Chatbox

May I add to this conversation that obstruction on the highway also causes nuisance to pedestrians.

We have recently moved to Buerton and regularly walk from Windmill Lane along the main Audlem Road to Longhill Lane and back home down Windmill Lane.

The footpath along the Audlem Road is dire. About 100 yards before the right turn into Longhilll Lane the hedges encroach over the whole of the footpath for about 50 yards which causes pedestrians to walk on the road on a blind bend with double white lines.

The heavy traffic, tractors, trailers, heavy goods vehicles are quite frightening and heaven forbid that this sort of traffic is approaching in opposite directions when we have to step off the footpath into the road! Stepping onto the road also occurs where vegetation nettles, brambles, weeds etc., are growing across the footpath too.

The whole of this section of footpath needs attention as most of the hedges and verges encroach onto the footpath to some degree and as boundary hedges are cut the cuttings are left on the footpath eventually breaking down and encroach further each season.

Apart from the above some areas of the footpath surfaces are dangerous – they have been repaired piecemeal and are very uneven and could easily cause a twisted ankle or worse to pedestrians.

Apologies for this rant, not sure who is responsible for ensuring that private owners cut their boundary hedges back to their actual property borders and clearing up the mess, or who is responsible for the state of the footpath surfaces or the excessive vegetation growing over the surfaces.

I can recommend Peter Blurton to service an Aga provided it is not an electric one., which he doesn't service. He is an ex Aga technician wry on his own. We have used him for some years – most helpful and reliable. Phone No. 07540-976874.

As above......Thanks Jessie! Keep them coming please. Priceless. ;-)

It could also have been a disabled driver looking for somewhere to park.

I would really appreciate it if anyone recommend a local aga engineer please for my aga.

Well Spotted
I'll bet its the micro-chips from the Vaccine causing that!

I'm reading Chatbox while I wait for a conference call to kick in ... what's with the timings of posts?
As follows:
Norman Huntback – post at 6:06
Bob Fousert – post at 5:05
James McGregor – post at 4:04
Christina Heades – post at 10:10
Mike Hancock – post at 9:09
James McGregor – post at 6:06
...and so on.

Well, I'm intrigued. Back to work....

Just a reminder to those with roadside properties. Please keep your hedges, trees and bushes cut back within your own boundary and this probably isn't the edge of the green verge as most people mistakenly think. The verge is still part of the highway despite it being unmetalled. Allowing or causing a restriction in the highway width causes dangers for all road users but especially when taller vehicles are involved because to avoid overhanging obstructions the vehicle has to move towards the centre of the road.

Could I just say thanks a lot to the person who yesterday caused damage to stone work on the border of my property in Longhill Lane, with either a pretty large agricultural vehicle or its trailer, and failed to stop. (I am guessing this was the cause as there was a swathe of recently cut grass left along the edge of the road and if it had been a car there would have been lots of bits of bodywork to pick up). Thanks a lot too for the re-landscaping of my border and for giving drivers a chance to play dodgems as they tried to avoid the rock and stone debris that you left in the road. Luckily, as far as I am aware, no one was hurt nor cars damaged between the time the damage was caused and the time we found it and cleared up yesterday afternoon.

I understand people might not be happy with things that have been done by the parish council in the past but I hardly think the current group of volunteer parish councillors can be held accountable for a decision made 10 years ago by a completely different group of people. We must make sure future decisions are made for the best of the village and not get held up on past mistake that we can do nothing about now. I would like to point out that we have places available on the parish council and would welcome any people who want to make a difference to this wonderful village please do get in touch

Hello, I would like to send a huge thank you to the lovely folk of Buerton. What a lovely surprise, yesterday (Saturday) when Sam from flower divas turned up on my doorstep with a beautiful bouquet of flowers from you all. You are so generous, I am missing you and my chats ( because we all know, I can chat !). I am enjoying my retirement, especially not getting up early. Thank you once again and take care.

Love from Christina x

It is worth reminding readers that the reason the PC do not own and therefore can't manage the car park is because, about 10 years ago now, when they had the opportunity to take ownership of the car park, the playing field and the playground for £1 (you read that right), they procrastinated and didn't proceed. Cheshire East remain owners and charge us for the use of our facilities such as for football. The PC in the main do an excellent job but this wasn't their finest hour and still has consequences now.

Hi

Could I just please point out that the car park in question is not owned or managed by the parish council and as such is a Cheshire east problem. We as a parish council are working hard to relieve the parking problem in Audlem but are hands are tied when the asset in question is not controlled or looked after by the group of volunteers in the parish council

Ann, Your comment is noted. However, I don't live in Audlem so I don't qualify to become a councillor. Additionally, I hold other positions that preclude me from applying in the first place. However, I believe that as someone, like many from the surrounding communities, who regularly travels into Audlem to use its facilities and services I have a vested interest in the parking situation as it stands and as such should be able to voice my opinion. So, to get back to the point of my earlier 'chat', when will the deafening silence of the Parish Council end?
As an additional point – we think we have a parking problem now, imagine how chaotic things will become if, as proposed, parking charges are imposed as anticipated in the delayed Cheshire East 'car parking review'. But look on the bright side, they may get rid of some of the disabled parking slots so that they can maximise the earning potential.

It is unfortunate. Contesting the ticket sounds a good idea as does volunteering or requesting to join the Parish Council to help to put some of these ideas/solutions into action.

Sonia, Thanks for your response. Unfortunately we have a unitary authority that appears to have lost all interest in rural communities even though the vast majority of Cheshire East falls into that category, and a Parish council that has never, as far as I can remember, responded in any way to the numerous complaints raised on AOL about the dire state of parking in Audlem. Their inactivity and silence on this issue is deafening, and matters will only get worse as Audlem and the surrounding communities continue to grow at their current rate. It really is time for an urgent reappraisal of parking and parking allocation within the village. But is the Parish Council up to it?

I would just like to say how grateful I am for the eucalyptus donated to decorate St James's Church for our daughters wedding which is taking place on Monday 9th August at 12.30pm. We were really struggling as the flower markets were not guaranteeing the quality, however there are some wonderful people out there who came to the rescue!

For anyone who likes to watch the weddings at Audlem there are 4 weddings in 8 days taking place Saturday 7th 2pm, Monday the 9th 12.30pm, Friday 13th at 1.30pm and Saturday 14th August (not sure of the time). All of the brides/grooms families are long standing local residents in Audlem so I'm sure you will spot a few familiar faces.

The missing chime bell is back again. Each bell is bolted to an elm headstock, 130 years old. In hot dry weather the wood shrinks, and the bolts can get loose. If the bell then moves a bit, the clock hammer may not strike it properly. I tightened a couple of bolts on the 2nd bell, and the chime works again.

I agree that there does seem to be a very large number of disabled parking spaces in the village car park, and I don't recall ever seeing them all in use. I appreciate that it's really important to have them, but it does seem a particularly generous allocation when the rest of the car park is so often full.

As a contributor to to the bells restoration and a resident, in close proximity to the tower, could the custodian of the church clock attend to the problem with the quarter chimes, as they seem to missing one of their bongs, and I havnt got a clue which quarter it supposing to be chiming. The hour chime seems to be ok

Hi Bob- agree regarding the layout of car park and the double yellows in village but if your wife has parked on the end of the row by the bushes then she has forced people turning right on the car park to do so blind due to the obstruction caused. It also narrows that part of the road. All should be at low speeds so low risk, but a risk nevertheless. That's why there is no space marked there. I had to turn right in exactly that way, around a parked Land Rover type vehicle, and found myself "head on" to a car exiting. Ticket seems warranted if the spot your wife used is indeed the one I'm thinking of!

During term time St James Church has a group called Praise and Play on a Thursday morning at 9:30am. This is a place for Mum's or carers to come and bring their pre school children for a relaxed get together, a few songs, a story , prayers and the opportunity to chat.
With Covid we went onto zoom but weather permitting we have been meeting on the grass by church. Hopefully soon we will be able to go back inside and may even be able to reintroduce arty activities and refreshments.

Hello Nigel, Many thanks for the comments, most helpful. I certainly will be contesting the ticket my wife received, but it will cost her a packet liquorice allsorts!

Hello Bob
Not sure if you're planning to contest your wifes ticket. I did notice some time ago that the parking regulation board refers to T&C's available on Crewe and Nantwich B.C. website. As C. and N. B.C. no longer exists this might be a loop hole you could explore. I agree with your comment that there appears to be an excess of disabled parking bays. Maybe some could be marked as "Disabled Preferred" but usable by others when car park is at capacity. Not sure how it would work, just trying to provoke dialogue.

Hi

A French bulldog has been found running loose on Stafford Street – no collar

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