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BUS DEBATE Nantwich community news and events
June/July 2016 Free
Free buses to be axed sparking safety fears for pupils FREE buses for almost 400 children at schools including Nantwich are to be axed. Local politicians insisted at a Cheshire East cabinet meeting that pupils safety be put ahead of all other considerations. They argued the walking routes to Malbank and Brine Leas schools in Nantwich, deemed suitable by the council, were far from safe. However the cabinet decided that, from April, the children should walk up to six miles a
day. It follows a review of routes that takes into account improvements to roads and footpaths, which will now form available walking routes to schools. The cabinet also agreed to use £150,000 from the government’s Local Transport Plan Fund to improve further routes to schools over the next few years, bringing them up to standard and enabling more pupils to walk to school. The moves will also deliver council savings of around
£495,000 by 2019. Councillor Liz Durham (right), said: “On the grounds of fairness to all parents and pupils, these measures are the right thing to do. “While it will undoubtedly prove unpopular with the people affected, this decision is about fairly applying an existing policy, now that these walking routes have been made
available.” However Cllr Sarah Pochin said it was fair everyone should be treated the same - but not at the expense of children’s safety. After walking the ‘safe’ route that Malbank pupils will take, she listed hazards such as lack of street lighting, the railway crossing and narrow and overgrown pavements in unlit areas. She said: “You can’t imagine how dangerous it is until you have walked the route yourself,”
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Roll with it THE annual Fig Pie Wakes in Wybunbury proved a hit once again this year. The traditional event is organised by the Wybunbury Tower Preservation Trust. It dates back at least 200 years though stopped in 1920. The event was reprised in 1995, when the Trust revived it to raise money for the upkeep of the village’s historic leaning tower. This year’s event started in the morning with a peal of bells at Wybunbury Tower to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday with the tower itself dressed in Union Jack bunting. The fig pies, made from a traditional recipe containing
a hard pastry, were rolled from the Swan Inn pub down Main Road to see how far they would travel. There were separate race categories for under 11s, under 17s and for adults. Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson rolled the first fig pie at 3pm. The under 11s race was won by Henry Foster with 67 metres, the under 17s was won by Joe Wright with 92 metres and the adult competition was won by Ian Edwards with an impressive 112 metres. The event also featured charity stalls, a children’s fair and prize draw. • Pic by Jonathan White
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@PoliceCrewe Nantwich officers are out targetting cross border, rural criminals. You won’t get far we’ve got ANPR! @ CheshPolRural @NMayoress #Nantwich Flower Festival looks magical#Midsummer Nights Dream @NantwichPlayers @ stmarysnantwich @NantwichDentist As you may know we are proud sponsors of the annual swimming gala at Nantwich Swimming Pool. @DBrehaut Just bought some Thea Gilmore tickets for Nantwich Civic Fri Oct 14th @TimCow25 @CheshireEast any danger maintaining Nantwich Cemetery, Whitehouse lane. You’re quick to put rules on headstones, but can’t start a mower!!
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NEWS 3
Punk poet at festival
Foodie heaven
PEOPLE are being urged to vote for their favourite local food and drink outlets ahead of this year’s Nantwich Food Festival. Food Festival director Roger Mills said he is delighted with how the awards have developed. He said: “The awards salute the establishments which help to create a positive vibe about Nantwich. “These businesses showcase our town and support the local economy by drawing visitors from a wide area.” The six categories are: restaurant, pub with food, cafe or coffee shop, beer champion, food and drink retailer, based in Nantwich town centre, and
food and drink retailer in the wider Nantwich area. The awards acknowledge local suppliers that contribute to the array of independent artisan food and drinks available around Nantwich. Many of the nominees will also have stalls at this year’s festival in September. Six members of the public can also enjoy a prize. Anyone who votes for the winner of each category will be entered into a draw to win a £40 voucher to spend at that outlet. Voting closes on September 10, with a gala awards night at Nantwich Town FC on October 2. To vote visit www. nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk.
THE first headline acts have been announced for this year’s Nantwich Words and Music Festival. Now in its ninth year, the event will this year include iconic punk poet Dr John Cooper Clarke and Scottish singer/songwriter Eddi Reader, formerly of Fairground Attraction. Celebrated alt folk band Stornoway and Sex Pistols songwriter Glen Matlock are among other famous names making their way to Nantwich between October 10 and 16. Internationally acclaimed Nantwich resident Thea Gilmore is appearing again and many more acts are expected to be announced. The annual event draws musicians and poets from across the world to perform often at intimate venues in Nantwich. Dr John Cooper Clarke - a regular guest on TV panel shows - plays sell-out venues around the world and will be performing at the Civic Hall on Saturday October 15.
Eddi Reader will sing in St Mary’s Church on Tuesday October 11. The festival is organised by producer and musician Nigel Stonier alongside singer/ songwriter Thea Gilmore and a team of Nantwich-based volunteers. Nigel said: “We started as a weekend event with just three shows back in 2008. “Now we’re running for a week, and Nantwich as a town has given us a repeated ‘thumbs up’. “Most of our shows are sellouts, and we’re very happy that every year visitors from further afield come to enjoy the shows. “We’ll announce more events, both ticketed and free, very shortly.” For tickets visit www. wordsandmusicfestival.com.
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Flower power
BUSINESSES are being urged to back Nantwich in Bloom as the town goes for gold this summer. Britain in Bloom judges have named the town Best in the North West for the past two years and organisers of the local effort hope to make it a hat-trick this summer. But further help is needed to impress judges and cover the costs of turning the town’s planters, tubs and baskets into a riot of colour. Nantwich in Bloom chairman Tony Percival said: “We have made contact with most of the large corporates in the town centre but sadly no sponsorship has been forthcoming. “The exception again is Martin & Co which has sponsored our main flower
bed on the town square for a second year. Red, white and blue will be the theme of the planting effort as part of Nantwich’s tribute to the Queen in her 90th year. Reaseheath College is helping with the design of the town centre flower bed sponsored by Martin & Co. Managing director Shaun Cafferty said: “Nantwich in Bloom volunteers put a backbreaking effort into making our town look beautiful every year. “They give Nantwich a very special wow factor and although they do get some commercial support, it’s not at the level you would expect. “As a business in the heart of the town centre we were very happy to support the team.”
RSPCA vets in Nantwich have saved a young jackdaw that pecked off more than he could chew. The bird, which swallowed a pair of tweezers, was saved by quick thinking vets and is now recovering at the Stapeley Grange wildlife hospital. The juvenile bird was rushed
to Stapeley after it ate the small metal tongs and X-rays showed they stretched the full length of his body. Incredibly the greedy jackdaw is now on the mend.
Jackdaw swallowed tweezers
Boogie Beat is a unique pre-school group based on re-telling traditional stories through music, songs, fun props and a lively active dance twist. Let your child’s imagination come alive! Classes now in Nantwich. Contact caroline@boogiebeat.co.uk or 07912441254
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NEWS 5
Youngsters fly the flag
NANTWICH youngsters helped to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday at St Mary’s. The event was attended by the Lord Lieutenant for Cheshire David Briggs, along with Nantwich Mayor Andrew Martin and his wife
Linda. Singers from Nantwich Young voices, Brine Lees School and the Funkychoir. com entertained a packed St church with songs through the decades. • Pic courtesy of Nantwich Events Photography
Fitting tribute to the Bard NANTWICH Players will be performing William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in commemoration of the anniversary of his death. This play was preferred by director Gordon Hamlin, who has a great love for Shakespeare’s plays and has directed several of them. He said: “I am confident the audience will enjoy this interpretation of the play – it will be fast-moving and fun. “I was keen to involve as many of The Players’ young performers as possible and have central roles in this play
as the young lovers - and with one as a fairy.” Four members of The Players’ Youth Theatre will be taking part – all of whom performed in The Witches in the spring. They have benefited from youth theatre workshops supported by the William Hodgkin Trust. Performances run from July 1 to 9 at 7.45pm, with an open air performance on Sunday July 10 July at Richmond Village at 2.30pm. Tickets are available from the Civic Hall on 01270 600727.
A NEW preschool group based on traditional fairy tales and stories has launched in Nantwich. Boogie Beat Music & Movement uses fun props like puppets, parachutes, balls and instruments alongside songs and original music with a very special dance twist.
The group’s Caroline Hissey said: “What we offer is very different to all the other preschool groups. “We incorparate active movement promoting health alongside traditional stories all of which are key points for Early Years Foundation of learning.”
Boogie Beat to keep kids active
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Departing players reveal Dabbers youth potential DABBERS boss Phil Parkinson has described the side as a progressive club for young players. The Nantwich Town manager feels the departures of Elliott Osborne to Fleetwood Town and Jon Moran to Forest Green Rovers showcases the club as a place to come for young players. Osborne (pictured) signed for English Football League One club Fleetwood Town and he joins Moran in leaving the club for full time football in a higher league. Parky said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the players and the club. “This shows a real statement of intent and what we are all about as a progressive club. “We set goals when we stayed up to play an attractive brand of football and to attract the best talent in
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the North Staffordshire and Cheshire area. “Jon and Elliott epitomise that vision and have reaped the rewards by making the step up from the NPL to full time football. “Both players are technically gifted and just needed a chance to showcase their undoubted talents. “With a little refinement on the training field and some nurturing off it they soon established themselves as valuable members of the team. “I said to both players when they first came in, if they got into this team they would progress and ‘kick on’ back into the league. “The way we play suits football players who want to play the right way and it has definitely suited and benefitted those two.
“It’s been a pleasure working with them both and I truly hope and believe our paths will cross again one day. They have been fantastic for the club and I will truly miss them both this season.” Parky also noted the recruitment carried out by the club this summer, with the arrivals of young players in Ibou Touray, Theo Stair and Dave Parton
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further underlining the clubs commitment to youth and development. He added: “Recruitment has been strong again this season and I think we’ll uncover another rough diamond. “If they want it as bad as those two (Moran and Osborne) hopefully we’ll be celebrating the futures of even more Nantwich Town players.”
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