It’s that time of year again. We will be turning the parish’s Christmas lights on, on Sunday the 1st December at 2:30pm.
There will be the usual carol singing, free mince pies, mulled wine, with soft drinks and treats for kids.
Please come along!
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is redrawing the boundaries of local wards in Cheshire East.
The draft recommendation, based on the proposals made by Cheshire East Council and the Liberal Democrats, is that Ollerton with Marthall is removed from the Chelford ward and added to Mobberley ward and in our place, Over Alderley parish is added. So the number of people in the ward would be roughly the same, but the closest parish to Chelford is removed.
The Parish Council objected to this proposal back in June and intend to object to it again, but now you have a chance to have your say.
We believe the fallacy of this proposal is shown in the map above. The black text “Chelford” shows where the village is but with the proposed changes the boundary goes through the text. It would mean that several houses on Dixon Drive and one side of Pepper Street would now have a different Cheshire East councillor to their neighbours. “Chelford’s pub” The Egerton Arms and both of the “Chelford Car Boots” would all now be in the Mobberley ward.
It’s not just a geographic anomaly but historically our parish has seen Chelford as its closest source of services such as butchers, grocers, newsagents, post office and until recently bank. All bus routes through the parish lead to Chelford and for good reason as it’s the closest train station.
Below is the current ward boundaries for comparison.
If you would like to comment on the proposal please click the following link, https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/cheshire-east you have until the 9th of December to comment.
The Parish Council recently met with the new owner of Windmill Wood to hear what was planned for the site. We were very pleased that the new owner’s primary focus will be actively managing the woodland with an aim to make the woodland more biodiverse. This work will include the restoration of the wetland area, including a pond, that the new owner wants to restore to a healthy state and allow it to become a refuge for wildlife. We understand that the work will include the selective thinning of trees, coppicing and the removal of some of the invasive rhododendrons, which will allow more light to filter through to the woodland floor, allowing a greater diversity of other plant species to thrive.
This is positive news given Cheshire has one of the lowest coverage of woodland (4% half the national average). This wood is identified within many historical maps such as John Speed’s map of Cheshire, Ollerton in 1600, windmills are shown within the wood. One of our long standing residents also recalls a windmill within the woods. Christopher Saxton’s map in 1577 also illustrates woodland in Ollerton in this area. There are many veteran trees within this ancient wood and ponds which provided wetland habitats for the resident wildlife.
We have asked about public access to the woods and we are pleased able to confirm that the 3 footpaths through the woodland, Knutsford FP19, Toft PF11 and Toft FP4 will be improved by the owner and, of course, remain fully open. Users of these paths are reminded that the woodland is privately owned and that there is no general public access away from the public rights of way. Windmill Wood is designated a SBI site and recognised by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust. This is why its protection is so important and the positive proposals should be supported.
The Parish Council will keep parishioners abreast of developments as and when information is shared with us by the landowner.
We see these proposals as a positive contribution to our wonderful countryside.
Our young Parish Christmas tree seems to be growing with gusto and vigour, getting bigger every year. Situated on the corner of Oaklands Road and Marthall Lane it’s time for the annual “switch on” of its lights.
With free mince pies, cakes, mulled wine and soft drinks it’s a chance for everyone to get in the Christmas spirit, sing some carols and have some fun.
The switch on will begin at 2:30pm on Saturday the 2nd of December. Everyone is invited!
The 35 acres of Windmill Wood (Toft Woods) is being offered for sale by Fisher German by on-line auction on 23 August.
Toft Woods has been used by generations of Knutsford, Toft and Ollerton residents for family walks and dog walking, bird watching and youngsters exploring. Scout groups and visitors make extensive use of the woodland. It is an important asset used extensively by the community.
Parishioners may be aware that many attempts have been made to seek planning permission for these woods: paint ball games, build additional properties, split into smaller lots, timber extraction etc etc.
The woods are now being marketed on the grounds that “Leisure and recreational uses sympathetic to the woodland setting are likely to be explored by potential purchasers”.
Although the woods benefit from Green Belt protection, certain types of development are permissible, including “…..changes of use for outdoor sport or recreation….” (NPPF para 150).
New owners could well seek to limit the ability of the users to roam through the woodland and confine the use to the three public footpaths which intersect on the land to be sold. (Knutsford FP19 from Goughs Lane; Toft FP11 from Chelford Road; and Toft FP4 from Seven Sisters Lane).
In view of the potential threat to access, Knutsford’s Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green, has launched a crowd-funding website to enable the community to purchase the woodland as a charitable trust to keep the woodland open, fundraise for improvements and ensure it is managed by the community for the community. The target is £200K and there’s 16 days to go. Full refund if the target is not reached or the bid is unsuccessful.
If you feel moved to support this cause (it has raised over £7000 in less than 24 hours) please visit:
Cheshire East Council has announced it will charge residents £56-per-year for green bin collections. The fee is the highest in the North West.
Cheshire East Council says the changes are being made to address a £20m funding gap it currently faces. The council estimates the changes will raise around £4m.
Council documents show a reduction to the recycling rate is expected as some households choose not to pay the subscription. Plans were approved by the environment and communities committee on Thursday, July 27.
The council says other options for raising funds were considered, including reducing black bin collections from every two weeks to every three, and a further reduction in the provision of household waste recycling centres.
Four of Cheshire East’s eight neighbouring local authorities do not charge for garden waste collections. The charge is £16-per-annum more expensive than Cheshire West & Chester’s £40-per-year introduced in February 2022.
Nearby Stoke-on-Trent City Council charges just £15-per-year for its garden waste collection subscription. A total of 21 of the 39 North West local authorities currently charge for garden waste collections, with the subscription costing £37.80 on average.
Cheshire East residents will be able to pay their garden waste collection subscription from October this year. Those that do not pay will see their green bin collections cease in December 2023.
The parish council has received the following information regarding Manor Lane’s road closure…
CHESHIRE EAST BOROUGH COUNCIL
NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE
S14 (2) ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cheshire East Borough Council in exercise of its powers under Section 14 (2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and of all other enabling powers issues this notice temporarily to prohibit traffic in the following length of road:-
Manor Lane, Chelford Ward, Knutsford, WA16 8RD for its full extent.
The alternative route will be via the following streets: – Seven Sisters Lane, Chelford Road
Location Map – https://one.network/?tm=134861153
Pedestrian access to any premises situated within the temporary closure will be maintained at all times. Cyclists will be required to dismount in order for access to maintained. Vehicular access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and residents where possible.
The closure is necessary for works to be carried out by BT.
It is anticipated that the works will take place on the following date(s): Thursday 21st September 2023.
This notice will become operative on Thursday 21st September 2023 for a period of 5 days or for such less time as is necessary to enable the works to be completed.
If you have any enquiries relating to the works please contact Sunbelt Rentals on telephone number 0370 050 0792.
For the first time since 2019 we’re able to congregate together for the switch on of the parish’s Christmas tree lights.
With free mince pies, cakes, mulled wine and soft drinks it’s a chance for everyone to get in the Christmas spirit, sing some carols and have some fun.
Located at the corner of Marthall Lane and Oaklands Road.
The switch on will begin at 2:30pm on Saturday the 3rd of December. Everyone is invited!
A fantastic time was had by all at The Hall at Marthall’s jubilee celebrations.
The hall was decorated beautifully, and festivities began at 1pm with tables laid with amazing home made cakes and sandwiches.
It proved so popular that at one point with the car park, Sandlebridge Lane and lay-by were so full of cars an adjacent field had to be opened to allow drivers to park.
The brilliant brass band played as squealing children enjoyed the unlimited use of two bouncy castles and free face painting.
Save the date! Saturday the 4th of June, the villages of Ollerton, Marthall, Snelson and Little Warford are holding a party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
To held in the fabulous modern venue of The Hall at Marthall http://marthallvillagehall.co.uk (Sandlebridge Lane, Marthall, WA16 7SB) there is loads of parking, ample space inside and hopefully (weather permitting) lots of grassy space outside to soak up the sun and celebrate.
Starting from 1pm there will be:
Then as the afternoon goes on, at 3pm the beer and cider festival starts, which is only £5 entry and includes 3 free pints.
Subsequent pints are just £1 each!
Featuring the following beers and ciders
Then as the sun starts to set, we have a live band playing at 7:30pm along with a BBQ to help soak up some of the beer and cider.
Everyone is welcome.