Highways & Byways January 2020 The News and Views from Mickle Trafford and District January Sunrise Welcomes the New Decade www.mickletrafford.org.uk Page 2 Highways and Byways Happy New Year. Welcome to 2020 and the new decade. Is it really 20 years since the Millennium when we thought all the computers around the world would reset themselves and life as we know it would come to a stop? But here we are ... just carrying on. The strange weather of the Autumn continues with so much rain continuing to soak our fields and flood local roads at times. However the icy conditions and snow which could have made an appearance at this time of year have, so far, been absent. However, there is still a long way to go until Spring arrives. Have you got great plans for 2020? Perhaps a special holiday is on the cards or that long planned wedding gets closer. Perhaps your plans for 2020 centre around work, or children and family. If you’d like to celebrate anything with us we’d love to hear from you. Our next edition will be the final one for the current financial year and so we will be seeking advertisers old and new to join us in the Spring. Our rates are exceptionally good value as our rationale is to provide a means for local advertisers to showcase their services to local people. If you would like to find out more please ring Roger for a chat on 01244 301860. Our next newsletter will come out at the end of March and we welcome your news and items of interest. Please send anything you wish to be included by Wednesday 11th March to Jenny by email at [email protected]. If you want to chat about anything for the next edition contact Jenny and Roger on 01244 301860. The views expressed in Highways and Byways are not necessarily the views of the Parish Council. The inclusion of any products and services within the newsletter does not imply endorsement by the editorial team. Page 3 WHAT’S ON — at a glance 25th—27th January Big Garden Birdwatch in your garden Wednesdays February St Peter’s Toddler group, 10.30—12.00 Village Hall Weds 5th February Village Club Fun Quiz 9pm Village Hall Monday 10th February Parish Council meeting 6.30pm Village Hall Saturday 15th February The Tone Junkies 8pm Village Hall Weds 19th February Village Club Fun Quiz 9pm Village Hall Wednesdays March St Peter’s Toddler group, 10.30—12.00 Village Hall Weds 4th March Village Club Fun Quiz 9pm Village Hall Monday 9th March Parish Council meeting 6.30pm Village Hall Weds 18th March Village Club Fun Quiz 9pm Village Hall If you want to make sure your special event is highlighted in this section contact Jenny 01244 301860 Club programmes and dates are available in the ‘News from the Groups’ section pages 18—20. Page 4 MICKLE TRAFFORD & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL NEWS Based on the Parish Council Meetings held on 9th December and 13th January Open Forum Tessa Parkin raised the issue of pavements and puddles. At least four areas are of serious concern to walkers and drivers. Residents will know locations where floods are present after rain and for days after. The Clerk will report the problems to CWaC. POLICE UPDATE. Crime Information: A spreadsheet summary for Cheshire Villages shows very few offences during November/December in the Mickle Trafford area. PCSO newsletter from Linda Bailey December has been a busy but happy month in the Chester Villages as I have been fortunate enough to join in with lots of Christmas celebrations in the schools, community groups and my evening patrols have been far more festive with the Christmas lights. I have managed now to engage with every school in my area including the four primary schools, and one high school. I have gone into these schools to talk about a range of topics from personal safety, knife crime, county lines and cyber safety. Schools, pre-schools, nurseries and community groups for young people such as Beavers, Brownies and youth clubs are important for me to engage with. I would like the majority of young people to be able to recognise me, and understand I am a safe adult and am happy to talk to them. Every month there is a new topic from Cheshire Police to engage with for young people; if you have a community group please let me know I am happy to talk about lots of police related matters from road safety to crime prevention. The daylight hours are shorter now; however, I am around on evening patrols checking the residential housing areas of all the villages and some hot spots that I know of, especially more secluded areas. As we approach the cold dark months of January and February please bear in mind your own personal safety for example when walking home in the dark alone. Check that your children have sufficient lighting on bikes, and make sure your vehicles have emergency resources in them in case of bad weather. The Clerk advised that the PCSO was aware of the situation at the Traveller site on Plemstall Lane but as nothing illegal had taken place there was no action to be taken. The Chairman then closed the Open Forum. Names of Councillors present, apologies for absence, and Declarations of Interest were recorded. Parish Council Minutes. Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November and 9th December were accepted. Planning/Finance Committee The minutes of meetings held on the 2nd December 2019 and 6th January 2020 were noted. Page 5 QDJ Park Committee Report The committee are still compiling costs for potential projects which will be put to their next meeting. A recommendation will then be made to the Parish Council before being put out to the electorate for consultation. Christmas Event (Fayre, Lights, Santa, Choir, and Evening of Entertainment) The new format had worked well and an excellent day was had by all. The Parish Council thanked all of the organisers. Next year will build on the changes made. CCTV Policy A Policy Document is being prepared by Cllr Spence for circulation to all councillors in the next week, before final approval at the January meeting. The Clerk has now been trained to download data from the CCTV system should a request be made to do so. There is NO remote access on the CCTV system. Trustees/Parish Councillors Working Group It is clear that the roles and responsibilities of a Village Hall Trustee and a Parish Councillor are not well understood, particularly when an individual has both titles. A Working Group is tasked with defining the roles. Cllrs Arnold, Bartley and Taylor offered their services and Cllr Harrison advised that Mr Martin Dick and Mr Deylan Bailey would represent the Trust. The Chair or Vice Chair of the Parish Council will chair the Group. Village Hall Trust CCTV Policy Adherence to the Policy will be overseen by Cllr Spence for the next six month period. New location for “keyfob” box. The unit should be repositioned away from the CCTV monitor. New location for CCTV camera behind the bar One of the current CCTV units be moved to a position behind the bar Approval of two new locks for bar area. Two new locks will be purchased for the bar and cellar door to ensure that security is maintained. Key holders will be selected at the first meeting of the Village Hall working group. Precept 2020/21 Following the recommendation from the Finance Committee, the Parish Precept for 2020/21 will be £30000. This is significantly lower than last year for several reasons. The reserves are adequate for current projects. There are fewer future projects scheduled in the coming year. Contingencies have been allowed for. Hoole Penfold The Parish Council will ask CWaC if the ownership of the Penfold can be transferred to the Parish Council. Page 6 Action Update A56 Speed survey recommendations Planters Interactive Speed signs (Two) Ditch at School Lane Road Pavements New dog waste bin The Clerk advised that even though CWaC Officers had been chased on the above matters, no updates had been received. Cllr Parker will be taking these matters up with the Chief Executive of CWaC later in January. A letter to the Chief Executive will further underline the issues that give concern to the Parish Council. Matters raised at the discretion of the Chairman (Not for resolution) Cllr Parker asked the Clerk to issue letters of Thanks to the local businesses who contributed to the Raffle prizes for the Christmas Event. Date and time of Next Parish Council Meeting 10th February at The Village Hall at 6.30pm Page 7 Celebrations as Helsby Golf Club Powered Wheelchair Appeal present 400th chair! During an evening of “Glitz and Glamour”, the Powered Wheelchair Appeal from Helsby Golf Club recently celebrated the donation of 5 wheelchairs including the milestone 400th to local deserving youngsters. The celebration was held at Chester Racecourse and was organised by the Powered Wheelchair Committee and supporters. Around 230 guests attended a fun filled evening including a champagne reception, three course dinner, and live musical entertainment. There were also casino tables, raffles and a grand charity auction. The highlight of the evening however was the presentation of 5 powered wheelchairs. 2 further chairs were due to be presented but unfortunately, both youngsters were ill and unable to attend on the night. They will however receive their chairs shortly. The Appeal was delighted to welcome special guests on the night – actors Alison Steadman, Michael Elwyn and Emma Cunniffe and also England Ladies cricketer Sophie Ecclestone.