May 2014 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 1 2 www.frodshamlife.co.uk May 2014 Editor Gary Skentelbery Production Paul Walker Editor’s Comment Advertising James Balme ALTHOUGH we have complained more than once in this column about the lack of interest shown in local issues by members of the internet still shy away from Nick White watching online movies - even ones Tony Record the public, recent months have forced us to eat our words. None more so than this month. they might find more interesting Freephone than a council meeting! 0800 955 5247 The community grants night, response to a survey which entailed What’s more, public attendance Editorial reported on elsewhere in this participants filling-in a quite lengthy at recent council meetings has 01925 623631 issue, drew a large crowd to Main form. been high by comparison with Street Community Church where The fact that more than 700 times past or with those of other Email local groups were able to bid for people viewed the trial online local authorities, which suggests info@[email protected] a share of a £6,000 “pot” of televising of a Town Council that when Frodsham people are Websitesworldwide.co.uk money. Afterwards, more than meeting is also interesting and has really interested in what the council www.culchethlife.comWebsites 1,500 people voted online to certainly embarrassed a certain is doing they are quite prepared to www.culchethlife.comwww.frodshamlife.co.uk decide which groups should share city council which only attracted attend the meeting itself. www.frodshamlife.co.ukwww.lymmlife.co.uk in the cash, most of which came some 200 viewers with a similar www.lymmlife.co.ukwww.warrington.tv from the member budgets of our experiment. www.warrington.tvwww.warrington- local Cheshire West and Chester But we remain to be convinced www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk councillors. that this is the way forward for Deadline for worldwide.co.uk A quite remarkable display of increasing public interest in council Address interest by local people! affairs. Too many people still the June issue NewAddress Media Centre lack the means to watch internet NewOld Road Media Warrington Centre Consultation television, never mind the interest, is May 27 OldWA4 Road 1AT Warrington and many people who do use WA4 1AT In addition, we hear that more than 1,300 people have taken part in the consultation exercise carried warrington-worldwideFrodsham Life is is published monthly by out by the Town Council to find out Orbit News Ltd. what local people want to see in Frodsham in the future. Another The contents of this magazine example of the public showing are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted interest in local issues - and anyone or reproduced without prior who disagrees with this statement permission of the publishers. clearly knows little about public consultation exercises. The publishers are not liable for any statement made or opinion Of course, there will be those expressed by third parties in this who rightly point out that the publication. figure was inflated by a number of controversial issues, including Printed by TwentyFourSeven the saga of the Park Lane Play Area. But even so, it is an excellent May 2014 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 3 Paul’s 1,000- mile cycle challenge A 44-year-old police officer fund the best research to help these from Helsby is to tackle a children. It’s not that well known a 1,000 miles cycle ride from charity but it’s such a worthy cause. London to Nice next month – “I’ve supported them since 2010 to raise money for children’s when a neighbour and I completed charity Action Medical London to Paris raising money - my Research. first charity bike ride. Paul Rogers, who lives on Meres “I roped another neighbour in for Edge with his wife, Zoe and seven- year-old daughter Hannah, has another London to Paris in 2012, been supporting the charity for but no one’s offering to ride London several years and has completed to Nice with me. Maybe there’s a cycle challenges previously. reason. Probably 1,000 reasons!” He has been a police officer Paul will be tweeting reports on for more than 22 years and is his progress so supporters will be stationed in Widnes. able to follow him at dukster777 His ride will take in the full length on Twitter. of France, crossing both the Jura Paul added: “Training is going Mountains and part of the Alps. okay but sometimes it can be He hopes to ride between 80 hard balancing shifts, family and and 100 miles a day on a route training. I used a turbo trainer in that takes in sections of the Tour de my garage through the winter and France route. now it’s just a matter of getting in Paul said: “Action Medical the mileage. Research have, for over 60 years, Anyone who wants to sponsor been saving and changing lives of children through medical Paul can visit the charity’s website research and have spent over - www.action.org.uk - where they £100m, funding some amazing can enter his name - Paul Rogers - breakthroughs. in the “sponsor a friend” box and “Today in the UK, there are click London To Nice. hundreds of thousands of sick and Alternatively, they can call in disabled children who need help. Zoe’s shop on Church Street, Action Medical Research find and Frodsham and make a donation. 4 www.frodshamlife.co.uk May 2014 Facebook artists come face to face ECLECTIC MIX – the first exhibition by the Facebook Group of the Northern Artists will be held at Frodsham’s Castle Park Arts Centre from May 21 to June 29 A special open evening will take place from 7-9pm on Friday, May 23 and there will be a “meet the artists” event on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26 from 10am. Two years ago some Facebook acquaintances made a point of meeting face to face at the Arts Centre and decided they needed to form a group where they could discuss art related matters relevant to art in northern England and North Wales. From this beginning it was decided to organise an exhibition to show what could be done using social media and celebrate the exciting and professional art by the region’s artists to include paintings and 3D work. May 2014 www.frodshamlife.co.uk 5 Forum on human trafficking AN all-day forum on human trafficking was held at Frodsham Methodist Church. A range of speakers explained the facts about what human trafficking is, what is being done to stop it and how to support victims. People from a variety of Christian denominations attended, from across Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. Major Anne Read, the Salvation Army’s national anti-trafficking response co-ordinator led the day, supported by her colleague Major Gladys Ljungholm from the North Western division. Other speakers included Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans and Hannah Flint from International Justice Mission. Discussion in the afternoon was chaired by Frodsham Methodist Church’s minister, the Rev Denise Harding. The Forum, supported by Frodsham and Cheshire Churches Together, sought to inform individuals and encourage them to discuss and identify positive forms of action. It was an opportunity for concerned individuals to identify how the church and other organisations could respond to this issue in a modern world. Anyone concerned that someone may have been trafficked should telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or The Salvation Army on 0300 3038151. For further information on the Forum e-mail enquiries to: [email protected]. Public debate on energy supply – and fracking A PUBLIC debate on energy supply and conservation, the role of renewables and the pros and cons of fracking is to take place in Frodsham. The event, organised by Kingsley Transition Initiative and Frodsham Transition Initiative, will be at the Best Western Forest Hills Hotel, Frodsham on Wednesday, May 28 at 7.30pm. Guests speakers are Professor Peter Styles, Applied and Environmental Geophysics at Keele University and editor-in-chief at GEOSCIENTIST and Professor Erik Bichard, Regeneration and Sustainable Development at the University of Salford and author of “Positively Responsible”. They will present arguments both for and against fracking and this will be followed by a discussion to aid understanding of what it entails, possible positives and negatives and how it could affect local people. Additional speakers and an expert panel to answer questions are being arranged. Admission will be by donation on the door of £2 for adults and £1 for students. Advertiser’s announcement ‘Improving success rates in IVF: what patients need to know’ Reproductive Health Group are protocols – the end of one size delighted to invite members fits all of the public and healthcare • Complementary medicine and professionals to attend the next IVF outcomes focus event on fertility and IVF • Fertility support and when is it at the Centre for Reproductive dangerous to know too much Health, Daresbury Park, on Thursday May 15, 5.30pm – Refreshments and free parking 8.30pm. are provided. This meeting is in conjunction with the national infertility charity, The event is free to attend Infertility Network UK, and will but places must be reserved in feature informal talks and advice advance. on topics including Please contact Annette • Fertility problems - who and Eckersley, Education when to investigate Manager, at education@ • What difference do time lapse reproductivehealthgroup. and preimplantation genetic co.uk to reserve your place screening make? or book online at www. • Individualised stimulation reproductivehealthgroup.co.uk 6 www.frodshamlife.co.uk May 2014 £7,000 in grants – strictly for Frodsham MORE than £7,000 in grants Football Club.