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Neighbours to cycle
300 miles for charity
by David Skentelbery
NEIGHBOURS who became good friends are to cycle 300 miles for a children's charity.
School teacher Paul Hindle, 37 and police officer Paul Rogers, 40, from Helsby, are to take part in the four-day London to Paris bike ride in July aiming to raise at least £2,400 for Action Medical Research.
The pair - styling themselves as "Two Fat Blokes and their Bikes" - also aim to get fit and lose a bit of weight during the build-up to the ride and on the ride itself.
About 700 riders from all over the country are expected to take part in the ride.
The two Pauls met less than a year ago when they became neighbours on a new estate at Helsby - and soon became firm friends.
Paul Rogers was once a keen cyclist but Paul Hindle has only recently got the bug.
He said: "We have set ourselves a five month training programme - two short rides in the week and a longer one at the weekend.
"The weekend rides gradually get longer until we can handle 90-miles a day.
"We have to raise sponsorship of at least £1,200 each to take part so we will be asking family, friends and local businesses to support us.
Paul Hindle is married to Jo and Paul Rogers to Zoe and they both have three-year-old daughters, Lucy and Hannah.
Anyone who wants to support them can do so by visiting the following websites: www.action.org.uk/sponsor/hindle and www.action.org.uk/sponsor/twofatblokesandtheirbikespjr
Fundraisers to trek
the Great Wall
by John Hendon
FRODSHAM Community Centre will become a "barn" for one night - to help send two volunteers on a 20km trek along the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Halton Haven Hospice.
On Saturday, March 13 the centre will host a barn dance, with special guests the Liverpool Country Dance Band, a hotpot supper, raffle and bar to raise money to send Christine Allen and Anne Hanks on the adventure.
The pair will set off for China on April 17 and will spend nine days walking alone the wall as it winds its way through the mountains.
They have already raised several hundred pounds with through coffee mornings and donations but the barn dance will be their major fund-raising event.
Paula Widdas, head of fundraising at the hospice said: "What Christine and Anne are doing for us a remarkable project and everyone at the hospice is thrilled they have chosen Halton Haven as their charity.
"We will support them with everything they do. The barn dance is a great idea to raise money. It will be a great night and lots of fun.
Tickets cost £10 for an adult and £5 for a child. Details can be obtained from Christine on 07817338202 or 01928 575197.
A chance to chat
with local police
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Frodsham and Helsby are being invited to speak directly to Police by way of an interactive video booth.
Local roadshows this month invite residents to “Brief the Chief.” They will be encouraged to record their views on what they think of their local policing services via the booth, which will form the centre piece of the show.
There will also be the opportunity to chat to local Police Community Support Officers and meet representatives of Cheshire Police Authority – who will consult on people’s policing priorities.
Cheshire Police and the authority want to know what people think about the service and are urging people to visit the exhibition and give their views and suggestions for improvement.
The show will be at Tesco, Chester Road, Helsby, on Sunday March 28th (11am to 3pm).
Wind farm plan
goes to government
by John Hendon
THE controversial plan for a major wind farm on Frodsham Marshes has now been submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Developers Peel Energy say the submission follows a long period of investigation, design and consultation with statutory bodies, local councils and the community.
The size of the scheme has been reduced to 20 turbines, totalling 60mw capacity - enough to help Cheshire meet half of its 2020 renewable energy target for onshore wind - or 28,500 homes.
The turbines would be grouped in two "clusters" - 13 at the Helsby end and seven at the Frodsham end of the marshes.
More public exhibitions are to be held to enable local people to see the final proposals, updates on environmental studies, changes to the layout and new photomontages from various viewpoints around the area.
The exhibitions will take place at Helsby Community Centre on March 6, from 10am to 3pm, Main Street Church, Frodsham, on March 10 from 2pm to 7pm and at Elton Community Centre, on March ll, from 10am to 3pm.
An action group, comprising people from Frodsham and Helsby, has been set up to fight the proposals.
Extra police to be
drafted into town
by David Skentelbery
EXTRA police are to be drafted into Frodsham to combat burglars who target the town.
In addition, Frodsham Police Station is to open daily, Monday-Friday between 10am and 2pm from April 1 and a shift system will be worked so that there are two officers based in the town 24 hours-a-day.
Inspector Phil Hodgson (pictured) told members of Frodsham Town Council: "The additional officers will help greatly.
"There will be times when they are not in Frodsham. They could be sent to other neighbouring areas. But they working from the town 24/7."
Inspector Hodgson said Frodsham had an almost unique problem in that it was targeted by gangs from Merseyside attracted because of the high value homes and cars they believed were in the area.
The motorway also offered them a quick escape route.
"Our detection rate is not good because of these travelling criminals," he said. "They are professionals. It is their way of life and they are good at what they do.
"
Inspector Hodgson also revealed that meetings of the Police Forum - which offer people the opportunity to discuss policing matters with senior officers - are to resume in Frodsham from April.
.
The increased police presence was welcomed by the council.
Coun Frank Pennington said: "I think this is fantastic - the best news we have had in Frodsham for a long time."
Wind farm: councillors
left in the fog
by David Skentelbery
MEMBERS of Frodsham Town Council who visited a Lancashire wind farm to get an idea of what to expect if one is built on Frodsham Marshes were left little wiser.
Coun Dennis Taylor told the council: "We couldn't really judge it because it was a cold, foggy, windless day. The turbines were not turning so there was no noise."
But he said it appeared walkers and cyclists were not deterred from using public rights of way near the Scout Moor Wind Farm, near the village of Edenfield, Lancashire - some 15 miles north of Manchester.
Coun Graham Bondi said the wind turbines were "alarmingly large" and were quite close to public rights of way.
"I was quite concerned at how big they are," he said.
The Mayor, Coun Geoff Bath, said the turbines proposed for Frodsham Marshes would be 80 ft taller than those at Scout Moor. But Coun Tony Hinkins pointed out that the Scout Moor turbines were on top of a hill and well away from people.
Frodsham Marshes would be very close to people and would be the third largest windfarm in England.
Peel Energy, the company behind the Frodsham Marshes proposal, also runs the Scout Moor development, which has 26-turbines, each 100m high. It is estimated to provide enough electricity to meet the average needs of 40,000 homes.
Women's Institute
quiz battle
by staff reporter
Frodsham and Helsby WI quiz teams tied for first place in their heat of the Cheshire WI County quiz challenge at Helsby Community Centre.
They beat off the challenge of numerous other teams from this part of the county and the competition was fierce.
The Frodsham team was made up of Kate Cawley, Jan Moran, Cath Stone and Fiona Walmsley. The final takes place on Friday April 9 at Comberbach Memorial Hall.
Council eyes up
former Co-op store
by John Hendon
HELSBY Parish Council has set up a working group to study the feasibility of purchasing the disused Co-op store in the village to provide council offices.
The building is currently being offered for sale with a £200,000 price tag.
Clerk Jeanette Hughes and Coun Digger Rigby have already viewed the building and, together with the other two members of the working group, council chairman Alan Gardner and Coun Stuart Hulse, will report to the next meeting of the council.
Mrs Hughes said: "The building would require quite a bit doing to it. At present it is boarded up and has no electricity supply.
"It will be up to the council to decide whether to progress the matter any further."
The council has earmarked £100,000 towards the cost of the proposed new Helsby Sports and Social Club with a view to having offices there.
The Co-op store closing has given them another option.
At present the council meets in Helsby Library, but accommodation is cramped when major issues result in large attendances by the public.
British Legion in
membership crisis
by John Hendon
FOLLOWING a membership crisis Frodsham branch of the Royal British Legion is to call a special meeting to attract new blood.
The branch originally formed in January 1922 and has historically had a strong membership - at one stage even having its own club in the village.
But county secretary Steve Porter said that membership had declined and was down to just 18 at the end of last year.
He said: "The branch committee, which has the responsibility of organising the branch had decided that they were unable to continue in post."
But the county committee did not want to lose the branch, as the Helsby branch had closed some years ago and it was felt important to maintain a presence in the area.
An open evening was held in January which attracted four new members. Membership had already dropped to 14, so the new blood boosted it back to 18.
The branch committee had resigned but several members agreed to take on the duties.
Mr Porter said: "It is proposed to hold an extra-ordinary general meeting of the Frodsham branch in early March following leafleting of the village, to appoint a new branch committee and also to recruit more members.
"It is anticipated that the Frodsham branch can move forward, and building on the sterling efforts in the Poppy Appeal for 2009, continue into the foreseeable future as a strong and growing branch of the Royal British Legion."
Anyone interested in finding out more or attending the meeting should contact Mr Porter on 01925 629757 - whether or not they have a service background.
Mayor's charity
hot pot
by staff reporter
THE Mayor of Frodsham, Coun Geoff Bath, is holding a Hot Pot Supper on Friday, March 26 in aid of his charity of the year - Kidney Research UK.
There will be entertainment from the Frodsham and Chester Town Crier, David Mitchell.
The event is at Frodsham Community Centre and starts at 7.30pm. Details from 01928 735150 or 731603 or by emailing council@frodsham.gov.uk
Town Council seeks
general assistant
by staff reporter
FRODSHAM Town Council is seeking a general assistant for outdoor duties.
The job will involve 70 hours a month at £6.50-an-hour. Closing date for applications is Friday, March 12
at 12 noon.
An application pack is available from the Town Clerk, Frodsham Town Council, Castle Park, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 6SB.
Tel: 01928 735150, Fax: 01928 733149.
Email: council@frodsham.gov.uk
MP to stand down
for health reasons
by Lesley Wilkinson
POPULAR Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall is to stand down at the next General Election for health reasons.
Mr Hall, who has led many successful campaigns in his constituency, which includes Frodsham and Helsby, is suffering from a heart condition.
He has been an MP for 18 years, entering Parliament in 1992 when he won the Warrington South seat from the Conservatives.
Since 1997 he has served as MP for Weaver Vale, with his constituency officer in Frodsham.
Mr Hall pictured said he was reluctant to stand down but hoped it would give him the best chance of recovery. He said it had been an "enormous honour and privilege" to serve as an MP.
He took "great pride" in the work he had done for constituents and knew it had been appreciated.
"I was especially pleased to have been instrumental in getting the new Labour Government to repay £355 million taken from the National Bus Pension Fund pensioners by the previous Tory government," he said.
He was also pleased with successful campaigns to get new medical facilities opened, tax exemptions for community groups and facilities, and securing £38 million from the Government to fill and stabilise the Northwich Town Centre salt mines.
For the past 18 years Mr Hall, who was formerly leader of Warrington Borough Council, has suffered from a condition called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) - which had been successfully managed by medication.
Last July the medication became less effective and he has been subjected to frequent bouts of AF leaving him unable to drive or work effectively during each episode.
A change in medication did not work. On January 22 he underwent pulmonary vein isolation radio therapy ablation surgery to correct his irregular heart beat.
Initially results were promising, but then his heart started to beat very irregularly leaving him feeling uncomfortable, breathless, and unable to work.
He said: "I had very much hoped that I would once again carry the flag for Labour and win Weaver Vale at the coming General Election leading from the front with vigour and total commitment. However, I now face the prospect of having further surgery in three months time, not knowing if I am going to be able to play an effective role from now until polling day.
"My wife Lesley and I want to thank the people of Weaver Vale for the wonderful support we have been given. We have made many friends and we will always cherish the great memories we have of serving this wonderful constituency."
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