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I've contacted Shropshire CC for an update, for those interested please see following reply:-

Apologies for the late reply, I have been waiting for some information from the designers of the scheme.

I have been informed that they have been working on a permanent solution to the embankment repair but some local issues have prevented this work going ahead.

They are currently working on a less permanent repair to be installed so that the temporary traffic lights can be removed.

Sorry I don't have any concrete news for you but we will continue to chase the designers and contractors to remove the lights as soon they can safely do so.

You could try The Watch Doctor on Nantwich Road, Crewe 01270 254030
I used them recently and found them very good. They will have a look at the clock and give you an estimate.

Can anyone recommend someone to fix a grandfather clock ?

Bill – quite the opposite. The pitiful budget for Highways in CEC is a political choice. The cabinet signed off on it knowing it was inadequate. My point was this – don't expect anything to change, it wont, as there is no money to fund it. The solution is elect a council that have different priorities, and see Highways funding as a higher priority.

Received my 2021/22 Council Tax bill and along with it a leaflet from Cheshire East and from the second paragraph I quote;

"With a 23% cut in central government funding for highways maintenance next year, we will not be able to repair our local road network to the extent many residents would expect."

I bet Cheshire East can still find the money though for above inflation pay rises and pension contributions for themselves.

Paul, I hope that you are not suggesting that we should accept the status quo in respect of the dreadful state of our local roads. I for one will continue to report any dangerous conditions and the more of us who do likewise, the better.
"The wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the oil".

I posted some info on this a while ago. There is no point in whining about the condition of the roads. None.
Why ? The council don't have the budget to do anything about it. The CEC highways budget for 20/21 is £15m. Which won't fix a lot of anything. So our roads are in a state of managed decline. The council won't release information on the geographical spread of spend as this information isn't captured.

Thank you Bill for your advice, I'm told it can be a lengthy process to make a claim!
Also thank you to Rachel Bailey for your kind advice, it was nice to talk with you.

Hi, we use Ben Pointon Door Specialist 07714990824
He does all the maintainance on our garage door
He has a facebook page so you can view his workmanship

I was saddened to read a piece on AoL regarding the anodyne reply from Cheshire East on why gullies are not being maintained.
I have recently reported a similar long-standing problem opposite my house (in Sound). Amazingly, only a day or two after submitting a report using the council's website, a man in a van rolled up, and gave the offending grids a good dose of looking at! He was very nice and sympathetic, but uttered the usual platitudes regarding 'budget' and 'priorities'. A day or so afterwards, I received a reply from CEC which was as that quoted in you piece ... verbatim!
As the gullies I complained about had been installed several years ago – by the same council – to rectify a known problem, why is it not possible to spend a small amount of time and effort looking after their investment?
I echo the sentiments voiced in your piece about use of our taxes wholeheartedly!

It used to be a pleasure driving through Audlem but like other drivers my eyes are glued to to the ground to negotiate crumbling roads and potholes to avoid damage to my vehicle rather than anticipating any dangers ahead. How dangerous is that? An accident waiting to happen. On the rare occasion CE do appear their sticking plaster repairs last only weeks. Our roads are an absolute disgrace due to years and years of neglect by Cheshire East. I agree they are not fit for purpose and we pay road tax for the pleasure of this.

How lovely, and comforting, it has been to see the children playing in the school yard, what in my youth was called the playground.

As I understand the situation whilst Cheshire East might own the freehold of Crewe Bus Station it is leased to Arriva who are responsible for the maintenance of it. I think therefore, if it is being painted, it's Arriva buses who are wasting their money.

There is no doubt we are in a very poor state in and around our village . Could it be because we are the outpost of Cheshire East Council ? . I would suggest over staffing on administrative and not enough manual workers could be a contributing factor to the problem. Finally, every gully down Station Bank hos been completely blocked for years . Maybe Councillor Bailey and the P C could present CE with a To Do list .

I hear that Cheshire East are in the process of repainting the bus station just prior to it's demolition. Sums up the way they prioritise spending it seems.

What happened to the 20mph suggested speed limit through our Village? Install it and the tractor problem would be solved (we do have a speed gun I believe). Has it gone the same way as the drains and the potholes that Cheshire East seem to want to ignore. Perhaps we should all ignore the 4.99 percent increase in our rates from which we will see no benefit whatsoever. Audlem Village is very beautiful until you look at the roads. They are a disgrace throughout the Village and Audlem Parish Council need to stand up to CE and do the job they are there to do, get a bit of value for the Village from the exorbitant amount of money we are all being charged. I am afraid that I have come to the conclusion that Cheshire East Council are just not fit for purpose, need to stop wasting money, and spend some where its Cash Cow lives.

Thanks to John Downes for his article 'Back to Basics Needed?' this morning.
I have repeatedly reported these drains on the A525 that need cleaning properly and I too have just got the standard very poor Cheshire East Council reply:

Enquiry Reference Number: 3416758
Enquiry Subject: Flooding
Street: Woore Road
Date Logged: 21/01/2021

Thank you for your enquiry.

Gully emptying programmes are based on condition data collected during previous schedules, as well as criteria such as road type, volume of traffic, the proximity of schools, hospitals and transport hubs, as well as known flood risk areas.

This targeted approach to gully emptying means that not all gullies will be emptied every year. We will however attend to specific issues where gullies are blocked and causing a danger to highway users or flooding to property.

From the details provided, it doesn't appear that there is any immediate hazard, nuisance or threat to property. However, if you can assist us by providing any further information, then we will consider what action is appropriate. This can be done either via the 'report it' option on the website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways, or by telephone on 0300 123 5020. Please be aware that the website provides the opportunity to attach supporting photographs should you feel that this would be beneficial.

Further information on our approach to highway gully care is also available at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways.

Rachel Bailey has tried hard to get something done but nothing has happened as yet.

The last time I reported the same issue – 2 weeks ago, I asked for a call back which hasn't happened either.
The time is approaching where Council Tax will be withheld. I am prepared to go to court over this, especially as the Council Tax is rising by almost 5%.
Something has to change and it should be people.

Denise, do get in touch and let me know what you need, I may be able to help.
text or call 07483 229728 .

Helen, I trust that you have submitted a claim for the tyres and any subsequent damage caused when your car hit the potholes on Woodhouse Lane. This is the worst section of this lane, notoriously and locally known as "the crater"! This and quite a number of other such hazards were officially reported some weeks ago – as they are at least once every year. Some potholes in the lane were "repaired" recently but until the flooding problem adjacent to "the crater" is resolved, this section will require ongoing attention.

A note from Mill Lane (Swanbach) where we have more than our fair share of recurring potholes. Following the recent water leak, UU have done a much better job of patching the road than the almost pointless repairs that Cheshire East ever do. I say pointless because CE's repairs are done so poorly they are crumbling within days if not hours of being done, which is a waste of their time and our money.

Helen, I am sorry to read of the damage your vehicle incurred whilst driving between Norton in Hales and Audlem; I am guessing the issue is on Woodhouse Lane approximately half a mile prior to the Bagley Lane left turn as you head towards the A525 Woore to Audlem Road.

If you could confirm the location I will try to arrange for the offending spot to be patched again!

Well said Billy! I will chase the sink hole outside Daisy Bank Crescent but fear it is akin to the manhole/pothole issue; "a stitch in time saves nine" a premise that we grew up with seems to have been forgotten!
The "good neighbour" in the village, who has chased the matter himself and then contacted me last week, appears to be have been trying to get action for a while now. It is down to his perseverance and concern that a road user could be injured that we now have traffic lights and the unsafe cordoned off. I am grateful to CE highways for their immediate response today, and hope that that sets the tenor for repair of the highway.

Just thoroughly enjoyed another fantastic take away meal from the Lord Combermere.
3 different meals – all 3 were absolutely superb. Really tasty and piping hot. Thank you for making Mother's Day that little bit more special.

Thats good news but, after they've sorted that out, on their way back to the depot, could they chuck a bit of something in that dip just before Daisy Bank Crescent do you think? (on the left as you leave the Village but I bet everyone knows where it is...except the Council perhaps) Mind you, the way the world is, maybe they can't fill it in because there's a family of Toads in it or something. Doubt that though as I've driven down it a few times so anything that was living in it won't be, if you see what I mean.

Thank you for alerting me to the now collapsed manhole cover outside the cemetery gates; I reported the pothole earlier in the week.
Just to let you know I have contacted CE out of hours service, asked that the site is attended urgently and cordoned off to protect all road users. The call centre log number is 145380.