Improvements for Zebra crossing

PEDESTRIANS will soon find a zebra crossing in Frodsham easier to access.

Works begin next Monday (February 13) at the Vicarage Road crossing to widen a section of footpath on the Manley Road side.

Frodsham councillors Lynn Riley and Andrew Dawson have contributed a portion of their member budgets towards the scheme, which is being funded through Cheshire West and Chester Council's Local Transport Plan budget.

The works, which are expected to last two weeks, have been scheduled during the school half-term in an effort to reduce inconvenience. Although the zebra crossing will not be in use during this time, a substitute crossing will be in place a few metres away.

The land required to carry out this improvement has been given to the council by the land owner without charge.

Cllr Riley said: "This project has been talked about for a number of years. "This is a well-used crossing but unfortunately the narrow footpath on the Manley Road side can be tricky to negotiate, particularly for people with pushchairs or wheelchairs.

"We have finally been able to bring these much-needed improvements by working with a local resident who has kindly given over some garden to widen the access path.

"Cllr Dawson and I were pleased to help to fund this scheme, which will have a wide benefit for the local community.

"Although the crossing will be closed during the works, there will be a substitute crossing only a short distance away so any inconvenience should be kept to a minimum."

New literature festival to launch

A NEW 12-day literature festival, "Weaver Words", is to be launched in Frodsham this summer.

Supported by an Arts Council start-up grant of £10,000, the festival will offer an exciting range of events, talks and workshops for adults and children, including a performance by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

Weaver Words is the brain child of the Frodsham Community Association and is being organised by a festival committee, chaired by Sue Thomson.

Sue said: "The literature festival is a fantastic new event for Frodsham which should be great for residents and attract hundreds of people to the town. We hope lots of local schools, book groups and community organisations will want to join in. And we're delighted Frodsham CE Primary School has already pledged their support by planning to host an author-in-residence and publish their own book of stories."

Award-winning Frodsham writer Tim Firth, author of "Calendar Girls", has agreed to be the festival's patron and he will be sponsoring a new children's writing competition attached to the festival.

He said: "I'm really pleased that my Great Cheshire Story Prize will form part of the new festival. Hopefully it will offer to younger children the three things any professional writer craves most - a first line, a deadline and a cash incentive."

Weaver Words will run from August 29 to September 9 and feature a science fiction weekend, poetry events with local poets Andrew Rudd and Gladys Mary Coles, a Daphne du Maurier afternoon tea, a Charles Dickens celebration with his descendant Gerald Dickens and a wide variety of workshops, from cartoons and creative writing to drama and book-making.

There will also be a special story-telling day for pre-school children and a lively Open Mic night for budding writers to present their work. The festival will end with the premier of a new drama, Daring To Be, presented by local churches.

Weaver Words is being co-ordinated by festival project manager, Lynn Pegler, and she would be delighted to hear from any community group or individual who would like to get involved. For more information, please contact her on 07783 686246 or email email@weaverwords.org.uk

Town claims best kept station award

FRODSHAM Railway Station has been named "Cheshire's Best Kept Station" - and Helsby won the "Tidiest station" award.

Both stations are cared for by members of the North Cheshire Rail User's Group. The awards were announced at the annual prize giving night organised by the Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition.

More than 100 guests including The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, along with the High Sheriff and six Mayors including the Lord Mayor of Chester were at the evening held at the Weaver Hall Museum in Northwich.

Frodsham was described by the judges as a "powerful flower show of a station." Its award follows on from last year's performance when the station won the Cheshire West and Chester Award. In 2009 and 2006 Frodsham won the best kept gardens award and there were earlier awards in 2008, 2006 and 2005.

Helsby Station has won an award of some sort every year since the competition was launched in 2003 and was the first ever winner of the Best Kept Station award - a title it claimed again in 2010. Its award-winning success  is such that people visit regularly to view the awards displayed on the signal box and its success has even been noted on an Indian travel website!

Top level talks on swing bridge

A DEPUTATION of councillors and senior council officers travelled to London to brief Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans about the growing concern over the condition of the ageing Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, near Frodsham.

Among its members were Frodsham Mayor Andrew Dawson and fellow Frodsham councillor Lynn Riley.

Senior representatives from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWC) and British Waterways were also in the party.

The aim was to seek high level talks with Defra - which funds British Waterways - and the Department of Transport on the future of the bridge, which carries the A56 over the River Weaver.

British Waterways - owners of the 90-year-old structure - has said that while safe at the moment, the bridge will need major re-strengthening work in the foreseeable future. But while CWC is prepared to meet its share of the refurbishment costs, British Waterways is struggling to find the remainder of the estimated £4m needed.

Retired businessman and former Frodsham councillor Tom Reynolds is spearheading a campaign to get the bridge re-painted by volunteers. He says the appalling appearance of the rusting bridge is damaging Frodsham's image.

But he believes proposals put forward by British Waterways, which would involve closing the bridge for 6-9 months, are a non-starter because the damage this would cause to Frodsham's economy. He also questions the £4 million estimated cost of repairs.

"The bridge's future is being decided by bureaucrats that just don't have a clue," he said.

The bridge is used by an average of 20,000 vehicle daily while one boat only uses the river every six weeks. Apart from the M56 motorway, Sutton Weaver Bridge is the only road crossing over the river for miles in either direction. Motorway traffic, normally diverted through Frodsham and Helsby, when the M56 westbound is blocked, would be forced to travel many miles out of its way, with the only alternative routes via Northwich to the south or the Mersey Tunnels to the north.

Cllr Riley said: "The bridge plays a vital role in the local transport system - not least as a motorway release valve - and we are deeply concerned about the current situation.

"We are working closely with British Waterways on the issue and hope that a joint approach to Government will provide the help needed to address what could well prove to be a major problem."

She added: "Sadly this is a problem which will not go away."

A spokesman for British Waterways: "The refurbishment of the bridge remains high on our agenda and we will continue to work with the council and local community to restore the landmark structure."

But British Waterways says the idea of using volunteers to paint the bridge is not feasible because of safety issues.     

Fighting back against the recession

FRODSHAM is fighting back against the recession with nine new businesses moving into the town in the past year.

The new small and medium-sized businesses have all moved into Frodsham Business Centre in Bridge Lane and they are all flourishing.

Centre director Simon Longden (pictured right) said: "Our experience during the recession is that if you offer businesses affordable office space and the right level of support they will continue to look to develop.

"Attracting new firms into the centre is important. But looking after the firms that have been with us for many years is also crucial."

Mr Longden said a number of customers occupied just one office when they first moved to the centre but have since expanded as they are happy with the service provided.

Among those who have stayed and are doing well are the Cerebral Palsy charity Scope and IT specialists Medhurst.

Forest Hills goes global

FRODSHAM'S Forest Hills Hotel has become a Best Western Hotel - the largest group of independently owned and managed hotels in the world.

After rigorous inspections to make sure the hotel met the quality standards required by Best Western, it passed with flying colours.

Hotel managers Kieran and Tamsin McCabe were delighted with the achievement.

Mr McCabe said: "Becoming part of the 'the world's biggest hotel family' we are still independently owned and managed, but now part of a global brand.

"The hotel will continue to provide the same expected service and high quality standards which are known for."

The hotel was build in 1988 and swiftly became part of the Frodsham community, hosting hundreds of weddings, Christenings and even Golden Wedding anniversaries of people who originally had their wedding receptions at the former Merseyview.

The management team and staff were all part of the assessment procedure and shared the hotel's success in joining Best Western.

Camera company moves into town

by David Skentelbery

ONE of the country's top suppliers of vehicle camera systems has moved into new premises in Frodsham.

Vision UK - which produces reversing, rear-view and CCTV cameras for vehicles - is moving from Chester to take three offices and a warehouse at Frodsham Business Centre.

Managing director Rick Trehearne said: "Our business has grown massively in the last two years because transport firms and other businesses with vehicles realise the importance of protecting drivers with evidence against fraudulent road accident insurance claims. 

"There is also currently a big drive for improved health and safety on the roads and our technology provides greatly increased visibility and special awareness to help drivers complete their journey safely."

Vision UK has supplied systems for the vehicles used in the construction of the Olympic Park in London, and has doubled its annual turnover since 2009.

Rick said the facilities at the centre were "fantastic" and praised centre staff for being helpful in making the move possible.

Robert Longden, of Frodsham Business Centre, said: "We're delighted to welcome Vision UK to Frodsham Business Centre.  

"We have seen an influx of new companies move into the centre over the last 12 months which is great for the local economy and shows that Frodsham is a great place to do business."

Fighting back against the recession

FRODSHAM is fighting back against the recession with nine new businesses moving into the town in the past year.

The new small and medium-sized businesses have all moved into Frodsham Business Centre in Bridge Lane and they are all flourishing.

Centre director Simon Longden said: "Our experience during the recession is that if you offer businesses affordable office space and the right level of support they will continue to look to develop.

"Attracting new firms into the centre is important. But looking after the firms that have been with us for many years is also crucial."

Mr Longden said a number of customers occupied just one office when they first moved to the centre but have since expanded as they are happy with the service provided.

Among those who have stayed and are doing well are the Cerebral Palsy charity Scope and IT specialists Medhurst.