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Council concern
over voter apathy
by David Skentelbery
A MOVE to get Frodsham and Helsby people more interested in local politics and voting, is being introduced by the
Borough Council.
A fall in the numbers of people voting in local elections has prompted the action, and a 20-point plan has been
introduced to encourage participation.
A guide will be produced detailing what services each tier of local government delivers and information on how to
become a councillor will be provided. Education packs will also be produced to guide councillors' visits to schools
and colleges.
Mayor Joan Kerruish-Jones, said: "There has been a significant fall in voter turnout figures in Vale Royal over
the last four elections, mirroring a trend across the country.
"This fall has to be addressed now because it is widely acknowledged that a healthy democracy relies on the public
participating in public decision-making."
The moves follow a recent local survey where 20 per cent of people felt that local government decisions did not
affect their lives. Many people said they did not know their councillors enough to ask for help or to speak at council
meetings.
The Mayor said the council hopes the moves will encourage public participation in local democracy.
Rowing club hosts
top regatta
by Mark Vallely
THE Frodsham based Runcorn Rowing Club were hosts for the prestigious Ball Cup North regatta - when 142 crews competed
in 71 races.
It was the first time the event - named after Midlands industrialist Frank Ball - had been hosted by the local club.
There were races for boys and girls in the 11-13 age group - "The Tinies Championships" - and for older youngsters
with more experience.
Organisers claimed there was a good chance that rowers who will represent Britain in the 2012 Olympics were
taking part.
Race commentator George Perrin said the original Ball Cup contest had now been split in two - North and South.
It was aimed at smaller rowing clubs and schools. The Ball Cup South was traditionally held at Egton, but the
Northern version moved around each year.
Val Edwards, co-ordinates Project Oarsome - an initiative started originally by Steve Redgrave to introduce
youngsters into the sport - at both Frodsham and Helsby high schools.
She ssaid the schools have six indoor rowing machines and the club works with the schools to introduce pupils
to rowing, first with an eight week "dry rowing" course, then a "capsize drill" followed by eight weeks on water.
Youngsters who are still interested can then become club members.
Crews from all over the North took part in the regatta on the Weaver - regatta as one of the best stretches of
water for rowing in the North.
Under the rules of the competition, Runcorn, as the host club, would not win. But they came top in the points table, with 52, leaving Queens Park High School to
be named as winners with 51. Others taking part were: The Grange School, 20, Warrington, 19, Sir John Deane's, 18,
Wellbeck, 7 and Hollingworth Lake, 7.
Help needed for
carnival games
by David Skentelbery
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help set up "Frodsham Games" which will form part of this year's Frodsham Carnival in September.
The games look set to attract scores of entrants. People will be needed to help mark out courses, put out hay bales and
act as marshals for the day.
Mike Miles has been elected carnival chairman and he hopes this year's event will be a success for the community.
Regular meetings are being organised during the summer to plan the carnival and local groups and individuals are being
invited to join in. Local business are also being urged to sponsor the event.
New Mayor
takes over
by David Skentelbery
COUNCILLOR Dennis Taylor has been installed as Frodsham's new Mayor.
Coun Taylor, who was deputy Mayor last year, took over at the annual meeting of the Town Council.
Coun John Maddock was elected new deputy Mayor.
The meeting was also the first meeting of the council attended by new Town Clerk Alison Kunaj.
Coun Pammi Taylor, who at last month's meeting had indicated she was resigning from the council following criticism of the administration and finance committee, told the council she was prepared to continue as a councillor and member of the committee.
But she said she would be standing down as chairman.
The council was told that former Mayor Coun Nigel Griffiths, who has not attended recent meetings due to ill health, had indicated he did not wish to continue as chairman of any committees.
He was removed from the administration and finance, amenities, footpaths and traffic management committees.
Pictured...new Mayor Coun Dennis Taylor (left) congratulates Coun John Maddock on his election as deputy Mayor, watched by new Town Clerk Alison Kunaj (left) and office manager Anne Pitt.
Walkers wanted!
by Gary Skentelbery
MEMBERS of the Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society are looking for new members.
Meeting twice a week it offers members the chance of discovering unspoilt Cheshire, exploring
green lanes, rivers, canals and woodland, from sandstone cliffs to
the Cheshire Plain.
Founded in 1961 the society has around 300 members, one who is aged 93 and leads walks of different lengths on Sundays and Wednesdays
throughout the year--- to keep paths open and well used.
The group is not just a ramblers society, they help keep paths in good condition and clear litter and rubbish.
Each walk is in a different area of the county and offers a chance to meet people, make new friends and enjoy
the countryside!
Typical walks are between five to eight miles.
If you are interested and want to find out more, ring Dug on 01606 883815 or Janet on 01928 723886.
Picture shows John White (Former Chairman) and Linda White leading the party past the Frodsham Caves –
soon to be a feature of the new North Cheshire Way.
Also pictured is Dug Harris and other members.
And then there
were five!
by Gary Skentelbery
THE Rotary Club of Frodsham and Helsby continues to be successful with it's "Recruitment of New Members Initiative".
During a meeting at the Forest Hills Hotel in Frodsham, President Tony Cervenka started the meeting by inducting two
new members, Alan Revell and Peter Conway.
As the President pointed out during the induction ceremony, the Rotary Club of Frodsham and Helsby has brought into the Rotary movement a total of five
new members during his Presidential year to date, (9 months) and a total of eleven new members over the last eleven months, which in itself is quite a remarkable effort.
The Club and it's members must be doing something right!
The photo shows, from left to right, Hedley Greaves (Alan's sponsor), Alan Revell, President Tony Cervenka, Peter Conway and Graham Reeves (Peter's sponsor).
Council opts for "get out
clause" on medical centre
by David Skentelbery
FRODSHAM Town Council has confirmed the availability of the Top Field at Frodsham Community Centre as a site for a new medical centre.
But a letter to the proposed developers - which has been vetted by Vale Royal Council's legal team - will contain a "get out clause."
In the event of a more favourable site becoming available, the Town Council says it reserves the right to switch the scheme to another site.
The council was divided on the issue and councillors Tony Hinkins, Tom Reynolds, Lynn Riley and Frank Pennington voted against sending the letter.
Coun Hinkins said with the possibility of land becoming available as a result of the impending closure of Frodsham High School, it would be "dangerous" to send the letter. He thought the developer should be asked: "Please look at the school site."
Before voting on the issue, the council had been addressed by Martin Edmunds, of the Save Frodsham Fields organisation, who claimed no proper search had been made for an alternative site.
He had been in touch with Network Rail who said no approach had been made to them about the station car park. It seemed it had been ruled out simply because local doctors did not want it.
Mr Edmunds also said up to a third of the school site was already vacant and might be used for the medical centre.
He warned the council: "Don't expect the developers to look at other sites once you have signed up with them for the Top Field. It doesn't happen like that."
The council has already invited tenders from a number of chartered surveyors to obtain a valuation of the Top Field site.
More than 2,000 local people have signed a petition opposing the use of the Top Field. They want the centre built elsewhere - possibly the station car park or the school.
According to Vale Royal Borough Council's environment director John Jeffrey, the Top Field is currently the only suitable site for the medical centre.
Coun Professor Les Ford, of Vale Royal's executive board, believes the loss of the station car park would damage the economy of Frodsham. He believes the school site might not become available for years.
Councillor quits after
committee row
by David Skentelbery
A SENIOR councillor stormed out of a meeting of Frodsham Town Council after a furious row over the working of her committee.
Coun Pammi Taylor - wife of deputy mayor Coun Dennis Taylor - said she was resigning as chairman of the administration and finance committee and as a councillor.
Her walk-out followed a heated debate on the minutes of an administration and finance committee meeting at which it was reported that Coun Tom Reynolds had resigned from the committee because it had created "disproportionate power" for itself.
He had also claimed mismanagement a number of issues including the recruitment of a new Town Clerk.
Coun Frank Pennington said the committee was "running the council" and had burdened members with too much paperwork.
He declared: "I have been on the council 29 years and there has been more paperwork in the last year than in the whole of the previous time. I don't like it - it's got to be altered.
"This committee is running the council and it's got to stop."
Coun Lynn Riley pointed out that the administration and finance committees had been amalgamated to try and streamline procedures and save time.
"We started out with lofty intentions but we seem to have created a bit of a hydra. We are having a large number of extra-ordinary meetings."
Coun Tony Hinkins said he believed the committee was creating a lot of paperwork and dominating the work of the council.
But Coun Graham Bondi said as long as the committee's recommendations had to be approved by full council it could not be said it was "running the council."
The council decided the committee should look again at recommendations relating to pensions, staff and training. Coun Pammi Taylor asked that someone else take responsibility for these matters. When told it was "her job" she walked out, saying she was resigning.
After the meeting she told Frodsham Life: "I said what I said - I am standing down as chairman of the committee and as a councillor."
Frodsham High School
to close in three years
by John Hendon
FRODSHAM High School - a science and technology college - is to close in 2009.
The decision has been taken by Cheshire County Council's executive board and follows several months of consultation with teachers, parents, etc., as part of the Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) initiative.
At present, the school has 654 pupils and 297 surplus places.
There will be no further admissions into Year 7 after September this year and the closure will take in the summer of 2009.
In order to provide continuity of education for Frodsham pupils, they will become registered pupils of Helsby High School with that school taking over the Frodsham site from September 2009.
The Dutton area, east of Frodsham, currently served by Frodsham will be re-zoned to Weaverham High School.
Frodsham High's closure was one of a number approved across Cheshire to solve the problem of surplus places.
County Coun David Rowlands, lead member for children's services, said: "We have listened to all the representations however we cannot ignore the fact that we have 10,000 surplus places in our schools.
"Our Transforming Learning Communities initiative is designed not only
to meet the challenging Children's Act but also to create integrated, efficient and sustainable services for children and their families."
Castle Park House now
re-open after £2m facelift
by staff reporter
CASTLE Park House has opened its newly restored doors for business and is now operating as Frodsham’s first One Stop Information Shop.
Partners from a range of voluntary and public sector organisations, including Vale Royal Borough Council, Weaver Vale
Housing, Frodsham Forward and Job Centre Plus are now operating from the House. For many residents this is the first
time they have been able to access these types of services in Frodsham.
The One Stop Shop will be open from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday. The following organisations will be operating from the house:
Frodsham Forward – all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings
Weaver Vale Housing – Friday afternoons
Job Centre Plus – Tuesday mornings
Vale Royal Borough Council are operating from the house on a full time basis, dealing with enquiries on the following services: Housing and Council Tax benefit, Concessionary Travel, Environmental Operations (Waste Collection etc), Bulky items (arrangement for removal), Leisure, assistance with Planning Applications, Tourist information.
All other enquires relating to the Borough Council will also be dealt with.
Community meeting facilities and offices for small and medium sized businesses to rent are also provided at the house. The basement has been converted into a state of the art Cyber Café offering 10 computer terminals, drinks and snack facilities and the council will offer a range of training courses.
Vale Royal Council managed the restoration project and work was completed on schedule at a cost of more than £2 million. The council provided the initial grant for the project and match funding was secured by Frodsham Forward from the European Regional Development Fund and the North West Regional Development Agency.
Frodsham Town Council has also moved its offices to the refurbished Footman’s Cottage, adjoining the main house.
For further details and infromation about Castle Park House and the One Stop Shop facilities and services, contact Castle Park House on 01928 734440.
Frodsham "unaware of
incinerator threat"
by staff reporter
PEOPLE in Frodsham are still not fully aware of the threat posed by the proposed waste incinerator on Ince Marshes, according to a councillor.
Coun Tom Reynolds told Frodsham Town Council the so-called Ince Resource Recovery Park was a major issue for the town.
He did not believe the council was treating the matter seriously enough.
Deputy Mayor Coun Dennis Taylor said the council had already lodged an objection.
But Coun Reynolds insisted that the matter should be on the council’s agenda every month.
He said: “When a protest meeting was held in Frodsham the attendance suggested that not many local people were aware of the implications. Most of the people present were from Helsby.”
Coun Lynn Riley said the proposal would evolve and the council should not “take its eye off the ball.”
It was agreed the issue should be placed on the agenda every month so it could be discussed if necessary.
Helsby-based campaign group RAIN – Residents Against Incineration – has distributed leaflets in Frodsham and set up a satellite group in the town.
The leaflets urged residents to send letters of objection to Cheshire County Council – although the deadline for sending in objections has now passed.
According to RAIN, the waste plant, if build, would have the biggest incinerator in the country, dealing with waste from Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester.
Up to 500 heavy lorries would visit the site every day - and leave again. In addition, waste would be brought in by rail and via the Manchester Ship Canal.
Some 600,000 tonnes of waste would be burned each year and emissions would be discharged from a 100-metre stack having a major impact on Helsby, Frodsham and other surrounding areas.
However, Peel Environmental, a sub-group of Peel Holdings, owners of the Manchester Ship Canal, claim the plant would provide 1,100 jobs, generate 95MW of electricity and result in huge environmental benefits.
They claim the incinerator would be a renewable energy source which encouraged a reduction in greenhouse gases and diverted waste from landfill.
It is likely to be some months before Cheshire County Council consider the proposals.
Town Council seeks legal
advice on medical centre
by David Skentelbery
FRODSHAM Town Council is to take legal advice before negotiating further with the developer who wants to build a new medical centre for the town.
Councillors decided they wanted to ensure their hands were not tied on the question of whether the medical centre is built on the Top Field at Frodsham Community Centre - despite being warned there was a danger of the developer pulling out of the scheme.
They are also to instruct a chartered surveyor to establish the true value of the Top Field site.
United Health Care Developments have asked the council to reaffirm an earlier commitment to locating the medical centre on the Top Field. But the council is divided on this and more than 2,000 local people have signed a petition opposing the move.
They want the centre built on another site - possibly the station car park or Frodsham High School if it is to be closed.
In addition, West Cheshire Primary Care Trust - who would fund the development - is facing possible re-organisation and has, in any case, indicated it has no funding available at present.
Vale Royal Borough Council's environment director John Jeffrey to Frodsham councillors the Top Field was the only suitable site for the medical centre.
The developer faced substantial consultancy fees to ensure the site met planning policy guidance and without a commitment from the Town Council to sell or lease the site was not prepared to proceed with the scheme.
No decision had yet been made on the closure of the school which meant the site was available. Even if it was decided to close it, students already there would be able to continue studying there until they left school. This meant the site would not be available for some years.
Coun Professor Les Ford, of Vale Royal's executive board, said the loss of the station car park would damage the economy of Frodsham. The long term future of the school site was not known.
"If you want to go for the school site, you can if you want. But it is not available now. It might not be available for 20 years," he said.
He urged the Town Council to offer the developer a 125-year lease on the Top Field, subject to planning consent being obtained.
But Coun Tom Reynolds said the Top Field was a "soft option." He did not want the protest petition "glossed over" and he did not think there had been a thorough investigation of other sites
Coun Lynn Riley said the Primary Care Trust was facing a cash crisis and a possible amalgamation. The future of the school site would be known in a matter of days. Coun Frank Pennington expressed disgust that out of 29 sites examined, the only one considered suitable was a Greenfield site.
"We will have a three-storey building on a beautiful field," he said.
The council voted to instruct a chartered surveyor to assess the true value of the Top Field site - rumoured to be worth around £500,000 - and to accept an offer of legal advice from Vale Royal Council on an appropriate response to the developer which would not tie the Town Council's hands.
Frodsham Carnival
provisional programme
by Gary Skentelbery
THE annual Frodsham Carnival will take place from Sunday September 3 - Saturday September 9.
Anyone wishing to be involved in the organisation of or helping with Frodsham Carnival 2006 should telephone 01928 732222.
Meanwhile a provisional programme has been drawn up:
Sunday 3rd September - Carnival Sunday
Downhill Run from the Monument to the Centre
Six-a-Side Football Tournament
Sideshows and stands provided by local groups and clubs
Refreshments
Street Theatre
Monday 4th September
Carnival Bingo or Beetle Drive
Tuesday 5th September
Carnival Quiz
Wednesday 6th September
Carnival Concert featuring local choral, musical
and dramatic talent.
Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th September
Silcock's Fair
Saturday 7th September
'Frodsham Games'
'Keeping up with Paula' - a continuous relay for teams of 10 children under 11 years, over 2000 mtrs.
Over the Bales - 3 x 600 mtr Steeplechase relay for
Under 13 Boys, Under 13 Girls, Under 15 Boys, Under 15 Girls
Highland games Event - Soft Hammer (Scottish Style) + Weight for Height + Caber. Under 11 and Under 13 Age Groups.
The Scottish Highland Games Champion, Graeme Allan, hopes to attend.
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