Chatbox

I would like to draw your attention to the PC Chairman's Report in their Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2019 available on the PC's website, which states "The main idea, subject to planning permission, is to provide a 'green' car park, using a mesh through which the grass will grow". The PC continue to defer decisions from one meeting to the next and no progress is made eg the Public Car Park is still being deferred after some eight years. Car Parking facilities should be a priority to sustain the village businesses who need support now more than ever. If we lose them the village dies.

Victory hall ,Woore. Tomorrow night 23rd. Rocket man is showing. Think they do it monthly

I seem to recall that at the time of the proposed field purchase the PC conducted a poll of the support for the various uses & that the car park scored highly in this.

I could of course be wrong but could James possibly re visit this document & share the results with us all as refresher please.

I can completely understand people's frustrations with the car park however we must remember that in the 2 years since the car park project was first discussed we have had a major pandemic but also the parish council has gone through an almost complete change of members. We all volunteer to be members of the council because we truly want to do what is best and right for the village hopefully now with the great group of volunteers currently on the parish council we can get things moving forward however speed is not key in my opinion making sure things are done correctly and are value for money is

Peter I quote from the report released after the public meeting " The public meetings and the Community Survey held in April 2018 confirmed that there was strong community support for the Parish Council's proposal to submit a bid for the field at the top of Green Lane. Residents were very keen to keep this as an area of community open space in perpetuity and interested in the possibility (subject to planning permission) of extra car park provision to relieve parking pressure in the village. "

As someone who has been promoting the wildlife aspects of Turnpike Fields, I feel that it is necessary to set straight the comments about the Fields being regarded as a "Nature Reserve". The Fields are not a Nature Reserve they are a "Public Amenity Area". That was always the original intention. The Green Car Park was always a project for the top part of the Fields and continues to be so. However, from the beginning it was recognition that the Fields had potential for some wildlife conservation. This was expressed in the Community Survey results for the use of the fields, where 47% of the votes were for conservation related ideas, (the Car Park received 17.5%, the highest number for an individual idea). The main amenity use of the Fields has by far been for folk exercising – themselves, their children and their dogs. This has I hope been enhanced by the information I have been able to give about the wildlife present. Our wildlife survey undertaken in 2020 showed amongst other things 107 different species of wild plant, 15 different grass varieties, and 37 species of insect (including 15 species of butterfly). This year more have been added to the list. At a time when upto 50% of our wildlife has been lost over the past decades, I think that that is worth conserving and encouraging not only for the wildlife's sake but also for our own human wellbeing and enjoyment.

I agree with Mr Huntbach that majority , myself included, were of the opinion that the field was bought with a car park as it's priority use and any other uses were simply added on as possible uses. I also would not have voted in favour of purchase had I realised that the powers that be were going to squander excessive amounts in the way they have on totally unnecessary things at this stage of ownership. Surely by now there should be some official public notification of exactly what is happening regards the car park progress not simply 'these things take time' – we are already 'years' and still we don't know other than monies are being made available for uses that are not important. It is about time public money was spent more practically, wisely and sensibly instead of for the benefit of dog owners, some of whom still don't 'pick up' and nature lovers. Please note I said some NOT all, as many do 'pick up'
Lets drop the 'vibrant' and get back to 'basics' – before anyone suggests Council Meetings are way past my bedtime.

Are there any villages nearby that show movies in the village hall, or something similar? Could Audlem do this?

As James says, the purchase of the field, by the villagers, was to stop development.

I was a serving Cllr at the time of the field purchase and can confirm that the car park option was one of many ideas put forward during many village consultations. It was never, in the early stages, a given that it would go ahead. I have no idea what's involved in building a car park and even less idea as to whether 'we' can afford one.

You are entirely right James the purchase of the Turnpike land was to stop the field being developed as a housing estate and the Parish Council at the time made the right decision not to seek to purchase the land jointly with a developer who had offered to work with the PC. The land is well used by dog owners and I have really appreciated the regular reviews which Adrian Leighton has posted on this link.

The original proposal also included a GREEN car parking area and the PC is entirely right to take its time and come up with the right scheme. I hope the PC will take into effect light pollution and if lighting is required small stump lighting will be used.

I am pretty sure the majority of the voting was for car parking facility and this has not been progressed but rather large sums have been spent on other projects that are extraneous to the will of the parish.

I believe that James McGregor has it wrong. My recollection of the public meetings (which I attended) held to discuss the possible acquisition of Turnpike Field is that by far the major reason agreed by those present was to provide much needed additional parking, with recreation and nature being rather lower down the list of priorities. Of course, an obvious byproduct of the purchase of the field by the village for any purpose is that future development on the field is prevented. But this was very definitely not the main reason that the electorate agreed to the purchase, and to pay an increased rate precept for decades into the future. I would certainly not have voted to pay for the purchase of the field if it was just to prevent it being built on, a rather NIMBYistic and self-serving approach I feel. I voted for the money to be used for a variety of much more constructive public uses; the field is large enough to accommodate many disparate activities and interests.

More than three years have passed, far more time than is needed (even in the public sector) to plan, seek permission for, and construct a simple car parking area. Let's hope that there are no more delays, and that the car park is opened in time for next year's village events, and the tourist season on which most retail and catering businesses in Audlem rely so much.

Chris I'm pretty sure the main reason for the purchase of turnpike was first and foremost to stop development on the land. The car park is still being worked on however these things take time we would much rather make sure the job was done correctly and was good value for money this has obviously been exacerbated by the covid pandemic. We do have a few places available on the council if you feel you can help with the many things the council have to manage and plan please drop me a message

Feel very privileged to be able to use Turnpike for parking during the road closure. What about the original idea of using this as a permanent car park to help local businesses for more than 7 days. Thought this was the number one reason for purchasing the field in the first place not as some kind of nature reserve which the village is surrounded by anyway

Went to the Crewe recycling centre yesterday to get rid of a load of green waste plus a PVC window frame.
I had my trailer attached but have my CEC permits for the year.
Asked a worker there where the frame went and was directed to the non recyclable skip. Placed it in then went to put the two double glazed units tgat had been removed to allow the frame to be taken out. The centre opening window complete with glass was still in the frame when it went in the skip.
I was told by the workervthat the double glazed units had to go in the rubble skip at a cost of £3.50 each!
I said as I pay CEC enough in council tax I'll take them back home with me!
Why are they charging in the first place.
Can anyone explain the logic why a frame with a glazed window goes in the non recyclable skip but two loose panels can't?
They also tried to charge me £3.50 for a small bag of rubble but didn't push it.
Confused of Cheshire st..

Great idea of PC to open Turnpike field for car parking during duration of road closure.

Such a shame it is taking so long to permanently open the car park☹️

I am looking to rent a fully enclosed paddock in the Audlem/Buerton area. Please contact me on 07766201027 with details.

Thank you

Having read both posts from David higham and Lyn Hopkins It was obvious Lyn Hopkins was being helpful to David higham I find your comments totally unnecessary and unhelpful !!!

Rob Dickinson
If you care to read my post agin you will see I was replying to David Higham !
Two I never mentioned asking the village clerk I suggested he contacted Cheshire east as it is nothing to do with the village council . Hope that clarifies things .

Well said Mr Dickinson, I'm sure we can all see the Council is doing it's very best at the moment and perhaps needs our support rather than constant badgering

Found a lost dog poo outside ours on woore rd. Fear not I've left it there if it's owner is missing it and wants to collect it. Medium sized and light shade, pics on request.

Thank you David for raising this issue. It is totally wrong to remove disabled parking spaces from the nearest point to the surgery, and I expect that ADCA's medical transport team will agree. Although it would be possible to drop off patients nearer the surgery, this doesn't help patients who drive themselves but cannot walk far.
It may be that the previous 11 disabled spaces mentioned by Lynette are an excessive number, but reinstating the 3 by the surgery in addition to the newly marked 6 by the far end of the Public Hall seems to me to be the sensible solution.

Ah the redoubtable Mrs Tilling – you ask do I have "any idea just how much work goes into monitoring the Chatboxes and Articles" – the answer is I don't – I just judge by what I see and the old conkers myth has been debunked so many times I find it hard to believe it wasn't spotted. Of course, in the post-truth era people seem quite happy to believe and propagate any old rot they want as long as it suits their mind set, amplified as it is by repetition on social media. As to your "belief" that there was a ban in a school 2 decades ago, it's quite probable, but not because of any accident but because some schools bought into the "ban" nonsense, thought it was true and so implemented one. The only known accidents per se are from kids hurting themselves collecting them – climbing trees etc.
It did all provide a lot of fuel for the Tory Party propaganda machine at the time, however, who exploited it relentlessly and then when in power found there was zilch to actually change. It's a good job politicians don't do that sort of thing these days.

I think if Lyne Hopkins wants to know about the white lining and has issues with it she should ask the council herself, as I cant see it anything to do with the parish clerk. With the state of the village at the moment Im sure he has far more important things to attend to.

Have you, Mr. Lechley, any idea just how much work goes into monitoring the Chatboxes and Articles which appear on AudlemOnline. Also the ones which don't make the cut. Some of mine fall in the latter category as I do get somewhat heated about it. I dare say you are correct although I believe a couple of decades ago one school in Cheshire did ban confers in school when a pupil was hurt. Of course I could be wrong but if you point it out be less superior please. Personally I am much too depressed by climate and political considerations. However if anyone has a conker I will happily try to nurture it , my grandchildren may see it mature.