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Santa on tour - p5
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OVERRULED Anger as Sandbach housing plans get green light SANDBACH councillors are furious after a Government Inspector overruled the local Neighbourhood Plan. A planning application to build 12 dwellings on a field on Church Lane, close to the M6, has been approved on appeal. The government inspector said: “I appreciate that such a conclusion is disheartening for the local community who put considerable time and effort into the production of the Neighbourhood Plan, especially
when the plan received overwhelming support from local people. “Nevertheless, the government’s aim is to significantly boost the supply of housing, and at present the borough is not delivering that aim.” Sandbach councillor Sam Corcoran said: “The Conservatives have let loose private developers, allowing them to build on sites where they can make the greatest
profit. “The result of this laissez-faire capitalism can be seen in Sandbach where permission has already been granted to build over 3,000 new homes - an increase of 40% in the size of the town! “This decision to allow
more houses to be built on a green field on the outskirts of Sandbach is a direct result of deliberate Conservative government policy and incompetence at Conservativeled Cheshire East Council.” Cllr Price Jones, chairman of the Sandbach Town Council Planning Committee, added: “This application will provide housing that is not fit for habitation and it is the people who buy them who will lose the most.”
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Six tweets on Sandbach
@zoemichelle0401 Thankyou @cheshirepolice pulling over a tractor, driving with no lights on down the backlanes to Sandbach! Couldnt believe he did it. #idiot
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Sport - p8
by STEWART GREEN THIS year’s Chirstmas market in Sandbach has proved a real hit with traders and festive shoppers. The town centre was instilled with Christmas spirit, with music provided by local schools and choirs alongside stalls with a festive theme. This year’s market welcomed the return of Manny Elias, the ex-drummer with Tears for Fears and his actress and writer wife Deborah Bouchard, (pictured right), to the event with their ‘Bongos Rock and Roll Chilli Pickles’. Stalls lined the main street,
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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outside the back and front of the Town Hall and on the Market Square with a variety of products from glass blown ornaments to wooden horses and food.
@SandbachStrider Striders at #Wilmslow10k @ RunnorthwestRun and with 3 pb’s to boast about! @SandbachAdultEd Why not learn something new in 2017? We have a wide range of courses available: #sandbach #lovetolearn @261ClubSandbach We braved the freezing temperatures to enjoy a run on this beautiful morning. #runfearlessrunfree @LyndaClifestyle I feel startstruck #HoneyG @ dv8 #Sandbach #cheshireeast #intown
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@SandbachHigh Thank you for all your lovely comments very proud to be in the top 50 schools nationally - firmly on the map as best school in Cheshire!
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Ideal for active retired ladies & gents - join us! Mondays 9.15 - 10am Sandbach Methodist Church Hall, Wesley Avenue Wednesdays 10.15 - 11am Union St Community Centre (opposite the Boys School) CLUBBERCISE Mondays 7.45pm - Sandbach Cricket Club, Hind Heath Road
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Masons offer fitting tribute
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Sandbach officers honoured MEMBERS of the Congleton Masonic Lodge have donated a cheque for £1,540 to Sandbach School. The money will go to the music department for the purchase of a new baritone saxophone. The generosity was in recognition of Lodge member Rob Watson who passed away earlier this year. Rob, who had two grandsons at Sandbach School - George and Henry - was a huge supporter of the school’s musical activities and in particular the School Big Band, with whom George is the lead alto saxophonist. The new instrument, which has been engraved to the memory of Rob Watson, made its first appearance earlier this month
when the School Big Band took to the stage with Matthew Ford for two sell-out evenings at the school. Director of music John Barber said: “This is a wonderful gesture from the Congelton Lodge. “Rob was such a huge supporter of the school and was always present at our concerts and that he can be remembered in this way seems so fitting. “The instrument has already made a great impact on various school ensembles and will benefit not just the current cohort of musicians but boys in many future years too. We are so very grateful.” • Pictured are lodge members with members of Rob Watson’s family, head teacher Sarah Burns, staff and students.
TWO people were taken to Leighton Hospital following a crash at Arclid near Sandbach shortly before 9.15pm on Saturday December 3. Three fire engines, police and ambulance crews were called to the scene on Congleton Road. A Cheshire Fire and Rescue
Service spokesman said; “The fire crews made the vehicles safe. Two covering jets were used. A thermal image camera was used to check for hotspots of fire. “Two casualties were treated at scene by paramedics and then taken to Leighton Hospital by ambulance.”
Serious collision at Arclid
by STEWART GREEN FIREFIGHTERS have planted a tree in honour of all the retained fire crew in Sandbach. With the tragic loss of two people following a fire in Platt Avenue fresh in people’s minds, Sandbach Fire Station was gifted a tree by Godfrey Williams. He had won the tree as part of a prize from a supplier and put out a question on social media asking who he could donate it to. Sandbach fire crew was
chosen and it was decided to dedicate it to all the past and current members of the retained station. The day however was not without incident as in the morning the appliance was called out to an incident where unfortunately an elderly lady lost her life. Cllr Gill Merry, the council’s representative on the Cheshire Fire Authority planted the tree with help from current firemen, while retired personnel and guests looked on.
Town’s singing sensations SANDBACH choir Singing Sensations performed a fundraising Christmas concert at St Peter’s Church Hall in Elworth this month. Under the direction of Charlotte Gibson, the choir sang a mixture of festive and non-Christmas songs. These includes Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Away in a Manger, Winter Wonderland, Little Drummer Boy, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Silent Night. The audience was asked to join in for the penultimate song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday and the choir’s final
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song was White Christmas. Refreshments were served during the interval. There was also a prize raffle. Proceeds from the concert will go to the St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice - Sandbach Support Group.
• Pic courtesy of Jonathan White
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O T G N I K LOO A N O L O ENR E M I T T R A P ? ? E S R U O C ime -t t r a p f o e g n a r We have a . … y r a u n a J in g in courses start
Come to our enrolment evening on Thursday 5th January 2017 - 5-7pm Visit www.scc.ac.uk fora full list of part-time courses, under ‘Adult Learners’
Tel 01270 730115
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THE Rotary Club of Sandbach Crosses started their annual Santa collection at Sandbach Services this month. With club members and friends dressed up as snowmen, elves, Rudolph and not forgetting Santa, and carols playing in the background, people stopping at the services started to get into the Christmas spirit early. Donald Bone, aka Mister Snowman, said: “I did think we might be starting a bit early, but it was good to see us putting a smile on a few faces, particularly ‘high fiving’ with the youngsters. “Most entered into the spirit of what is just a bit of fun, and recognised it was all for some very worthy causes.” Club president Arnie Laing added: “The charities that will benefit are St Luke’s Hospice, Alder Hey Childrens Hospital,
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North West Air Ambulance, NSPCC and my nominated presidential charity Marie Curie. “We’ve made a really good start, thanks to Allan Jones who’s been organising things and all those Rotarians and friends who are prepared to make fools of themselves to raise money for charity.” • Pictured is Santa, with Mister Snowman and Elf Jean Billingsley at the services.
New kit for falcons SANDBACH United under 11’s football team is geared up for future matches thanks to support from local house builder Bovis Homes. The team, known as the Falcons, were thrilled to show off the new blue and white strip. Sales advisor Laura Wayward said: “The squad looked
fantastic in their new kit and we hope that it brings them lots of success on the football field!” Thanking Bovis, team manager Mike Edwards said: “The team is run by volunteers and they rely on local businesses and parent fundraising to provide kit for the boys, so this really is greatly appreciated.”
Best dressed festive window SANDBACH once again hosted a competition for the Best Dressed Christmas shop window. This year the winner was the St Luke’s charity shop on Congleton Road, which had a red theme for the window, with plenty of festive decorations.
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Expansive Sandbach struggle in dismal conditions SANDBACH have traditionally tended to struggle in the winter months when the conditions get heavy. It is a disappointing trend the side failed to buck, losing out 16-8 in their first ever fixture away at a motivated Bridgnorth, on the Severn valley floodplain. It wqs a game played in dismal conditions and there was never going to be much in the score. Sandbach kicked off but not for the first time this season started badly, as right from the opening home clearance kick, they made a complete hash of dealing with it. Bridgnorth kept possession through numerous phases, to eventually break through, with their scrum half Bladen sniping round the side of the maul, to score after five minutes. Bridgnorth centre Llew Williams added the conversion and
The
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Sandbach were 7 v 0 down in no time. Just minutes later North extended their lead. Sandbach did however get on the scoreboard as Elliot scored with his second penalty attempt, but Sandbach were penalised soon after for not releasing and Williams restored the gap to ten points at the break. As conditions worsened the match became increasingly scrappy with Sandbach unable to get their running style going. Then halfway through the second period they managed to squeeze winger Joe Jepps (pictured) in at the corner. Unfortunately any hopes of a comeback fizzled out with a misfiring line-out and ineffective kicking. The game got increasingly fractious and when a scuffle broke out, referee Sarah Toll reduced both sides to 14.
WING PLAY: Joe Jepps runs at Lichfield earlier this season
Upcoming First Team Fixtures Sat Jan 7 2.15pm Lichfield (A) Sat Jan 14 2.15pm Longton (H)
Sat Jan 21 2.15pm Nuneaton (A) Sat Jan 28 2.15pm Old Hales. (H)
It was an honest effort from Sandbach, but they are just not quite playing to their full potential at the moment and
are sliding slowly down the league table. So far this season they have won six and lost seven.
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