be accompanied by renowned Welsh harpist Rhian Evans, who has appeared alongside Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Sting as well as performing for the Queen. The concert is at St Laurence's Church, Frodsham on Saturday December 17 and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9 and £7 and are available from Frodsham Frames. Alternatively, contact Rob Rowe on 01928 733247 or Kath Stockdale on 01928 733377. Libraries extend opening hours LIBRARY users in Frodsham and Helsby can now bene@t from extended opening hours. Frodsham Library, which previous was closed until 2pm on Mondays, is now open in the morning as well. Helsby Library, which previously closed at 5pm on Wednesdays, now stays open until 7pm. Cllr Stuart Parker, Cheshire West and Chester Council's executive member for culture and recreation said: "Libraries are a key element in delivering local services and we look forward to welcoming more readers due to the extended hours." 4 www.frodshamlife.co.uk December 2011 Community caretakers will keep estates clean A TEAM of caretakers is working hard to keep parts of clearing grafSti the caretakers will "I also hope the new look of our Frodsham clean and tidy. also carry out minor repairs and bi- team will help achieve stronger Weaver Vale Housing Trust has re- The Trust has also added a new monthly inspections of the Trust's relationships with our partners launched its community caretaker member to the team and three new communal Tats. including Cheshire West and Chester service to keep neighbourhoods vehicles. They will inspect playgrounds Council, our grounds maintenance cleaner, greener and safer after Paul Bayliss, 36, joins Dave every week, carry out horticultural contractor, Community Safety feedback from a customer survey Skilling, Mike Lapniewski and work, take part in neighbourhood Wardens, and local Police highlighted the environment as an Graham Oaks. strolls and report all incidents that Community Support OfScers." important concern. He said: "I enjoy working outdoors affect the appearance and safety of Karen Sinclair, environment and meeting people in the local the neighbourhood. Community caretakers Dave Skilling, The team also has special cards to Mike Lapniewski, Paul Bayliss development team leader for the Trust community and am looking forward and Graham Oakes. said: "Our caretakers previously to my new role with the Trust." post to customers to make them worked as one responsive unit in a The Trust has invested in new aware of the work they have tipper wagon but now each caretaker vehicles and tools to enable the team done and to gain customer will have his own vehicle and be to work to improve standards in our feedback. assigned speciSc neighbourhoods to neighbourhoods. Judith Burbidge, neighbour- look after." As well as daily litter picking and hood manager for the Trust said: "Alongside the practical work of keeping our estates tidy our community caretakers will also be ambassadors for the Trust that people will be conSdent in reporting any issues with their local environment to. Frodsham BusinessBridge Lane, Frodsham, Centre WA6 7FZ Easy Access To/From The Motorway Just off M56 Junction 12 Of1ce Suites Available • Sizes Starting From 250sq ft • Other Sizes Also Available • Wide Range To Choose From • Short& Long Term Licences For more information Tel/Fax: 01928 733151 www.frodshambusinesscentre.co.uk December 2011 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 5 Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates FRODSHAM Panto Group's 37th production, "Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates" is an entertaining romp through and far beyond Daniel Defoe's classic. It opens at Frodsham Community Centre on Sunday, January 8 and continues until the following Sunday. Robinson has a brother, Willy and the original story is further augmented by a string of other characters including the infamous pirate Blackbeard, a female pirate known as the Crimson Hawk, Captain Bowsprit and his daughter Bessie and Polly, the barmaid from the Sea Dog Inn. Crusoe is still the central character and Man Friday is retained in this colourful adaptation by Paul Reakes. There's plenty of action, plenty of laughs, a treasure map and lots of excitement which, presumably, there wouldn't have been if it had just been about Crusoe and Friday on a desert island! Booking forms are available from Frodsham Community Centre, Frodsham Library, Halton Lea Library, Halton Information Centre and from the website www.frod shampanto.org More details are available from 01928 722948. 6 www.frodshamlife.co.uk December 2011 ‘Smelly’ pig farm set to close A PIG unit which has drawn complaints about smells for 20-30 years looks set to close. But the future of the site at Dig Lane Farm, Frodsham will depend on planners. Landowner Sam Williams wants to re-develop the two acre site for woodland and housing - but the site is in the Green Belt. Mr Williams attended a meeting of Frodsham Town Council to outline his proposals prior to making a formal planning application. He told members the pig unit had been run by a tenant farmer in recent years but he was not renewing the lease. There had always been complaints from nearby residents about the smells and he had always tried to alleviate the problem. "But is not easy to run a pig unit without a smell," he said.