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CreweTown Centre Edition OracleMonday January 22, 2018 65p MP campaigns for firefighter FOODIES IN Crewe Cosmopolitan jobs in Crewe Food Festival at Christ- mas, and plans for upcoming foodie events in Crewe. END TO ARRIVA CHAOS Pay agreement for Arriva drivers putting an end to commuter misery in Crewe.

HELP THE Photos: Several political groups in Crewe oppose proposed cuts to the fire service By Bryony Hiscock the principal town in Officer of Cheshire Fire and Rescue aura Smith held a rally and indeed the south of the borough service and the Vice Chair of the Bire and it has experienced vast challenges Brigade's Union's Cheshire Branch, HOMELESS with the Fire Brigade's L and growth over recent years with saying that councillors were “not Union, the Crewe and significant changes anticipated in convinced that the proposed change IN CREWE Constituency Labour Party in respect of HS2. would not have an impact on the Crewe town centre on the 9th "I have been supported greatly by safety of the public and the emergency Help for the homeless of December against proposed members of the Constituency Labour services workers". community in Crewe changes to Crewe Fire Station’s Party... We have held doorstop con- I asked people attending the rally reaches peak demand in second fire pump. versations, held street stalls in both why they came to support it: The changes would take the second Crewe and Nantwich and a public Charlotte, 29, a nurse from the new year. engine from fully manned to on-call rally to increase awareness. Leighton said: "I understand that to save £650k a year. "Residents have been angry, savings need to be made, but ideally Laura Smith main campaign, as shocked and dismayed at the prospect where public safety is concerned there MP for Crewe and Nantwich, has of losing full time firefighter jobs and should be no 'budget' to stick to... I been to save the second pump in have been enthusiastic about signing think this will bring significant risks Crewe, and the jobs that go with it. the petition. to the public and firefighters equally." She told The Oracle: "This is all about "I remain hopeful that the decision Gary, 52, a freight train driver from the loss of full time firefighter jobs. of the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Crewe said: "It's not as if people are "The ideal outcome for Crewe Service can be overturned." queueing up to be firefighters for the would be to maintain the current Councillor Simon Yates, leader of fun of it, they ought to cling onto firefighter cover at Crewe. Crewe is Crewe Town Council, commented those who still want to do this difficult following a meeting with the Chief job." 2 The Crewe Oracle Monday January 22,2018 Food festival brings in visitors for second year Woman reunited with lost purse A purse which was lost a week before Christmas was found after its owner appealed to bus company, D&G. The lady, who asked to not be named, left her purse on her seat on the number 85 bus between Nantwich and the Marshfield estate. She said: “The only thing I was worried about was getting back a photograph of my dad who died 6 years ago. I was amazed to find that everything was still in it!”

Photos: Top - Visitors on the town square, Bottom Left - Laura Smith MP delivers a speech at Christmas light switch on, Right - The British Bus Bar providing tipples in October. By Bryony Hiscock Crewe… So I decided to take the from Coppenhall said: “I think it’s isitors flocked to Crewe initiative to do something. great, everybody moans about how “This is the second year we have nothing ever goes on in Crewe but Vfor the Crewe Cosmopol- done this event, we had more time to look around, there’s people at every Lost kitten in itan Food Festival on the 29th of plan this one which meant we could stall.” October and the 24th of Novem- find more sponsors and go bigger. Jack Scott, 21, a student at Stafford- Sydney ber when businesses from all over “I love doing ‘foodie’ events in shire University, originally from Bris- the UK brought world foods to Crewe, we were at the Christmas light tol, said: “I think the range of food is A black kitten has gone missing in the town. switch on in November and we will fantastic, you’ve got everything from the Sydney Road area of Crewe. James Conner of J.A. Conner be running a food festival alongside Fish and Chips to Caribbean food! I’d Oscar, who is 9 months old with a Events, the company behind Crewe the Steampunk festival on the 27th never been to Crewe before today.” short black coat, could have escaped Cosmopolitan Food Festival, said he and 28th May.” The Crewe Cosmopolitan Food through an open window on the wanted people to have something dif- I asked visitors at the October Festival will return with the annual ground floor of his home. His owner ferent in Crewe. He told The Oracle: event what they thought of the Steampunk Convival on the 27th and has not seen him since January 3rd. “I got sick of people moaning about festival: Sue Harding, 34, a bartender 28th of May 2018. He is microchipped and very friendly so may have been picked up and taken in by a neighbour. Any infor- mation is to be reported to Crewe Parents alerted after Veterinary Hospital. Register your measles cases in Cheshire household By Bryony Hiscock makes an appointment with their GP “MMR is a safe vaccine and is appliances arents in Cheshire are so that they can be fully protected very effective at protecting against Register My Appliance day is 16th being urged to check their against measles. measles.” P “I would also appeal to any parents Measles symptoms can be as simple January 2018 and Cheshire Fire and children's measles vaccinations whose children have not yet had the as a cold or a rash but can develop Rescue Service are telling residents to following a number of outbreaks MMR vaccine to make arrangements into life threatening lung or brain register household appliances. across the country. with their GP to get them protected infections. This follows figures released by Cheshire East Council are calling as soon as possible. This vaccine is part of the national YouGov that revealed that just 43% for parents to check that their chil- "Vaccination not only protects immunisation schedule. Infants are of British adults “usually” register dren are immunised. Cheshire East your child but also helps stop measles usually vaccinated between the ages their domestic appliances with its Council released a statement from Dr spreading more widely, including to of three and four months. If you are manufacturer. Matt Tyrer, health protection lead at children who are too young to have in doubt about your children's or your When you register your appliance, Cheshire East Council, said: “I would the vaccination or adults who may be own immunity, you can check with you will receive safety updates on strongly recommend that anyone who vulnerable. your GP. your appliances, including any safety has not yet had two doses of MMR repairs offered by manufacturers. The Crewe Oracle Monday January 22,2018 3 Christmas chaos cancelled as Arriva agree on pay

By Bryony Hiscock disruption in the run up to Christ- ndustrial action by the GMB mas” I asked bus users on Crewe bus sta- Union and Unite around the I tion what they thought of the Arriva festive period was cancelled after drivers’ bus strikes in December. drivers, unions and Arriva met an Mary, 67 from Willaston said: “I agreement. think they ought to pay them well, Drivers were fighting for £12.10 my teenage granddaughter complains per hour. This was met on 13th about how expensive Arriva buses December as members took part in are, – you’d think the company could a vote, the hourly rate will rise later pay the drivers a bit more.” this year. Amy, 27 from Middlewich said: “I Arriva thanked customers for usually rely on Arriva to get to and their patience during the industrial from work, but as I work caring for ple from getting to work just because Rosie, 23 from Weston said "I action, in a statement they said: “We vulnerable adults I often finish or they want more pay.” don't have a car so i've been doing my are delighted to inform customers start very early or very late and have Danny, 21 from Coppenhall said: Christmas shopping throughout de- that an agreement has been reached to get a taxi. The drivers need paying “I think that all workers should be cember in the cold and wet. Over the between Arriva, its drivers and the a decent wage, but a decent service able to strike for better working christmas period everybody deserves unions - Unite and GMB, meaning wouldn’t go amiss!” conditions, it’s just tricky when it’s to be paid a fair wage, and what better that planned strike activity has been Jim, 59 from Shavington said: “I something that is used by so many Christmas present than to win a cancelled and there will be no further think it’s ridiculous to stop other peo- people every day.” dispute with your employer." A chance for the homeless By Bryony Hiscock igures provided by streets or who do not have a place F“CHANCE”, Crewe Home- they can call home. lessness And Needy Commu- " Like many authorities, this council is aware that the problem of nity Enrichment (formerly the homelessness needs to be addressed Saturday Kitchen Crew) have so that the right measures can be put shown that there has been a 28% in place to prevent people from losing increase in the number of home- the roof over their heads." less or vulnerable people they support at their weekly drop in at a local church. The group announced that on the 6th January they provided 32 visitors with food a hot meal for that evening and a packed lunch for the next day. They can also seek advice and get Laura Smith, MP for Crewe and warm, clean clothes. Nantwich, visited their session on The group initiated a "clean up" Saturday 20th January and released of an area where some of the people a statement. She said: "I'm really they support are living, clearing away concerned about proposals to remove rubbish and providing new, clean short-term supported housing from bedding for the group. the welfare system and instead fund Cheshire East Council is working this through council grants." with groups and organisations to CHANCE's drop in is every draft a strategy aimed at reducing Saturday from 6:30pm to 8pm at homelessness and providing the right St Stephen’s Church on Gainsbor- services. Councillor Ainsley Arnold, ough Road. Donations are accepted cabinet member for housing, plan- between 4pm and 6pm on Satur- ning and regeneration, said: “Home- days. They are currently asking for lessness is an issue that councils, like bottled water, duvets, sleeping bags, Cheshire East, wish to deal with in toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel Photos: Above - Before and after the clean up, Right - Laura Smith MP the most positive and sensitive way, and energy bars and are in need of attends drop in to speak with users of the service. working with partners to reduce the homemade puddings to serve after number of people sleeping on our the meal.