H o l m e s C h a p e l P a r i s h C o u n c i l w w w . h o l m e s c h a p e l p a r i s h c o u n c i l . g o v . u k

Newsletter Winter 2010

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Whether you are a resident of Holmes Chapel, or reading this newsletter while visiting friends or family, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

VILLAGE BENCHMARCKING SURVEY COMPLETED The Parish Council has carried out a survey to measure the commercial activity in the community. The aim is to provide a benchmark for future surveys in order to measure changes in business confidence and public perception of the village. A similar survey was taking place in other towns in Cheshire East and throughout the country. The survey looked at the range of shops, the number of vacant shops, the number of people walking around the village and the spaces available in the car parks. A business confidence survey was circulated and a number of visitors were stopped and questioned about their thoughts about Holmes Chapel. All the information has been fed into a national database so that the performance of Holmes Chapel can be compared with the national average figures. It is not surprising to find that compared with many towns we are in a relatively healthy state. However, although the business survey indicated varying experiences the majority felt trade was declining and that car parking was a factor in this decline along with increased use of the internet. The message to residents is clear. If we want the range of shops to be available in the future we must do our best to support them on a regular basis. The Council continues to consider ways of improving the car parking situation but options are limited and no option appears satisfactory to all parties concerned. Any views would be welcome. A more detailed report will be produced for presentation to the Parish Council in the New Year and this will be available to public examination.

VOLUNTEER HELP IN THE VILLAGE We are fortunate to have many people who give up their time in various ways to support the community. We have gardeners, litter pickers, Communicare helpers, helpers with scouts and the youth club….and many others. We also have some small businesses who use their professional expertise and in some cases supply materials at no cost just because they want to support the community. These people deserve a little publicity for their contribution and we would like to mention Amy and Matt Townsend (Ultimate Creative Communications 01565 651589) for the design and printing of the

Page 1 of 4 H o l m e s C h a p e l P a r i s h C o u n c i l w w w . h o l m e s c h a p e l p a r i s h c o u n c i l . g o v . u k play area questionnaire and Mark Bowden (W M Electrical 01477 544897) who is the professional electrician when the Village Volunteers erect the Christmas lights.

LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY AND ITS IMPACT ON COUNCIL TAX Cheshire East Council is actively considering the transfer of certain services to the Town and Parish Councils in the Borough. They have held a number of briefing sessions for Local Councils in October and the services now being considered for transfer in 2012/3 are: - Civic and community halls - Public conveniences - Christmas lights and trees - Britain in Bloom - Closed Churchyards - Markets - Allotments - Play areas and recreation - Hanging baskets grounds - Bus shelters - Footpaths (some) & - Street names / benches / bridleways planters - Other assets - Ponds and ditches

The significance of all of these services is that Cheshire East Council have the power to provide them but are not under a statutory obligation to do so. Also the Town and Parish Councils have the power to provide them. Effectively, this could come down to local communities deciding whether they wanted to continue with these services as a local cost if Cheshire East decide to cease providing them.

There are other services which Cheshire East have a statutory responsibility to provide but they wish to devolve. In these cases they would have to include some funding if a Local Council takes them over. These services include litter, sweeping and grass cutting of verges.

The Parish Council continue to monitor the situation and make plans to respond to any changes that may arise.

Please see the website www.holmeschapelparishcouncil.gov.uk for more details.

HOMLES CHAPEL PARTNERSHIP

On November 24th the Holmes Chapel Partnership (formerly Holmes Chapel Parish Plan Implementation Group) was launched. Their next meeting will be on January 12th at the Victoria Club. It is hoped that the Partnership can attract more members, including individuals, organizations and businesses in Holmes Chapel, with the aim of delivering projects that benefit Holmes Chapel as a whole.

DRAFT CHESHIRE EAST RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2011-2026 Public Rights of Way comprise footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic. They form a network across the borough in both urban and rural areas, offering both leisure activities and transport links. Cheshire East Council is in the process of revising the County Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan which covered the period 2006-2011. A new plan is being compiled to reflect the geographic area of Cheshire East and to tie in with the next Local Transport Plan to cover the next 15 years.

Page 2 of 4 H o l m e s C h a p e l P a r i s h C o u n c i l w w w . h o l m e s c h a p e l p a r i s h c o u n c i l . g o v . u k A great deal of research was undertaken for the first improvement plan and now the Council is seeking to confirm that the findings of that research remain valid, rather than start again from scratch. A copy of the Draft Cheshire East Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2011-2026 is available now and can be seen on the website www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/prow.

HOLMES CHAPEL & DISTRICT U3 Holmes Chapel & District U3A are pleased to announce that the Registration & Enrolment Day on 26 October, was a huge success when over 212 people signed up for Membership, and 16 Activity Groups got under way. If you would like to join any of them, (and if spaces are still available), you will be most welcome. Just send an e-mail to [email protected] or pick up a Membership Form from Holmes Chapel Library. Starting in December, they will be holding Monthly Meetings/Coffee Mornings, and these will provide the opportunity for members to meet and catch up on the latest news. THEY ALSO HOPE TO WELCOME SOME NEW MEMBERS. Interestingly, for future Meetings, they plan to engage the services of various Speakers.

The dates for the next two of these Meetings are:-

10am-12noon Thursday 9 December - Large Hall, Methodist Church, Holmes Chapel 10am-12noon Thursday 13 January – Large Hall, Methodist Church, Holmes Chapel

and the cost will be £1.00 per member, including tea, coffee and biscuits!

Other things which are being planned for the future are, Social Trips and the provision of a U3A Help Desk in Holmes Chapel Library, these events will be widely advertised around the Village.

The Holmes Chapel & District U3A are still looking for volunteers to act as Leaders for the following Groups:-

Art Appreciation Astronomy Book Club Creative Writing Current Affairs Gardening Geography Keep-Fit Luncheon Club Natural History Philosophy Tai Chi Theatre Visits Yoga

So...... if you would like to Lead these, or any other Interest Groups, just send an e-mail to [email protected] or telephone 07787 437035 and they will be more than happy to answer your questions.

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR OWN ALLOTMENT IN HOLMES CHAPEL? Cheshire Landshare would like to create a community allotment site within walking distance of all Holmes Chapel residents.

Page 3 of 4 H o l m e s C h a p e l P a r i s h C o u n c i l w w w . h o l m e s c h a p e l p a r i s h c o u n c i l . g o v . u k If you are interested please send us your name, address and postcode to [email protected], or write to Cheshire Landshare, 11 Stirling Court, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7JG.

The objectives of Cheshire Landshare are • to provide an opportunity for communities to grow their own food • to provide land for the keeping of livestock • to provide education and work experience for local groups • to give people greater access to the countryside • to encourage local food production and support sustainable communities • to help unemployed people to gain skills and experience in horticulture • to contribute to the regeneration of local economies • to provide an environment that promotes and encourages biodiversity • to grow and help preserve wild plant species • to support and encourage rural crafts, hedging and coppicing • to hold social events and raise money for community projects

Officers and Members of the Parish Council with contact details Member Telephone Email ** Clerk of the Council David Cowgill 01565 631528 clerk@ Assistant Clerk Nicola Clarke 01477 533934 office@ Chairman Alan Pierce 01477 533367 alan.pierce@ Vice Chairman Nick Guthrie 01477 549958 nick.guthrie@ Alan Ashworth 01477 537690 alan.ashworth@ Kevin Brownlow 01477 533953 krbrownlow@ John Clowes 01477 532266 john.clowes@ Patricia Cotton 01477 537491 patricia.cotton@ Les Gilbert 01477 544307 les.gilbert@ May Mackenzie 01477 532007 may.mackenzie@ Rab Parry 01477 533715 rab.parry@ Alan Rickards 01477 534193 alan.rickards@ David Savage 01477 537464 david.savage@ Mike Street 01477 534745 michael.street@

** All email addresses have the domain name holmeschapelparishcouncil.gov.uk e.g. [email protected] For more details of items in this newsletter and for other communications, please see - The Parish Council website (www.holmeschapelparishcouncil.gov.uk) - The Council notice board located outside the village library Parish Council Office – 1 Church Walk Holmes Chapel CW4 7AZ – Tel 01477 533934

Page 4 of 4