Frodsham Marshes - replacement of the drainage pumps

July 17, 2014, 1:08 am

≪ Previous: Swing Bridge - Proposed Permanent Traffic Regulation Order

The drainage of Frodsham and Ince Marshes has been a topic of discussion and debate ever since the Environment Agency (EA) decided that, after 2015 they would no longer fund the management and drainage of the marshes.

Quite frankly, so far as the EA is concerned this was and is a cost benefit analysis. They have limited funds available to support flood alleviation schemes in the country - and in terms of priority and flooding risk our marshes were a lower priority than other schemes. One only has to remember the flooding in Somerset recently to understand their position - even if, locally, we don't agree with them.

The good news for all of us is that local businesses, landowners and the Highways Agency have come together and are working up arrangements to maintain the complex web of drainage ditches, a siphon and sluices.

The first main step in this reached a milestone yesterday when the EA agreed to co-fund the replacement of both pumps (one at Ince, the other at Frodsham) with the Highways Agency (HA). The HA clearly have an interest in ensuring that the M56 is well drained!

The existing pumps are 1930s vintage and are now well passed their serviceable life. Getting spare parts for them is nigh on impossible. Also they do not meet the latest environmental standards - including the Eel Regulations. The EA accepted that they couldn't in all fairness hand on - non-compliant pumps to new operators - hence their decision to co-fund their replacement.

I'm hoping to be able to discuss the new arrangements for managing and maintaining the pumps and the drainage ditches shortly. The good news for all council tax payers in the Borough is that the new management and maintenance arrangements look set to be paid for and managed privately.

↧

Chester Performs in Frodsham

July 19, 2014, 3:08 pm

≫ Next: Changes to Speed Limits - decision imminent

≪ Previous: Frodsham Marshes - replacement of the drainage pumps

My wife and I have just come back from a fun evening at Castle Park. We watched the classic British film from 1951 of The Lavender Hill Mob starring Alec Guiness outdoors, courtesy of Chester Performs and their outdoor screening equipment.

The film is a humorous romp of a 'gentle' bullion heist where the villains ultimately get away with very little and then get caught. There is as much joy in the film's script as there is in appreciating bomb damaged London and what passed as high tech in 1951.

It is great fun to be sat in a garden chair having a picnic watching a movie outdoors. The sound quality was fantastic as we were all equipped with headphones.

Castle Park House makes an excellent backdrop.

Chester Performs are returning three more times this summer with:

Breakfast at Tiffany's on 2 August;

Leon on 16 August; and,

The Jungle Book on 30 August.

All showings start at 8:45 with doors opening at 8:15.

Enjoying the show with Castle Park Arts Centre Trust Chairman Peter Vickery

↧

Changes to Speed Limits - decision imminent

July 25, 2014, 7:17 am

≫ Next: Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and Steppingstone Group's proposed roundabout

≪ Previous: Chester Performs in Frodsham

The Speed Limit Review for the roads to the west of Frodsham and back of Helsby is about to be concluded. CWaC has published the proposals map and the report which considers the consultation responses.

Here is the report

When the report was published CWaC advised that the decision would not be made before 1 August 2014 - so if you have any last minute comments - do make sure you make them.

↧

Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and Steppingstone Group's proposed roundabout

August 11, 2014, 9:13 am

≫ Next: Latest on the Steppingstone Group roundabout proposal

≪ Previous: Changes to Speed Limits - decision imminent

I've been watching the debate on the Steppingstone Group's proposed roundabout for the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge whilst I've been on holiday with my family in Tunisia. In fact I sent a few emails about it whilst on holiday.

Today Lynn I have formally written to Steppingstone Group's advisers asking them to provide us, and the wider community with more information. This letter, in fact, asks questions I've already posed to Steppingstone Group. I've told them I intend to publish their answers.

This is the text of the letter:

11 August 2014

Dear Ms Smith

Re: Steppingstone Group - proposal for a roundabout controlled junction near Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge - A56 and Clifton Road

Following on from Steppingstone Group’s (‘Steppingstone’) proposal for a roundabout controlled junction on the eastern side of the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and the consultations you have reportedly carried out we set out here some questions that we would like you to answer. We believe answers to these questions are important so that the wider community can fully understand the basis on which Steppingstone has put the proposal for a roundabout forward. With this in mind we are publishing this letter.

A Cheshire West and Chester Highways Officer has made an informal assessment that the highways works that would be necessary to produce the proposed roundabout shown in your indicative layout would cost of the order of £2M. Has Steppingstone costed the proposed works, and if so what figure does Steppingstone estimate the roundabout and all other associated highways works would cost?
It is not clear from the descriptions provided by Steppingstone whether Steppingstone is offering to carry out the highways works itself, or to pay for them, or whether it expects Cheshire West and Chester Council (‘CWaC’) to carry them out at the council’s cost. CWaC does not have c£2M available to pay for these works as matters currently stand, nor is it anticipated that this sort of funding would be available in the medium term. So, so far as Steppingstone is concerned - how are the highways works to be carried out and who is to pay for them?
Is Steppingstone offering to transfer the land on which the proposed roundabout and related approach roads to CWaC, and if so, on what basis?
The land where the proposed roundabout is to be sited is in green belt - as are the surrounding fields. The emerging local plan has not sought to change this designation. Does Steppingstone link its roundabout proposal with the development of the surrounding land it owns? If it does, on what basis and what if any development is in mind? How does Steppingstone seek to demonstrate the ‘very special circumstances’ that would be necessary?
What discussions has Steppingstone had with CWaC planners regarding any development proposals in this vicinity - and are any such discussions proposed for the future?
I’m sure you and your client readily appreciate that the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge is likely to be re-opened following its refurbishment in the autumn of 2014. Whatever the outcome of CWaC’s consultation regarding the proposed traffic regulation order and the choice of configuration of the road junction on the eastern side of the Swing Bridge the roundabout proposal suggested by Steppingstone could not be implemented by then. Does Steppingstone have a timetable in mind for the construction of the roundabout and any linked development?

We confirm our willingness to meet with you and your client to discuss Steppingstone’s proposals. We would be grateful if you would produce a response to this letter in a format that can be readily published.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Andrew DawsonCllr Lynn Riley

↧

Latest on the Steppingstone Group roundabout proposal

August 13, 2014, 11:31 am

≫ Next: Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge Junction - the decision

≪ Previous: Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and Steppingstone Group's proposed roundabout

On Monday 11th August Lynn and I wrote to the Steppingstone Group's advisers asking them to answer six questions about their proposal. I attach a copy of that letter below so you can read the questions and see how Steppingstones advisers have responded.

This morning I received this reply:

Wednesday 13^th August 2014

CC. Charlie Seward, Ralph Oultram and Lynn Riley

Dear Andrew,

Many thanks for your email of Friday, to which I replied, and for your subsequent letter on Monday.

We’re delighted with the level of response that this initial consultation has gained from the local community and thanks both yourself and Lynn for your interest. So far there have been more than 750 responses, the vast majority of which have been positive.

This consultation was designed to see if there is support from the local community on the principle of such as development. As you’ll appreciate, the first step in any process is to see if there is an appetite for such a solution before taking it forward. The huge response from the community shows that to be the case so we are now taking the next step of meeting with CWaC officers to investigate options. That meeting has now been arranged.

If CWaC believes there is any value in the proposal we’ll be in a position to come back to stakeholders for further discussion. Hopefully we’ve already demonstrated our commitment to consulting with the community and we’ll continue to talk to Frodsham Town Council, Sutton Weaver Parish Council and Helsby Parish Council along with Halton Station Road residents and neighbours to the site, Ralph Oultram as the ward councillor for the area and of course yourself and Lynn as neighbouring ward councillors, as part of that process.

We look forward to meeting you to discuss this further when we have more to report.

With kind regards,

Rachel Smith

To save anyone digging out the previous blog entry Lynn and my letter stated:

11 August 2014

Dear Ms Smith

Re: Steppingstone Group - proposal for a roundabout controlled junction near Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge - A56 and Clifton Road

A Cheshire West and Chester Highways Officer has made an informal assessment that the highways works that would be necessary to produce the proposed roundabout shown in your indicative layout would cost of the order of £2M. Has Steppingstone costed the proposed works, and if so what figure does Steppingstone estimate the roundabout and all other associated highways works would cost?
It is not clear from the descriptions provided by Steppingstone whether Steppingstone is offering to carry out the highways works itself, or to pay for them, or whether it expects Cheshire West and Chester Council (‘CWaC’) to carry them out at the council’s cost. CWaC does not have c£2M available to pay for these works as matters currently stand, nor is it anticipated that this sort of funding would be available in the medium term. So, so far as Steppingstone is concerned - how are the highways works to be carried out and who is to pay for them?
Is Steppingstone offering to transfer the land on which the proposed roundabout and related approach roads to CWaC, and if so, on what basis?
The land where the proposed roundabout is to be sited is in green belt - as are the surrounding fields. The emerging local plan has not sought to change this designation. Does Steppingstone link its roundabout proposal with the development of the surrounding land it owns? If it does, on what basis and what if any development is in mind? How does Steppingstone seek to demonstrate the ‘very special circumstances’ that would be necessary?
What discussions has Steppingstone had with CWaC planners regarding any development proposals in this vicinity - and are any such discussions proposed for the future?
I’m sure you and your client readily appreciate that the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge is likely to be re-opened following its refurbishment in the autumn of 2014. Whatever the outcome of CWaC’s consultation regarding the proposed traffic regulation order and the choice of configuration of the road junction on the eastern side of the Swing Bridge the roundabout proposal suggested by Steppingstone could not be implemented by then. Does Steppingstone have a timetable in mind for the construction of the roundabout and any linked development?

Yours sincerely

Cllr Andrew DawsonCllr Lynn Riley

Comment

In the final analysis it is up to Steppingstone and their advisers how they choose to answer the questions put to them. I take the view that their response of 13 August does not answer the direct questions put them - certainly not in the full way that I had hoped. With this in mind I have already responded by email specifically requesting that they do answer the direct questions that were put to them in the letter of 11 August and previously.

↧

Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge Junction - the decision

August 25, 2014, 4:23 am

≫ Next: Swing Bridge to be re-opened 10-11 October

≪ Previous: Latest on the Steppingstone Group roundabout proposal

The majority of this blog post was written by Cllr Lynn Riley who, in addition to being my colleague as a councillor for Frodsham on CWaC, as Executive Member for Localities had to make the decision on what the junction at the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge would look like following the Traffic Regulation Order consultation.

'What’s the Point?

This is a phrase too often heard and is guaranteed to send shivers down the spines of anyone involved in trying to achieve something, be that politicians, pressure groups or members of the PTA. The follow up sentence is invariably ‘ they’ll do what they want anyway’.

In a democracy this isn’t actually true but its understandable that for many people it feels true. As your local councillors we know only too well that Frodsham isn’t short of opinions; everywhere you go there are people willing to share their views be that in the pub or post office. The challenge for all of us is how we gather that opinion so that when decisions have to be made, they reflect “us” and not the amorphous “them”.

Decisions for any of us start with the facts and one of the reasons we write this blog, website, take space in Frodsham Life and other social media is to make sure that as many people as possible are aware and involved in all that’s going on.

So it’s been great to see so many people sharing their views about a whole range of local issues over the summer period. It’s usually a quiet time, but not this year. The Swing Bridge is just one example. With work due to complete in a matter of weeks, the question about what happens next is out there. Moving the traffic back onto the refurbished bridge has been out to consultation. Not only has this triggered 267 people to write in with their comments about whether to retain the arrangements on the temporary bridge or not, but its also brought forward a new suggestion from a private developer and we are all interested to know more. Obviously any new scheme has along way to go and in the meantime we’ll soon be driving, walking and cycling over the much-improved Swing Bridge.

Your views were overwhelmingly (242/267) in favour of reinstating the original layout and turning on the traffic lights. I have to confess being quite surprised by this given the huge amount of public support for the temporary bridge and the success of the traffic flow during the refurbishment. But it’s an important local issue and therefore important to ask the question. Predictably, the vast majority of people didn’t know, didn’t care one way or the other or didn’t see the point of bothering, but amongst those that did see ‘the point’ and wanted to make theirs, the overwhelming response back was objection. When there is a (legal) process as is the case with a TRO, it’s the basis of the objection that carries the weight and we tasked Highways officers with spelling these out in their formal report. All the local parish councils and the neighbouring Halton Council objected as did the Police, Highways Agency and Sustrans along with the local bus companies who can trigger a public inquiry. Whilst this is the formal process, we also have the findings from the joint Frodsham Town Council consultation where we made sure this question was raised and saw roughly an even split of those for and against retaining the temporary arrangements. Interestingly many more people responded to the Frodsham wide consultation which covered lots of things than responded to the TRO consultation (c1300 as against 267)

So the consultation is over. You have made your points and these have made a difference. The comments you raised have helped us convince the Highways teams to reinstate the previous 3 lane working even though they wanted 2 and there will be marked improvements to pedestrian and cycling access. We’ve taken the positive comments about the temporary bridge and will be maintaining the left hand flow onto Clifton Road and have secured a give-way rather than a traffic light controlled left turn. It’s not so long ago that traffic used to regularly back-up from the bridge in all directions and we are keen to keep this situation under review, particularly if there are to be future proposals from private developers around this area.

So a big thanks you to everyone who did see the point of sharing his or her views – it really can and does make a difference. New Government thinking both nationally and locally has brought a new pragmatism and flexibility into play that has really helped us deliver this fix to a long-standing eyesore at the gateway to our town.

This is a good example of the way that a small number of views can influence how things can and should work locally. So returning to the title, just try and imagine what more people supporting more ambitious projects might look like? ' Lynn

So there you have it. We will be reverting to a traffic light controlled junction. There will be 3 lanes over the bridge. The left hand filter lane will be a 'give way' not a filter light.

Personally, whilst I respect the decision I think it was the wrong decision - but that's democracy. This was always going to be a difficult nuanced decision where not everyone could be satisfied. I'm pleased we've been able to persuade the highway officers to revert to 3 lanes - the thought of a 2 lane bridge with traffic lights would have been too horrible to contemplate!

I do hope the road surface on the bridge will take the additional wear and tear of 3 lanes of traffic including braking on the bridge. Don't forget it was the road surface 'letting-go' that proved to be the final catalyst in getting the bridge refurbished. I'm concerned about the effect of queuing traffic on pollution and environmental quality. One only has to go up the road to the Fluin Lane junction with the A56 to find a location where environmental standards are being breached through pollution from queuing traffic. The only place outside Chester that happens in the Borough.

Ah well, at least this is one debate that looks like being parked for a generation or two - until the bridge needs to be refurbished again - or perhaps until the next time a developer suggests something different?

↧

Swing Bridge to be re-opened 10-11 October

September 25, 2014, 2:48 pm

≫ Next: Celebrating Frodsham's wonderful community

≪ Previous: Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge Junction - the decision

CWaC and the Canals and Rivers Trust have announced that the Swing Bridge is to be re-opened on 10 & 11 October. On the 10th, at around lunchtime, there will be a re-opening ceremony accompanied by boats and modern and historic lorries and then, at midnight on 11th October the swing bridge will re-open for traffic.

As the £4.5M refurbishment scheme is nearing its conclusion it was wonderful this morning to see the swing bridge in its 'open position' for river traffic no doubt as part of the recommissioning work.

So, if you are free on 10 October - especially around lunchtime - go and enjoy the festivities. Unfortunately I'll miss the opening events as my day job sees me representing a client at an Inquest.

↧

Celebrating Frodsham's wonderful community

September 25, 2014, 4:35 pm

≫ Next: Local Government Accounting - Warrington style

≪ Previous: Swing Bridge to be re-opened 10-11 October

Following a change in the law that allows small councils like Frodsham Town Council to grant local honours, such as making an individual an honorary freeman or woman of the town, Frodsham Town Council is actively considering making its first grant. More of this in due course. The granting of the 'Freedom' of a place is a very special award to be granted very sparingly.

Following discussions earlier this week I am going to suggest to FTC at the October meeting that the council should also consider recognising the contribution of many of our unsung local heroes. I think we should celebrate those wonderful people who for years, and often without thanks, have served our community wonderfully well and selflessly. Frodsham would be a poorer place without them and their efforts. So shouldn't we as a community make a little bit of a fuss of them and say 'thank-you'? I think so.

Incidentally the Town Council has resolved that it will have a commemorative badge struck to celebrate the grant of the Freedom of Frodsham. The badge will be awarded to the recipient of the honour. The indicative design is shown below. It is based on the town's bee -which itself comes from the memorial to the Rev Cotton at St Laurence church.

The Town Council is also taking this opportunity to catch up with what other Towns and Boroughs do in offering its outgoing civic representatives a badge commemorating their service. Not only is this the right thing to do - it also helps bolster our civics and assists in promoting Frodsham elsewhere. Those badges are of a similar design to the Freedom badge - but have different coloured outer circles and a different label on the bar - depending on what role is being commemorated.

These commemorative civic badges won't cost the council tax payer anything. This is unlike other Towns and Boroughs who give their commemorative badges out free of charge. Frodsham Town Council won't be issuing any badge to any outgoing civic representative unless they pay for them! This is something I absolutely insisted upon and was glad that all the other councillors agreed with me. I'm also delighted to report that the badges were designed free-of-charge. You can do the right thing, you can bolster the civics - without burdening the tax payer!

↧

Local Government Accounting - Warrington style

September 26, 2014, 10:36 am

≫ Next: Frodsham Foundation

≪ Previous: Celebrating Frodsham's wonderful community

Warrington BC is the host authority for the Police and Crime and Panel ('PCP'). As host authority they are entitled to a Home Office Grant to pay for the work they do in facilitating the work of the panel. The council is entitled to claim £53,300 for supporting the panel.

As panel members we asked for a report indicating how the money had been spent. I was very unhappy with what we were told.

It appears far too much has been spent on administration and not enough, in my view, in providing research and assistance to the panel in fulfilling its role in scrutinising the Police and Crime Commissioner. If you want to see me raising the issues you can watch the webcast of the panel (which incidentally saw 410 viewers watching at least part of the broadcast live.)

The following passage is a quote from the report considered today - the parts that piqued my interest I've highlighted in bold:

'The host authority undertakes a system of informal time-recording to estimate the number of hours spent by staff on activities related to the ... panel. The process captures information by way of a spreadsheet, about the activities undertaken by key staff in units equivalent to one day (7.4 hours) based upon the salary rate of each member of staff. The actual time logged by staff is normally rounded up or down to the nearest half-day (i.e. 0.5 unit) ...
...
The total hours worked by the 5 employees identified is 172, which is split between 136.5 hours (Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer) and 35.5 hours (Performance and Policy).

Now as I work as a solicitor I know something about how solicitors work and how they calculate their fees. I am expected to work to 6 minute units - not half day units and use a formal time recording system. I noted the 'weasel words' about 'normally' rounding the figures claimed to the nearest half day. Does the use of the word 'normally' suggest that, on occasion, the rounding (which I found excessively crude) didn't take place? Could this mean that a short telephone call may have been charged as half a day's work?

Returning to the report - having set out the basis of calculation the report then indicated the figures used to make up the claimed £53,300. It included the following two items:

Solicitor and Monitoring Officer team £36,327
Performance and Policy team £7,313

So we know that the Solicitor and his staff worked 136.5 hours for their claimed £36,327 and the Performance and Policy team worked 35.5 hours for their £7,313. With these figures and a little division we can work out the hourly rates.

Solicitor and legal team £36,327/136.5 = £266.13. This is an average hourly rate for the 5 officers - and surprisingly in the range of reasonable commercial rates.

For the Performance and Policy Team £7,313/35.5 = £206 - a very high figure for administrative staff.

Unfortunately the council solicitor wasn't present to explain the figures so I asked, and the panel agreed, to defer this matter so that he can be present to explain himself. Just as the discussion was concluding one of the council's administrative staff indicated that an apology was due.

Where the report referred to hours, it should have referred to days!

Now this in itself is astonishing. Is it right that the report was so poorly written and checked that such an error had been made? Was everything mis stated by a factor of 7.4?

Lets assume the we should read 'days' for hours we get the following calculation

136.5 days - with 7.4 hours per day - equates to 1,010.1 hours;
35.5 days - with 7.4 hours per day - equates to 262.7 hours.

So doing the maths again:

Solicitor and Monitoring officer team £36,327/1,010.1 = £35.96 per hour;
Performance and Policy team £7,313/262.7 hours = £27.84 per hour.

As anyone in the commercial world we know these figures are also highly questionable.

All this begs the question whether the council really knows what it is doing and whether its financial information is credible.

Now this isn't just an academic exercise. The more money spent on administration means less money available to support the scrutiny function of the panel and all of us have to careful with public money.

I will be pressing for answers at the next panel meeting.

↧

Frodsham Foundation

October 1, 2014, 3:48 am

≫ Next: Update United Utilities Road Works on A56 by Gates Garage

≪ Previous: Local Government Accounting - Warrington style

What follows here are the reports and accounts presented at the Frodsham Foundation AGM in March this year. All this data and information has been public since March 2014. I publish it again here as a reminder.

If you want to learn more please go to the Foundation's website www.frodshamfoundation.net.

Frodsham Foundation

Executive Director Report March 2014

Frodsham Foundation’s main community capacity building activities for the year ending 30 September 2013 were as follows:

Summary

Item	Cost (disbursements and time)
Communications	10,129.96
LDF	1,352.11
Neets, jobs, worklessness	3,120.24
Goods Shed	2,301.81
Sports, leisure, recreation and smaller events	2,466.60
Bee Festival	9,929.93
Christmas 2012 and 2013	11,241.81
BIG Wedding Events	4,292.06
Business/community contact	5,447.18
Accountancy	429.60
Admin	1,325.67
Total	52,036.97
Unpaid time for KD (exceeding capped daily hours and managing/attending events inc Bee Festival and Christmas Festival etc).	7,106.57

Communications

In the year 2012/2013 Frodsham Foundation created three distinct websites (general/archive, weddings and events/Cheshire Hive/Christmas), three Facebook accounts (general news, Christmas and Weddings) and two Twitter feeds (general and weddings). The Foundation also developed the popular enewsletters promoting local events, jobs, news and achievements. The Foundation also published hard copy flyers and posters for each event, banners, a special edition newspaper, a Wedding Guide and a Guide to Christmas.

The social media weekly reach regularly exceeds 20,000 and has continued to grow, peaking at 40,000 more recently, whilst the enewsletters are received by around 2,000 recipients. The enewsletters contain more local jobs than Job Centre Plus. Social media has been particularly effective at progressing Frodsham Foundation’s objective of community capacity building by enabling local residents to share news and views and comment on current issues.

The total cost of communications for the year to the end of September 2013 was £10,129.96 inclusive of domain names, subscriptions fees, hosting, graphics and time.

Communications continues to be a focus in the current year.

LDF

Following incorporation, Frodsham Foundation spent considerable resources researching the requirements and issues facing Frodsham’s community. The results of the research and consultations were used in providing a detailed and evidenced response to CWaC’s Local Development Plan.

The cost associated with responding to the LDF and the specific research it entailed totaled £1,352.11.

NEETS, Jobs and worklessness

Frodsham Foundation worked and is continuing to work with a number of individuals and third parties in relation to local jobs and the increasing number of NEETS which has risen from 8 to 53. Much of the work falls within the response to the LDF and communications but the time associated predominately with identifying and publicising local jobs, NEET requirements and barriers to employment cost Frodsham Foundation £3,120.24 for the year ending 30 September 2013.

Enterprise and employment are two areas of focus in the current year.

Goods Shed

Frodsham Foundation started exploring potential community uses for the Goods Shed in September 2012 and has continued to work with Frodsham’s businesses and community groups to identify future potential uses that would benefit the wider Frodsham community.

For the year ending 30 September 2013, the total cost of the Goods Shed project was £2,301.81 which includes time and the costs associated with the open day and time preparing grant applications.

The Goods Shed continues to be a focus in the current year.

Sports, leisure, recreation and smaller events

In addition to the main events of the Bee Festival, BIG Wedding Events and Christmas Festival, Frodsham Foundation was also heavily involved in or solely ran Halloween, Youth Event, SEEN and the Football Festival. In addition to the events, Frodsham Foundation met with representatives of surrounding parishes (residents and Councils) to explore the local sports, leisure and recreational requirements and the possibility of a combined A56 sports facility.

The cost of this element of work was £2,466.6 which involved publicity costs for the events.

Bee Festival

The Bee Festival provided a community focused event, promoting Frodsham’s beekeeping heritage. The two day event included national speakers, a vintage helter skelter, local food and drink producers, local live music, local community groups, trade stalls, football tournament and It’s a Knockout.

Despite the poor weather, attendance was good and the feedback from the community was excellent. The event also benefitted local businesses, with Devonshire Bakery stating that the Saturday was their second busiest retail day of the year.

The total cost of the Bee Festival was £9,929.93 which included marquee hire, stage, sound/pa, security, first aid, It’s a Knockout equipment, park and ride charges, road signage, additional charges relating to the use of Castle Park and time.

Frodsham Foundation does not have the resources to organise a second Bee Festival but has joined together with NWAFA to create the SummerFestival which will take place on 12 and 13 July 2014. The SummerFestival will raise money to improve local sports facilities.

Christmas

Frodsham Foundation was involved in Christmas 2012 and went on to manage the 2013 celebrations. In 2013 Frodsham Foundation organised the Festival Market, the parade, entertainment, insurance, risk assessments, marshaling and publicity, ensuring that it was the most well attended event, as well as raising the profile of Frodsham nationally as a result of the social media coverage. The event also supported local businesses, community groups and new enterprises with new start ups being offered preferential rates on the Festival Market.

The cost associated with Christmas 2012 was £1,488.88 and related to publicity and risk assessments and the Treasure Hunt. The cost of Christmas 2013 was £9,752.93 and included time, risk assessments, fees, insurance, generators, lighting and publicity liabilities which were incurred prior to the financial year end.

Frodsham Foundation does not have the resources to manage the Christmas 2014 celebrations. The Foundation has suggested to FTC that they allocate a budget of £10,000 for 2014 and believe this has been done. The Foundation has also requested £1,000 to produce a wrap up report with suggestions of how to minimise the cost of running the festival.

BIG Wedding Events

Frodsham Foundation developed the BIG Wedding Event model to promote Frodsham as a Wedding Town and to encourage collaboration between businesses. The events in March and September 2013 involved over 30 businesses (both home and high street based) who benefitted from centralised publicity, social media coverage, a designated wedding website and printed wedding guide. The Foundation ran the two events in 2013 and the businesses ran the 2014 event, drawing on the model created by the Foundation. The 2014 event also utilised the website and artwork the Foundation produced.

Crowthers Cake Studio and Gift Shop on the Corner reported that the BIG Wedding Event generated their busiest retail day of the year.

The total cost of the BIG Wedding Events for the year ending 30 September 2013 was £4,292.06 which includes publicity, marketing, graphics, photography, video, printed guide, publicity balloons, goody bags and time, including sub contractors.

General business and community contact

Identifying Frodsham’s resources and requirements and developing local networks was an essential, but costly, part of establishing Frodsham Foundation. Frodsham Foundation identified 1200 local businesses, of which only 28% create employment opportunities and 200 community groups. Face to face liaison is time consuming but has been essential in establishing requirements and developing relationships.

A diverse range of issues have been identified from the business and community contact. Some are very specific to the particular business or community group, some impact on the wider community. In 2012, the initial plans presented by Cheshire West and Chester Council for the bridge renovation produced a considerable amount of anxiety. The Foundation worked with the business community and CWaC to find an alternative solution that was less disruptive to the town. In August 2012 Frodsham Foundation provided CWaC with details of a temporary bridge proposal, with plans, photographs and contacts. The temporary bridge proposal gained enormous support from the Frodsham community and, at a public meeting in September where the business community stressed the importance of the temporary bridge, CWaC agreed to consider and cost the proposal. To improve communications and trust, the Foundation then chaired two progress meetings between local business representatives, CWaC and its partners.

The cost of general business and community relations to Frodsham Foundation for the year ending 30 September 2013 was £5,447.18. This figure also includes the procurement and trades identification work, web portal and Move to Frodsham initiative.

Administration

General administration of Frodsham Foundation for the year ending 30 September 2013 was £1,325.67. This figure includes directors and officers insurance, Companies House fees, administrative time, telephone, broadband, printing and postage.

TRADING AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30/09/13

	2013	2013
	£	£
Income
Frodsham Town Council grant	20,000
CWaC grant	15,000
Government grant	10,000
Other grants	350
Operating income	7,922
Total		53,272

Expenditure
Contractor Fees (2 contractors) and salary including HMRC costs for 14 months	36,324
Bee Festival expenditure including marquees, security, first aid, generator, stage, It’s a Knockout, Castle Park Fees, publicity and newspaper	5,521
Christmas 2012 expenditure	498
Christmas 2013 liabilities and expenditure	7,161
General publicity expenditure	611
Goods Shed publicity and open day expenditure	201
Wedding events publicity inc Guide, goody bags, balloons, posters, flyers and banners	843
Accountancy fees	430
Administration expenditure including Companies House fees, insurance, travel, parking, sustenance, phone, broadband and postage	448

Total		52,037

Profit on ordinary activity		1,235

↧

Update United Utilities Road Works on A56 by Gates Garage

October 1, 2014, 1:22 pm

≫ Next: A56 Road Works - the latest

≪ Previous: Frodsham Foundation

Update: officers from CWaC, UU and Amey (contractors) set to attend road works tomorrow morning... My FTC Colleague Cllr Caroline Ashton has also been on the case!

This the text of an email I have written to CWaC's senior highway officials regarding the disruption on the A56:

Dear all

Those of you in the Frodsham area or affected by those driving from Frodsham will know that the UU works on the A56 by Gates Garage are causing mayhem. Informally I have been told that these works will last 10 days. The locals find this unacceptable - especially as the contractors are not working long days or 24/7. Delays of over an hour in getting into Frodsham from J12 are reported, as well as traffic diverting via J14 on the M56. This is unreasonable and unacceptable.

First, could you please convey to UU the residents of Frodsham intense dissatisfaction with UU's management of these road works. Second could you please encourage UU to carry out their works more swiftly and in a way to minimise disruption. Thirdly could you please provide me with a report indicating what CWaC's involvement with these road works has been and what steps CWaC has taken to minimise what is and what is perceived to be unacceptable disruption to daily life.

ENDS

I intend to take this further tomorrow.

↧

A56 Road Works - the latest

October 2, 2014, 8:50 am

≫ Next: CWaC Town and Parish Council Governance Review

≪ Previous: Update United Utilities Road Works on A56 by Gates Garage

There have been extensive discussions today between CWaC, UU and Amey over the A56 sewer pipe repair works.

The repair works are an emergency as sewer contents have been backing up into homes. UU advise that the pipes are partially blocked with fat. The sewer pipe works are 4m down - this depth brings its own difficulties and dangers.

UU and Amey are to extend the hours they work - and are aiming to have the work completed by Sunday evening if no further problems are found. An additional crew is being brought on to the job.

The traffic lights are under manual control from 7am to 7pm - with the hope and expectation that human operation will maximise traffic flow and minimise delays - although delays must still be expected until Sunday.

CWaC Highway Inspectors will be in attendance on each day to check progress.

↧

CWaC Town and Parish Council Governance Review

October 2, 2014, 3:43 pm

≫ Next: The opening of the Swing Bridge

≪ Previous: A56 Road Works - the latest

Over the last 3 1/2 years CWaC has been undertaking a Governance Review of the Town and Parish Councils in the Borough. This review has been checking to see whether parish boundaries and the governance arrangements are and remain appropriate. Around 2/3rds of the Borough is parished. There are 166 civil parishes in the parishes part of the Borough and the governance arrangements for 161 of them have been reviewed. As a consequence of the reviews 122 parishes will see some changes, ranging from abolition to amalgamation through to minor changes to boundaries or parish wards.

The process is set to continue after the May 2015 elections concentrating on the un-parished areas of CWaC. The old Vale Royal area was fully parished, so the post May 2015 review will affect around half of the old Chester district and large areas of the old Ellesmere Port and Neston district.

CWaC's council meeting in October will see the final decisions made for the last batch of parishes. The behind-the-scenes administrative work in terms of producing the revised mapping, updating the parish tax base will then start in earnest.

The reviews look set to lead to 58 boundary changes between the various towns and parishes. The boundary changes will see around 800 properties moving from one parish to another. Now one of the anomalies is that the CWaC wards have not been reviewed. This isn't something that CWaC could do.

Many of the CWaC wards are based on parish boundaries. The responsibility for reviewing CWaC's wards lies with the national Boundary Review Committee for England. They will only look at the CWaC wards once the Orders reorganising the parishes have been made. All this means is that we will go into the May 2015 elections with the parish boundaries having been refreshed, but with some CWaC wards no longer aligned to those parish boundaries. It looks like there will be a small number of people living on or near the parish boundaries that have moved that are also CWaC ward boundaries who will find that they have to go to two different polling stations so as to be able to vote in all the elections being held in May 2015. The answer for those few who may be affected is either to enjoy the walk between polling stations in May, or to get postal votes.

Incidentally the 5 parishes that have not been reviewed are:
Neston; Winsford; Northwich; Kingsmead and Chester Castle. The towns of Neston, Winsford and Northwich were reviewed by the English Boundary Committee in 2009-10. Kingsmead is the newest parish council, created in 2008. Chester Castle parish is a wonderful historic anomaly - it has 0 residents!

↧

The opening of the Swing Bridge

October 10, 2014, 9:15 am

≫ Next: Budget setting at CWaC

≪ Previous: CWaC Town and Parish Council Governance Review

Its been a grand day out! Today the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge was officially re-opened. It will be re-opened to traffic in about a days time; there are a few last minute snags to finish off.

I have to say the 90 year old bridge was looking in fine fettle after its £4.5m restoration project. It has had a whole new road deck - with the hardest wearing grade of road surface laid above it. The pontoon on which it sits has been repaired - this involved men having to work 15 feet beneath the water level. All the old electrics and hydraulics have been serviced, and, if course it has had a brand new paint job that should last at least 15 years before it needs a touch up. The bridge weighs around 500 tons (yes the old imperial sort)

I discussed the new road layout with CWaC's highway engineers - they showed me the new arrangements on the Sutton Weaver side where, although the traffic lights are being restored the lane from Frodsham to the motorway will be governed by a give way sign - hopefully to allow freer traffic movements out of Frodsham. The traffic islands have been altered to allow for easier movements by HGVs over the junction. The engineers discussed possibly setting back the stop line for traffic coming down from Sutton Weaver and wishing to turn right to the motorway so as to give greater clearance for vehicles wishing to travel from Frodsham to Sutton Weaver. If that is to happen, that tweak will be made in a few weeks time.

In celebration of the bridge re-opening we had a short procession of a modern and an old truck supported by Helsby and Longden's vintage bus, a three wheeler car and an old Ambulance. The bridge was then swung and a flotilla of small craft rowed and tooted their way under the bridge and back. I have to say it was marvellous watching the bridge swing. It looked effortless - a tribute to the skilfulness of the original design and its refurbishment.

The bridge was officially re-opened by Graham Evans MP, and we had speeches from him, Cllr Lynn Riley, George Ballinger Head Engineer Canals and Rivers Trust and Richard Parry the Chief Executive of the Canals and Rivers Trust. Each speaker remarked on the difficulties that had be-set the project to begin with and harked back to the meeting that Graham Evans had hosted in Parliament and where Lynn and I thrashed out some of the difficulties with George and looked to find solutions.

There was reference also to the public meeting I had chaired for the Frodsham businesses where we were able to persuade the Canals and Rivers Trust that they had to put in a temporary bridge if Frodsham wasn't to grind to a halt. One only has to remember the nightmare visited on us last week with the United Utilities road works on the A56 to realise just how important it was to get that particular decision right too.

It was the partnership working that was established from the meting in Parliament that set the project on the right foot going forward. To begin with CWaC had to fund c£3.5m of the £4.5m cost - although we were able to persuade the government to make a £1.777m contribution towards the scheme effectively meaning its repair costs were funded by three partners.

A big thank you to everyone involved and especially to Kier the contractor and their engineers who actually carried out the refurbishment.

Fingers crossed that all goes well when the traffic resumes this weekend.

The new road surface is the highest grade - as you'd find on trunk roads, the left filter lane is slightly wider than before

George Ballinger Hd Engineer C&RT

Richard Parry Chief Exec C&RT

Cllr Lynn Riley

Graham Evans MP

The grand re-opening: Graham Evans MP, Cllr Lynn Riley and Richard Parry C&RT Chief Executive

First we had old and new lorries, a bus, a three wheeler and an ambulance cross the bridge

Helsby & Longden's vintage bus

A three wheeler followed by a 1950s Austin Princess Ambulance

Then the first ceremonial swinging of the bridge - the new stop lights

The new barrier

The first official swing!

The flotilla of narrow boats, rowing boats etc

as the boats sailed by - we spotted the tins of paint - a few bits of touching-up are required over the next 24 hours

Old technologies are sometimes the best - the old megaphone

The C&RT Engineering Team

Richard Parry in the control box

There are two commemorative plaques!

Celebrating a good job, well done!

left to right: Cllr Mike Pusey Chairman Sutton Parish Council, Cllr Allen Wales Mayor of Frodsham,
Cllr Andrew Dawson CWaC Cllr for Frodsham, Graham Evans MP, Cllr Mike Jones, Leader CWaC, George Ballinger Head Engineer, C&RT, Cllr Lynn Riley CWaC Cllr for Frodsham and Executive Member for Highways, Richard Parry Chief Executive Canals and Rivers Trust

↧

Budget setting at CWaC

October 18, 2014, 12:02 pm

≫ Next: Speed limit reductions

≪ Previous: The opening of the Swing Bridge

Last Thursday we set the budget for 2015-16 at CWaC.

For those of you who know about public sector budget setting - you'll appreciate that normally council budgets are set in February or March and come into effect on 1st April.

This year CWaC was able to set its budget early because last year we set a 3 year budget. This was year 2 of the 3 year budget, and everything remains on track. We will formally set the council tax rate in February or March 2015 as expected, however on the basis of this budget it is already clear that the council tax does not have to increase. We are on course for another year of 0% council tax rises. The final decision on this will be taken in February 2015.

I know from the basis of checking this last year that this will mean that since CWaC came into existence in 2009 there has been a real terms reduction in the council tax charged in excess of 12%. In other words, taking account of inflation, the council tax likely to be charged in 2015-16 will be more than 12% lower than it was in 2009-10. I'll work out the figures in February 2015.

The Council meeting on Thursday night was one of the most political meetings we have had. Whilst you'd never expect me as a Conservative Councillor to be particularly praiseworthy of Labour's efforts I have to say their performances were particularly poor. And if you don't believe me - just watch the webcast.

What we did learn from Labour is that if they did, God-forbid, win any of the elections in May 2015 they will raise the Council Tax in CWaC.

I quoted, at the council meeting, a letter written by Hilary Benn MP Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He stated in his letter of 25 August 2014 that whilst in the first year of any Labour Government they would stick to the budget figures set by the present government they would move money around between councils to favour what they term the 'deprived councils.' This, in my view, is code for saying they will take money away from CWaC and give it to inner city councils - which, even under this government, receive far more money per head than CWaC receives. The only way a council loosing money in this way can make it up, is by increasing the council tax.

Labour's Cllr Powell indicated that Labour would do away with Special Expenses in CWaC. That immediately means that Frodsham would be hit by this - as we benefit the most from the special expense regime. We organise more through our parish council than virtually all of the other parish council in the Borough. The special expense regime seeks to even out expenses over the Borough between parish councils and CWaC and seeks to ensure that local council tax payers are not charged twice for the same services.

Watch the webcast - you'll see Cllr Powell say this and me responding to the point, later on.

So with the elections looming into view the choices at a local level become clearer.

The Conservatives have taken £133m out of the cost of running CWaC since it was first created. We have invested more than £40m additional monies in adult and children's social care, and the council tax looks set to have fallen more than 12% in real terms. When the Care Act 2014 is implemented by April 2016 we will be putting around £6m of additional monies into adult social care.

The Conservatives have no plans to increase the council tax for 2015-16.
Labour on both a national and local level have already effectively said they will increase your council tax. They've learnt nothing.

↧

Speed limit reductions

October 24, 2014, 3:43 pm

≫ Next: Peel's plans for Ince Resource Recovery Park - aka waste incineration

≪ Previous: Budget setting at CWaC

New 50mph limit at the Netherton heading towards Helsby

I do hope you've all been noticing the changed speed limits along some of our main roads - such as along the A56 between Frodsham and Helsby, along Tarvin Road, and Commonside.

Following local consultations and lobbying where residents expressed clear views that they wanted the speed limits reducing Cllr Lynn Riley and I in Frodsham, along with Cllr Eleanor Johnson in Gowy Ward have contributed to the costs of the legal orders and the changed signage out of our members grants.

From a personal perspective I'm always anxious to make sure any changed speed limit strikes the right balance between road safety for all road users and allowing motorists to make sensible safe progress on their journeys. I'll readily support a reduced speed limit down from say a de-restricted limit where travelling at 60mph on that road would be too fast to a limit that makes sense for the road conditions.

This afternoon I was asked to perform in the 'usual' photo shoots. I'm not looking for sympathy but posing next to a road sign isn't an everyday activity for me! And I ended up doing 3 photoshoots - one with Cllr Johnson and her Alvanley colleagues and two in Frodsham. One near the Ridgeway and the other on the A56 near the Netherton.

On Tarvin Road by the Ridgeway heading towards Frodsham

At the Netherton heading into Frodsham

Now we had hoped that we would have been able to have consistent re-signing along Tarvin Road and up to Frodsham Road at Alvanley - however we weren't able to persuade Cllr Ford from Helsby. So when you drive along that road and you come across a short de-restricted stretch you'll know you've crossed the border into Helsby and out again!

On the border with Helsby - please drive safely

↧

Peel's plans for Ince Resource Recovery Park - aka waste incineration

October 30, 2014, 7:17 am

≫ Next: Are these footpaths just footpaths... or a bridleways... what's your view?

≪ Previous: Speed limit reductions

I've just received the attached press release from Peel Holdings.

These are their words not mine! At this stage I am making no comment on these proposals.

Press Release 29 October 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peel Environmental to work with BWV to deliver Ince Park

Peel Environmental has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Babcock & Wilcox Volund (BWV) to progress the consented Ince Resource Recovery Park in Cheshire.

The deal will see Peel and BVW work together to pursue the development, construction and operation of the consentedEnergy from Waste plant which will service local needs and industry.

Jane Gaston, Development Manager, Peel Environmental said:

“We are delighted to be working with BWV to take Ince Park forward. The site is already consented and with a delivery partner onboard, we are targeting having an operational facility by 2019.

“Ince Park could deliver a new renewable energy source for the region, reducing the reliance on landfill and exportation of waste overseas. We are now looking to get contracts in place with local waste producers.”

Simon Allin, Business Development Director, B&W Volund said:

“Ince Park is in a great location to service the North West region, with the potential to provide low carbon and renewable heat and electricity to businesses in the local area. We are looking forward to working with Peel Environmental to deliver a state-of-the-art facility.”

Located near Ellesmere Port, the plant would take household and commercial & industrial residual waste from the region. Construction is planned to start in 2016 with the first line operational by 2019. For further information on commercial opportunities contact:

Jane Gaston, Peel Environmental Limited JGaston@peel.co.uk

Simon Allin, B&W Volund sal@volund.dk

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

- Peel Environmental owns, manages and develops properties in the waste, mineral and environmental technology sectors. We are at the forefront of developing new infrastructure and are now developing Resource Recovery Parks - modern, clean and sustainable industrial parks that are focused on the reprocessing and remanufacturing of waste materials for efficient energy use.

- Peel Environmental is a division of The Peel Group, one of the leading infrastructure, real estate and investment enterprises in the UK. Our diverse network of businesses ranges from ports to airports; land to leisure; media to hotels; wind farms to shopping centres, and a portfolio of investments in major public companies. www.peel.co.uk

- The Ince Park development has full outline consent and part detailed consent. It will comprise an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility and Environmental Technologies Complex – a cluster of waste management and environmental technology facilities. For further details visit http://www.incepark.com/

- When built, Ince Park will:

· Create up to 3,264 jobs in total

· Represent a £500million investment into the site

· Produce a total economic benefit of between £78 and £134 million of direct and indirect Gross Value Added to the economy each year

· Divert waste from landfill, using it to generate renewable and low carbon heat and electricity

- BWV is one of the world’s leading suppliers of renewable energy plants, with more than 50 reference facilities built in the last 15 years, and more than 500 lines in total installed in 30 countries world wide. These facilities have been developed to process a range of fuels, for example, household and commercial and industrial residual waste, refuse derived fuel, and waste wood.

- BWV’s solutions are based on providing its own proprietary technologies covering the complete technology solution, except for the turbine. Full turnkey EPC solutions are provided in conjunction with BWV’s UK construction partners.

- BWV is owned by Babcock & Wilcox based in the US. The parent Company has more than 140 years of experience of developing boiler and energy solutions and designs, manufacture and construction of power generation facilities.

↧

Are these footpaths just footpaths... or a bridleways... what's your view?

October 30, 2014, 3:51 pm

≫ Next: Halloween Fun in Frodsham

≪ Previous: Peel's plans for Ince Resource Recovery Park - aka waste incineration

Have a look at this map - it highlights three footpaths FP8 in Frodsham and FP33 and FP19 in Kingsley.

Footpath FP8 starts, as you can see on the map, at Ellis Lane. It runs almost parallel to the River Weaver and then the Weaver Navigation - approximately a fields width from the water before joining the road that runs to Catton Hall. Here the route is designated FP33 Kingsley. At Catton Hall the path, now designated FP19 Kingsley turns sharply south and runs ultimately to Pike Lane.

In 1999 and in 2004 the old County Council received applications suggesting that this route should either be a Bridleway - in other words a route that can be used by horse riders and cyclists, or a byway open to all traffic (otherwise known somewhat confusingly as a BOAT). A BOAT can be used by walkers, riders (horse and cyclists) as well as by motorised or non motorised vehicles.

Seemingly these applications were not determined - and so CWaC now has to consider them and determine them. This is a formal legal process - and one that requires the assessment of evidence. The council will have to determine whether there are public rights to use these footpaths as bridleways or BOATs.

Keep your eyes peeled for formal rounds of consultation. This is one of those issues where many people will have lots of opinions....

Opinions are interesting - but the council will be looking for evidence - how have these paths been used and for how long. If this is something you know about or if it that interests you - make sure you have your say.

↧

Halloween Fun in Frodsham

October 31, 2014, 10:52 am

≫ Next: Frodsham Library - free e-books and free wifi

≪ Previous: Are these footpaths just footpaths... or a bridleways... what's your view?

A great big thank you to everyone who has been helping out in Frodsham to make sure our youngsters have a spooky and fun Halloween.

This morning Lynn and I went to our fantastic Frodsham Library where our Librarian Jen Evans was leading story time. Its quite a while since anyone has read to me. As you can see the children were in fancy dress.

I'm always impressed by Jen and her team - and we've some more good news about our Library which will be announced next week.

This afternoon I was joined by Cllr Fran Sutton (Deputy Mayor of Frodsham) to judge a pumpkin carving competition at Frodsham Youth Association. A big thank you to all the volunteers who make the Youth Association such a fantastic place for our children to hang out together. I'm sure many parents are grateful that there is a safe place for our youngsters to go to - especially evenings during the holidays.

As you can see from the photographs the standard of workmanship in the pumpkin carving competition was excellent. We raided the CWaC 'goody bag reservoir' and made sure that all our junior carvers left with something.

A big thank you to Andy and Sarah from CWaC who also helped make this such a memorable day.

↧

Frodsham Library - free e-books and free wifi

November 3, 2014, 7:06 am

≫ Next: Road Works in and around Frodsham

≪ Previous: Halloween Fun in Frodsham

Libraries are great - and at the risk of sounding like Mohammed Ali - our library in Frodsham is the greatest!

This week CWaC is launching free WiFi at our Libraries - so if you have a need to get on line - get on down to the library. If you don't have your own device you can use one of the Library computers and our library staff are on hand to help if you need it. Everyone in the Borough who can get to a library can get on-line.

And, if you are a member of our Library you can now borrow, free of charge up to 3 e-books at a time for either 14 or 21 days. Best of all there are now no risks of fines for late returns as the e-books automatically disappear from your devices at the end of the loan period!

There are over 2,000 e-book titles available ranging from reference books, to children's stories and encyclopedia as well as a host of the 'usual material.'

You can use virtually any tablet type device... If you want to know more go and chat to Jen and her colleagues at the library.

The service is supplied by Overdrive and is available from the Cheshire Libraries Catalogue http://libcat.cheshire.gov.uk/

↧