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Pete Bentley Audlem electricals Windmill Drive..........

It is interesting to observe on Audlem Online the many accusations of the ineptitude of Cheshire East, especially in relation to the dysfunctional Highways Department. I'd like to add that it is now 232 days since I reported the failure of a light bulb in the dark Churchfields alleyway and subsequent requests now do not even get the courtesy of a reply. At the same time, the News section is fully of almost weekly glossy statements from Cheshire East about plans and consultations. I suggest that Cheshire East and its population would be better served with fewer plans and consultations and more basic maintenance. Too many chiefs and not enough indians? (apologies if this phrase is no longer politically correct).

The noises you can hear are on a recording loop to keep flocks of predatory starlings off local farmer's cattle feed. Also there are sounds of hawks and other birds of prey .. Seems to be working as the starlings appear to have moved on lately.

Booming noises – Its a bird scaring device at the Farm near to the Cricket Ground -sounds like a WW1 battle ground. Worse this year – dogs hate it.

In the last couple of months starting about 8am keep hearing loud bangs/ booms at first thought were shotguns potting pigeons, but now seem to be a boom rather than the pop of guns , Come from around lower long hill lane Buerton, can anyone shed some light please .

If residents would like to see an excellent example of the effects of CE's total lack of response to reported blocked drains and gullies then look no further than the junction of Mount Pleasant and Woore Road. At this location you can enjoy the sight of a water fountain reaching for the sky as it escapes with velocity and volume from a nearby BT manhole. When you tire of that spectacle why not go surfing on the torrents of water that escape the flooded main road as they hurtle down Mount Pleasant? It really is a marvellous day out but please follow social distancing regulations at all times and make sure younger ones are wearing water wings or other suitable floatation aids.

Window Cleaner. Try Mike Simpson-Wlllett. Phone 07939645913. Mail Mike.sw@icloud.com.
Not only do his team clean windows they will clean fascias, solar panels, empty gutters and repair them.
We have used him for over 20 years – highly recommended

Hi Carol

I live in Buerton and use a company called Dazzle. Email darren@dazzlewindows.co.uk or call 07743 478959. Website is www.dazzlewindows.co.uk.

Hope this helps
KR
Fiona

Try Audlem Online website: Directories/Businesses/Home Services & Trades/Cleaning.

There are two companies who clean windows in Audlem listed there, There is also Dave Barker who does our windows in Buerton, but unfortunately I don't have his contact number.

Mike Smith

Heartfelt thanks for a fantastic job done by Norman and Dave.

This episode of neglected drainage, and lots more like it, generates understandably heightened feelings towards Cheshire East Council such as it not being fit for purpose. A little controlled anger can sometimes be a productive thing , providing of course it's aimed at the correct target.

Can you think of any logical reason why any local council with the equipment, manpower and money would refuse to carry out the relatively simple task of clearing a drain ? -------no, me neither.
The Local Government Association says councils have faced a reduction in core funding since 2010 of 60 %, the Financial Times has it at 77 %.
As our American cousins would put it-----go figure!

Am I not right in thinking that the traditional 'Lengthsman' was usually an employee (or called upon where needed) by the Parish Council, not usually the Borough council to maintain local roads and gulleys. Everyone living locally already knows where the habitual problems are so to employ someone to maintain them alone would surely be a huge leap forward. Please note I am in no way defending the very Poor Borough Council I would just like someone to do something about anything. Please note I am writing this post from within a pothole in Paddock Lane and if it wasn't for the lockdown I would be Kayaking around Billy's garden.

Are there any qualified electricians in the Audlem/Buerton area please?

Does anyone know of a window cleaner willing to travel to Buerton to clean our windows please?

Try Anthony Jess from Shavington. First class work.

07913 533859

I totally agree with Norman! Well said. It's exactly the same regarding the Brooks. Years ago we used to have the relevant authorities cleaning them out and dredging them.....not any more. Regarding the CE Highways; I've spoken to them this morning about the water off the road coming on to my property and helping it to flood. We'll see what occours...I hope I don't have to wait as long as I have for that (non-existant) street sign. As for the Brook totally flooding my property; after the authorities telling me they won't help me at all, I'm waiting for Edward Timpson to get in touch. Here's hoping he may get the ball rolling.

A big thanks from Sally and me too for the Wood Orchard Lane drain clearing. Great job Norman. I echo your sentiments as well regarding Cheshire East Council Highways – what they do is very poor indeed and they need a severe shake up regarding what is done with the monies taken fro us all. The Lengthsmen used to do a fantastic job, as Norman has also said; bring them back which would be good value for us all.

Hello

Does anyone have recommendations for a person/organisation who cleans and fixes roof gutters?

Many Thanks

As regular walker I thank David and Norman on a job well done On my walks I see lots of blocked drains around Audlem. I suggest C E sub contract the job to Norman and David to clear the lot .

I didn't mention disappearing ditches and the main reason for muddy roads is the shrinking width due to lack of a lengthsman to keep the margins clear. The lengthsman also ensured all gulleys and drains were kept clear and updated the authority on surface conditions. We now just have fleets of vans travelling around Cheshire East "monitoring" the deteriorating conditions of the highways and office workers "acknowledging" our reports of particular problems. C.E. Highways are not fit for purpose.

Thank you John Whitehead, your article this morning brought back many memories. As a camp follower of Keele's Anglo-Saxon course I too visited Escomb, with its circular graveyard wall to keep out the devil. It is such a charming little church in the midst of council houses. Happy days.

I have found a booklet entitled 'The Audlem Scrapbook' compiled in 1951 and which I think I bought from Williams Newsagents in the 1070s. It lists many pubs and suggests that the Lamb was formerly Named The Goat.

Of the older pubs it lists:
The Phoenix
The Romping Cat
The Why Not -now a ruin in Kynsey
The Greyhound in Hankelow – now the Grey House
The Plough at Swanbach – which became the shop
The Coach and Horses in Bueron – which became the shop
The Leather Bottle -now Yew Tree Farm in Buerton
The Wolf – now Wolf Farm in Buerton
The Railway Inn – now Holly House

It seems as if they were quite a boozy lot in the 18th and 19th centuries!

My sincere condolences to Gill and the rest of Tom's family. I have many fond memories when Tom worked for my Dad, Peter Young. Happy Days. RIP Tom.

According to the "Cheshire Historic Towns Survey" there were five pubs in Audlem in the late eighteenth century – The Griffin, The Hawk & Buckle, The Horseshoe, The Phoenix and The Goat's Head. There also used to be a pub in Buerton, on the main Woore Road (on the opposite side to the old schoolhouse, a few hundred yards or so towards Woore). I THINK it may have been called The Unicorn, but would welcome any more info.

Does anyone know or heard of a Pub in the area called The Goat? Someone told me about it years ago. I'm not sure but it may have been towards the Chapel End side of the village possibly. Or I've dreamed it....one of the two.

Hi Colin,
I too have a green booklet with a white dust cover entitled Audlem – The history of a Cheshire Parish and its five townships.
It was given to me in 1999 and lists some of the pubs that had been and some the still are in existence. One of them is The Greyhound at Hankelow as well as The White Lion.
Both seem to have been inns in 1778 so, maybe The Greyhound (or Greyhause or Grey House) could outdate the White Lion. Looking forward to the next pub instalment from Lennie and even more to actually going for a pint in one of them!