Photographic Society Enjoying Putting Frodsham in the Picture
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February 2017 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 1 2 www.frodshamlife.co.uk February 2017 Editor Gary Skentelbery Production Paul Walker Editor’s Comment Advertising IT can come as no surprise that the vast majority of people James Balme in Frodsham do not look favourably on the prospect of FreephoneNick White Unconventional Gas Extraction (Fracking) in or anywhere near 0800Tony Record 955 5247 the town. Freephone that cannot, at present, be met 0800Editorial 955 5247 Indeed the only surprising statistic Helsby is that as many as 9.1 per by wholly environment-friendly to come from the very thorough cent of people think Fracking would Editorial01925 623631 methods. survey carried out by campaign be a good thing for the area. But to suggest anywhere in the 01925Email 623631 group Frack Free Frodsham and Figures for Helsby were not yet [email protected] Frodsham-Helsby area would be Email available when Frodsham Life went suitable is surely madness. info@warrington-Websites to press, but we would be surprised In any case, even if it were worldwide.co.ukwww.culchethlife.com if the outcome of the survey there is a suitable area, surely we www.frodshamlife.co.uk much different. Fracking has far too have already suffered enough. Websites Frodsham big an impact on the environment www.culchethlife.comwww.lymmlife.co.uk Incinerator, Wind Farm…must www.warrington.tv to endear itself to most people. we now also resign ourselves to www.frodshamlife.co.uk We are not sure that we can go www.lymmlife.co.ukwww.warrington- precept to be fracking as well? worldwide.co.uk along with those who argue against No. Enough is enough. www.warrington.tv fracking in any circumstances www.warrington-Address unchanged Frodsham and Helsby must not be worldwide.co.ukNew Media Centre whatsoever. There may well be made to suffer any more unwanted FRODSHAM Town Council has places where it can be carried out activities. No-one can accuse local AddressOld Road Warrington agreed to use its cash balances to WA4 1AT without causing any lasting harm people of Nimbyism – not when the New Media Centre keep the precept – the local part of and it seems to us that there is a “back yard” is already overflowing Old Road Warrington the Council Tax – at the same level genuine need to find more energy with undesirable developments. WA4 1AT as last year. Members voted 10-1 in favour of the move at the council’s budget warrington-worldwideFrodsham Life is is meeting. Only Cllr Tom Reynolds published monthly by voted against. Orbit News Ltd. A request from the council’s The contents of this magazine World War One Commemoration are fully protected by copyright Group for an additional £600 was and nothing may be reprinted refused and it was also agreed that or reproduced without prior the Christmas Festival budget might permission of the publishers. be reviewed once the full cost of the The publishers are not liable for most recent festival was known. any statement made or opinion A precept request for £211,397 expressed by third parties in this was approved – with Cllr Reynolds publication. against voting against. Printed by TwentyFourSeven *The main part of the Council Tax is levied by Cheshire West and Chester Council. February 2017 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 3 Rebel councillor apologises – and causes uproar CONTROVERSIAL councillor Tom Reynolds’ long awaited “public Cllr Reynolds said as the request apology” for the upset he has caused was duly delivered at had come from Cllr Pennington, the monthly meeting of Frodsham Town Council – and caused who he respected, he would agree. uproar. The meeting then moved on to Agenda item 179 was entitled: Cllr Reynolds then sat down the next item on the agenda. “Public Apology – Cllr T Reynolds and Cllr Critchley re-entered the *At its meeting on December to make a public apology to Cllrs A chamber and declared the meeting 12, the council had ordered Dawson and L Riley.” re-opened. Cllr Reynolds to apologise or, But Cllr Reynolds rose to his feet She then asked Cllrs Andrew if he could not, to resign from and said: “I am proud to be here” Dawson and Lyn Riley if they were the council for the benefit of his – and promptly accused the council prepared to accept the apology in constituents. This followed a ruling of wasting public money over two the way it had been given. by an independent panel that Cllr years.” Cllr Dawson said it was not Reynolds had breached Frodsham Chairman Cllr Judith Critchley what he had been expecting but Town Council’s member code of conduct by showing a lack of banged on her desk with the gavel he did not wish to see the matter respect to Cllr Dawson and Cllr to bring the meeting to order, but prolonged. It was for the Town Riley in an email sent in November Cllr Reynolds continued to speak. Council to decide. 2015. Cllr Critchley repeatedly banged Cllr Riley said she believed the The council also decided Cllr the gavel and eventually said she issue was damaging to democracy Reynolds should undertake training was suspending the meeting and in Frodsham and it had cost the to understand the responsibilities walked out of the chamber. taxpayers many thousands of of being a councillor, the correct Cllr Reynolds continued to speak, pounds that would have been procedure for raising issues and delivering his apology in rhyme. better spent elsewhere. She too the correct use of emails and social He said: hoped they could now “draw a media. “Oh dear, what can the matter line in the sand.” be, Veteran councillor Frank Frodsham Town Council trying to Pennington told Cllr Reynolds it was embarrass me, time to “draw a line” and support For implicating Cllr Dawson and the council which had come a long Riley with FTC’s inefficiency, way during the last two years. Planning procedure to be streamlined In renting Castle Park House But Cllr Reynolds, admitting his FRODSHAM Town Council is to streamline the work of its planning foolhardily. apology had been delivered with committee. To Cllrs Dawson and Riley I sarcasm, said: “We are not here In future, the committee will meet only to consider major planning apologise…sincerely. for ourselves but for the people of applications or changes to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CW&C) I represent Frodsham people Frodsham. I am sick and tired of not planning policy. NOT FTC being able to speak openly.” Routine planning applications will be referred to the relevant ward I promote residents needs NOT Cllr Pennington said he was councillors for consideration. bureaucracy. not prepared to see the council Comments will then be submitted directly to CW&C via its website or Respect for ALL groups in the “dragged down.” through the Town Clerk. minority, He told Cllr Reynolds: “I am Residents who wish to make representations on a planning applications BUT…focus on ‘family’ Frodsham pleading with you to put an end to should liaise with their ward councillor. which is the majority.” this.” 4 www.frodshamlife.co.uk February 2017 Council to carry on paying for PCSO FRODSHAM Town Council has agreed, unanimously, to continue that town and parish councils will about 35 per cent. contributing to the cost of having a Police Community Support contribute 100 per cent of the cost And he believes the “expanded” Officer (PCSO) in the town for the coming year. in return for an “enhanced” service. service will be what the town is But a question mark hangs over contribute one third towards the Councils that don’t contribute will already getting. future years. cost of providing a PCSO in their receive a standard service. Main funding for PCSOs come Currently the council, along with area. Cheshire West and Cheshire from the Cheshire Police and a number of others across Cheshire, But from 2018 the police hope councillor Andrew Dawson has Crime Commissioner and there already warned of the possibility are currently about 200 across that some councils will find this Cheshire unaffordable. Frodsham’s PCSO is the popular He estimates it would cost Neil Flanagan – but the police can Frodsham about 20 per cent of give no guarantee that Frodsham its current revenue budget while can keep him, whether or not the for Helsby, which has a smaller Town Council continues to part or revenue budget, it could amount to fully fund him. Rail users look forward to six trains an hour SIX trains an hour could be stopping hourly in each direction between at Frodsham and Helsby stations – Liverpool to Chester with potential giving the two communities the rail to extend to North Wales in the connectivity they really need. future. This is the view of Mark Warren, Mr Warren said: “Overall chairman of the North Cheshire NCRUG is delighted this scheme Rail Users Group (NCRUG) is coming to fruition after many The group has received new years of campaigning and we details of proposed services look forward to commencement of following the long-awaited services in late 2018. reinstatement of the Halton “Also of note is the Curve after making a Freedom of commencement of Chester - Leeds Information request. services next year. NCRUG is The proposals are for a campaigning to have this new replacement single track with new service incorporate stops at Helsby crossovers at Halton and Frodsham and Frodsham. and also upgrades to signalling “Combined with the existing equipment. services these two new links could There are no plans for a station potentially bring an average of at Beechwood despite this concept three trains per hour through Helsby being mooted during initial and Frodsham in each direction discussions.