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MP receives petition
over threatened woodland
by David Skentelbery
A PETITION calling for assurances that public access is retained for footpaths in Harmers Wood, Helsby, has been handed to Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall.
Residents are setting up an action committee to fight to keep the woodland open to the public - and the MP has pledged to support them.
The wood is currently up for sale and locals want to ensure that they will continue to have the right of access to the footpaths that they have enjoyed for many years.
Mr Hall said: “I understand the concern the local residents have about access to this wood. Many people like to walk through the woods and the footpaths through this ancient wood have been a source of enjoyment for many years.
“If the land is sold privately residents want to know that they can still have access to the old footpaths that run through it.
“Local people are going to set up a committee to try and ensure that the wood retains its public access. I fully support the efforts of this group of people.”
The eight-acre Harmers Wood is being advertised for sale for £30,000, along with the 26-acre Frodsham Hill Wood, which has an asking price of £75,000.
Harmers Wood is said to offer scope for more active management, as well as sporting and private leisure.
The Woodland Trust, which already owns woodland in the area, has called a public meeting to discuss the issue. This will be at the Church Hall, Church Street, Frodsham on Monday, July 11 at 7.30pm.
Picture shows petition organisers Audrey Davies and Maureen Parker with MP Mike Hall.
"Town could lose medical
centre" councillor warns
by David Skentelbery
FRODSHAM could lose out on the plan for a new medical centre if the matter is not resolved quickly, a councillor has warned.
Coun Tom Reynolds told a meeting of Frodsham Town Council that, in his opinion, the Primary Care Trust would move away and commit to building elsewhere if a decision was delayed at Frodsham.
He warned: "There is nothing so certain - and this council has a history of missed opportunities in the past.”
The council was discussing an outline planning application for permission to build a medical centre on the top field adjoining Frodsham Community Centre.
A number of members stressed the need for full consultation with residents.
Coun Frank Pennington said people living near the site should have already been consulted. He would fight to stop the development going ahead on either the top or bottom fields at the community centre. Twenty other sites had been looked at and he could not believe all of them had been unsuitable.
Coun Trevor Hinkins said residents were looking to the council to give a lead and it would be terrible if the town lost the medical centre because of disagreements and arguments.
"We have got to bury the hatchet among ourselves," he said.
Coun Lynn Riley said when consultation took place she was sure there would be a resounding "yes" from the people.
Coun Brian Lloyd said meetings had already been held with the developers, the PCT, Vale Royal planners, the doctors and others. Now a planning application had been received was the time for consultation and this would take place.
The council agreed that full consultation should take place with residents.
Witnesses sought after
driver dies in crash
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man died in a car crash in Manley Road, Alvanley.
The accident, which involved one car only - a BMW - occurred shortly after 2pm on Thursday, June 9.
It happened near the junction with Frodsham Road and Helsby Road and police had to close all three roads for a time.
The driver of the car received injuries from which he later died.
Anyone who can help police with their enquiries is asked to call them on 01244 613168.
Villagers asked for their
views on the future
by Lesley Wilkinson
HELSBY residents are being invited to share their views on the future of the area when Frodsham Forward holds a series of public consultation sessions in June and July.
A public meeting will be held at Helsby Community Centre on June 14 when residents will be asked how they would like the village to develop.
Frodsham Forward is also be seeking volunteers to join its executive group at its annual meeting on July 7. Anyone interested in finding out more should ring the organisation on 01928 735967 or visit >www.frodshamforward.org
The organisation says that Helsby's community of more than 4,700 residents make an important contribution to the area. It includes Helsby in wider plans to regenerate Frodsham and its rural parishes, under the Market Towns Initiative.
As part of this inclusion parish councillors Frank Thomas and Terry O'Neill and students from Helsby High School are members of Frodsham Forward executive group.
Last year, Frodsham Forward assisted a series of Helsby projects including refurbishment of Helsby Community Centre and sponsorship of Helsby Show and Helsby Sports and Social Club Open Day.
The organisation provided grants towards new nets and posts for Helsby Tennis Club and rugby kits and coach tops for Helsby Rugby Club. It also provided advice, support and business forums for more than 12 local businesses.
Project manager Anne Boyd said: "I am delighted that we have been able to support projects in Helsby and to hear that as a community it recognises the importance of documenting its ambitions in the form of a Parish Plan. The plan will provide direction and focus and we will be pleased to support projects arising from it."
Frodsham is a top town
for independent traders
by David Skentelbery
FRODSHAM has come near the top in a survey of British "home towns" - towns with a good range of independent shops and few multiple stores.
The town comes fifth in the list with a score 45.7 out of 60.
Top of the list is Hebden Bridge, in Yorkshire, with 48.6.
But 42 per cent of towns are said to have "cloned" high streets, dominated by national or multi-national chains.
They have nothing to distinguish them from each other, says the survey by independent think tank the New Economics Foundation.
The Foundation says chain stores have spread like "economic weeds", robbing towns of their individuality and shoppers of choice.
For the survey, high streets were given a score out of 60 based on the number of independent shops and the range of stores available in the busiest part. Towns scoring between zero and 25 were the least diverse and were classed as "clone towns". Those in the 25 to 35 range were classed as "border towns" while the top scorers were named "home towns".
The survey found that only one town in three still boasts a high street which retains its individual character, making it instantly recognisable to locals and visitors alike.
Foundation spokesman Andrew Simms said: "Retail spaces once filled with a thriving mix of independent butchers, newsagents, tobacconists, pubs, bookshops, greengrocers and family-owned general stores are becoming filled with faceless supermarket retailers, fast-food chains and global fashion outlets.
"Many town centres which have undergone substantial regeneration have lost their sense of place and distinctive facades of their high streets under the march of glass, steel and the concrete blandness of chain stores built for the demands of inflexible business models that provide the ideal degree of sterility to house a string of big, clone-town retailers."
The survey backs up figures from the Institute for Grocery Distributions which showed that more than 2,000 corner shops have closed in the last year, as supermarkets move in to crush their smaller rivals.
A survey for the Federation of Wholesale Distributors found that eight out of ten shoppers believe chain store and supermarkets turn local high streets into bland copies of each other.
What do Frodsham people think? Is Frodsham a better place to shop because it does not have as many big name retailers as other towns?
Email us with your views at Frodsham Life or give your views on our Reader's Forum.
Empty desks set to
double in five years
by John Hendon
THE number of empty desks at primary schools in Frodsham and Helsby is set to double within the next five years - and a six month consultation exercise is under way on what action should be taken to deal with the situation.
There are currently 182 surplus primary school places in the area and it is forecast that this figure will rise to 350 by 2010.
Additionally, there are currently 229 surplus secondary school places - a figure that is expected to rise to 298 in five years.
The problem arises as a direct result of a falling birth rate.
Local headteachers, school governors, private childcare providers and councillors have already been told of the challenge at a special stakeholder conference on Transforming Learning Communities at the Forest Hills Hotel, Frodsham, organised by Cheshire County Council.
County schools manager Joan Feenan says the situation offers a "unique opportunity" to reshape schooling locally.
She said: "The role of schools in supporting the individual child and their family is changing. We have to adapt to this change.
"I believe we will never have a better opportunity to look at our facilities 'on the ground' and put in place something that offers success to all children.
"To do this, we have to try to live in the world that our children will live in."
Transforming Learning Communities lead officer Alan Sieber says the Frodsham and Helsby area has an impressive level of education attainment.
Asked if any schools are already earmarked for change, he says the county is not starting with any blueprint.
He said: "For schools to exist in the future with a different role than the one they have at present is very much part of the equation. A vision for that change will be achieved, it is hoped, through a consensus view following local consultation.
"
A range of options will be considered across Cheshire, including academies, foundation schools, extended schools and federation and collaboration between local school.
The local consultation involves parents, young people, headteachers, governors, councillors, the Local Strategic Partnership and other agencies.
They are considering how the Frodsham and Helsby area can best meet the seven key principles of Transforming Learning Communities, which include securing good quality pre-school, school and lifelong learning and ensuring more social inclusion and equality of learning.
A draft set of proposals will go to Cheshire's School Planning Panel for approval before going out for a wider, formal public consultation towards the end of the year.
Mr Sieber added: "We now have the challenge of reaching agreement on proposals for change in education in Frodsham and Helsby which will bring lasting improvement to the whole community and deal with the issue of surplus places.
Six good causes
to receive grants
by staff reporter
SIX good causes are to receive grants totalling £750 from Frodsham Town Council.
The council, at its meeting on Tuesday, May 31, agreed to accept the recommendations of its finance
committee that grants be made to the following:
Chester and district Stroke Club: £50; Rotary Club of Frodsham and Helsby: £250; Little Overtons Pre-school: £100;
Daniel Shaw: £50; Frodsham Carnival: £200; Frodsham and district Photographic Society: £100.
BBC filmed first
- asked later
by David Skentelbery
THE BBC filmed part of a controversial drama-documentary on Frodsham Hill - unaware they needed permission from the Town Council and were required to pay a fee.
When they discovered the slip-up they apologised - and requested that the council reduce the fee from £100 to £50 because of budget problems.
But councillors at their monthly meeting decided to insist that the full £100 fee be paid.
The filming was for "Little Angels" to be screened on BBC2 on August 13.
It tells the story of Michelle, 18 and Shaun, 20, both trying to get off drugs and "go straight" after serving custodial sentences.
The film uses drama, interviews and documentary techniques to tell a harrowing story of teen vice, suicide, violence, burglary and includes a controversial scene showing a girl injecting heroin into her neck.
It is directed by Paul McGuigan, best known for the crime movie "Gangster No 1", "Acid House" and "The Reckoning."
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