The No.6 Spring 2009 Raven The quarterly magazine for the whole of Rainow G Village News G Social Events G Parish Council News G Clubs & Societies G School & Church Your Update on Council Activities Cheshire East Community Speed Management On 31st March Cheshire County Council and Speed Indicator Device (SID) Macclesfield Borough Council ceased to exist and Rainow now finds itself in the new Unitary Authority of Cheshire East. Information about the new body is available on the website: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk As we said in December, our major concern is how we will relate to the new authority and what representation we will have on the two levels below the new Cheshire East Council. These are the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and seven Local Area Partnerships (LAPs). The LSP includes the Police, Emergency Services, Education and Health Services as well as other public and community bodies. The LAPs are the next level down and it is here that we expect to be most involved. It is still not clear how much we will be consulted and how Are you concerned about speeding through Rainow? much influence we will have as a Parish within the We have now obtained two approved sites on LAP and the seven areas have only just been Hawkins Lane where we would like to install “Clever finalised. We will be in a substantial LAP which SIDs” hopefully for two weeks. Can you help us to includes Macclesfield and Bollington and stretches monitor them? It would only be a matter of remaining from Pott Shrigley to Wincle. A copy of the map within sight during daylight hours. If you are showing the LAP boundaries is available; if you interested in helping or would like more information wish to receive an electronic copy please contact please contact the Clerk or any Councillor. the Clerk. We are hoping to borrow a “Clever SID” from the To begin with, four trial areas will be put in place to police but they have only one machine and we have judge the success or failure of new arrangements. to wait for it to be repaired! Representatives of the Parish Council have attended consultative meetings held by the shadow Other Highways Matters Cheshire East Authority covering budgetary and During the cold snap in February we received a operational issues. ChALC (Cheshire Association of number of complaints about the lack of gritting which Local Authorities) on which we are represented has were passed on to highways department. It became been acting as the main organisation for Town and clear that some grit bins had gone missing especial- Parish Councils and has made official requests for ly in Sugar Lane and Hough Hole. At one point none representation on both the LSP and LAP boards. of the minor roads were gritted around the school A formal response to this is awaited and we will and on Millers Meadow and Round Meadow. There keep everyone informed. was undoubtedly a problem in the village and the highways department was tackled about the difficulty Vacancy for a Councillor and they told us that they had made new arrange- The Council is sorry to announce that Justin ments for minor roads to be Gutmann has had to resign his office of Parish gritted so that new bins will not be necessary. Councillor due to work commitments. We thank Exceptional conditions and drivers’ unfamiliarity with Justin for his all his contributions to the Parish the roads to be gritted had resulted in some teething Council and wish him all the best for the future. problems. The Parish Council will continue to A notice of election appeared on the village notice monitor the situation so please notify the Parish boards and as no one requested an election there Clerk of any problems. You can also look at the is now a vacancy for a co-opted Parish Councillor. website: www.cheshire.gov/gritting or telephone If you are interested in applying please write to: 0845 11 333 11. Mrs. Sarah Giller, Clerk to Rainow Parish Council, 9, Sutton Road, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1SU or Work on the the potentially dangerous wall by the email to [email protected] by Tuesday April Pleasance Gardens was completed on time and the 14th at 12.00. Please say why you think you are Council’s efforts to get some of the road surfaces suitable and give brief information on your improved on Sugar Lane and on Millers Meadow are background. beginning to have visible results. The two village boundary signs and the Forest Close sign should be The Raven replaced soon. Although the advertising income for the magazine continues to rise the magazine is not yet fully E-News independent and to ensure its continuation it still If you would like to join Rainow E-NEWS and get all needs more advertisers to cover the production the latest news and updates please email your costs. If you would like to advertise or if you can address to the Clerk at: [email protected]. arish Council News recommend a potential advertiser, please contact Agenda, minutes and any notices are also available one of the editors named on the page opposite. on the web site for your information. P 2 Cover Photo by Dave Wilcox Countryside Access Using the grant funds from Cheshire Community Action mentioned in the last issue of The Raven, the Parish Welcome to Plan Implementation team has now finalised arrange- ments for a new map board in the centre of the village (due in April), number markers on the main paths to link with the Rainow Parish Paths maps*, regular articles in The Raven (the second one in this issue), a new bench and the first two of a series of leaflets describing typical Rainow walks. *Don’t forget! Rainow Parish Paths maps are on sale in all three Rainow pubs and also at The Swan in Kettleshulme. The Community Pride Competition aven eople like livingR in Rainow. That was clear from the As well as taking part in the regular Community Pride answers given to the questionnaires which provided Competition (coming 5th), Pthe basis for the Parish Plan. The main reason was Rainow entered the new the attraction of the countryside and of living in what Community Spirit Competition is still a rural area, and The Raven is doing its bit to for the first time last year and emphasise the importance of the countryside around us we received Highly Commended with regular articles from the Countryside Group and with a £50 award. We have information about the walks around the village. The entered both competitions again second most important reason for liking living here, this year and are hoping that though, was “people and community” and there were everyone in the village will do many comments about friendly people, good neighbours their bit towards helping the team who organise our entry. and community spirit. In this issue we want to put the Looking after the appearance of the village is obviously spotlight on people and the community. important to give ourselves a chance to regain the Best Social activities in Rainow depend on people volunteering Kept Village award but the Community Spirit judges look their time and skills. The Church Fete and the Scarecrow at how people participate in village life and what the Trail make Rainow an attraction for miles around but, community does to develop community spirit. Our thanks without the volunteers who do all the hard work involved, go to Liz Lawson and her team of volunteers for ensuring they would not happen. Regular meetings of Scouts, Cubs Rainow has a real chance of success. and Brownies take place because adults have the community spirit to take charge of the sessions and our Future Council Meetings success in the Best Kept Village competition depends on the efforts of the team of volunteers. We are lucky that so 21st April - Parish Council Meeting 8.00 p.m. many volunteers keep our social groups alive and that 19th May - Parish Council Meeting 8.00 p.m. Rainow has people with such varied talents. 16th June - Parish Council Meeting 8.00 p.m. Running existing events and groups calls for enthusiasm and skill but, when it comes to new ventures in the village, a readiness to take part and to get the ball rolling is needed. Thankfully there are Rainow people prepared to take the initiative to start something and see it through. Your Parish Councillors Recently one group set about reviving table tennis and others are working out to get the financial help they need Ken Butler (Chair) 433168 by seeking a Grassroots Grant (promoted by the Parish Mary Marsh (Deputy) 573508 Council a few weeks ago). Now a new initiative is the Ian Brammer 426059 planning of Rainow’s first Jazz Festival in June. You can Alan Brett 576108 read about these new ventures elsewhere in The Raven. John Cantrell 422107 TAKING PART Geoff Cooper 574878 If you have ideas for more activities or events in the village, talk to people you think could help. Any Rainow John Leigh 574327 Parish Councillor will be glad to hear your ideas, or you John Stagg 572816 could simply talk to someone involved in one of the Alan Taylor 575544 existing activities. Any of The Raven’s editors would also Wendy Vernon 572812 be ready to help or put you in touch with the right person. If you are interested in volunteering to help write or edit Judy Wilkinson 614650 The Raven why not try this as a start? Whether you are a Clerk: Sarah Giller 850532 newcomer or have lived here for years, maybe this is the [email protected] time to “ask not what Rainow can do for you but what you Borough Councillor for Rainow can do for Rainow!” Harold Davenport 01663 763986 Editorial Team: Ian Brammer (01625 426059) County Councillor for Rainow Bob Langstaff (01625 573761) Sylvia Roberts 01625 575306 Tony Nicol (01625 421297) Design by Mel Wilcox (01625 576182) 3 x q £615 Raised for h e Palestine Children Jazz comes to Rainow group of local jazz enthusiasts are bringing to Rainow a list of Ainternationally acclaimed jazz, soul, and blues musicians for an exciting weekend of hot (and cool) events.