Chatbox

The car park and playing field were offered to the village for just £1 but following an expensive referendum carried out by Audlem Parish Council, an overwhelming majority saying yes from the village, pleas from individuals and Councillor Bailey, they chose to ignore the result and let the offer expire. Rachael Bailey warned the PC at the time that there was no certainty that CE wouldn't introduce parking charges in the future and to safeguard this we should take up CE's offer. We are now potentially left with a charge to everyone who can't walk to the surgery or other vital services and a field that has never been maintained by CE. The response I got from one Parish Councillor was "there are a lot of poor people who cannot afford an increase in the precept" well these people will be a lot more out of pocket now! This could be the death bell for local businesses and village events!

Celia, there is a very good app. which you can use to find car parking spaces. It's called "Just Park" and I've used it frequently. I can see it becoming popular in Audlem if the proposed changes go ahead.

I have just read the CEC proposal for parking charges in Audlem. In summary it is a 22 page word salad that can be summarised in one sentence :- "We need the money, and you lot are going to contribute". It takes no account of community, use, or amenity, even though it claims to, so drive to the surgery and get taxed £1 for being ill. This plan will be imposed, consultations are a waste of time as never have they been successful in preventing a resolved policy. So if we as a community want to stop this crude revenue gathering exercise I suggest we do a poll of the village residents. Publish the results and use this to justify our own outcome. And if the outcome dis agrees with CEC we take some community action and refuse to pay the parking charges, and do some community activism.

The proposed car parking charges by Cheshire East Council will affect almost everyone in the village and those that visit Audlem too. Objections or comments can be sent to a dedicated email address which Rachel has also shown in her post this morning:

carparksreview2023@cheshireeast.gov.uk

This review was carried out by an external company and I have also asked how much was spent on this review by a council that is already struggling due to mismanagement of the monies that they receive from government and more to the point, council tax payers.

This should not be allowed to happen.

Having seen the rediculous and selfish decision by Cheshire East Council to commence car parking charges on Audlems one and only car park may I submit an idea. I understand that one of the uses of Turnpike field was to create a car park which would solve parking problems in the Village as originally intended. I realise that planning is currently a problem but is in the process of being resolved. If this can be achieved and overcome then a car park, as previosly planned, could be made available. Make the parking on Turnpike free or considerably cheaper this would make the Cheshire east car park virtually redundant. If Cheshire East is not receiving any or very lttle monetary income From their cash cow there is a fair chance that we will get our car park back as it would be non viable to Cheshire East. Not without its problems but perhaps could be brought to fruition.

It is sadly ironic that for the price of parking a single car for 2 hours (£1), the village could have bought the whole car park and playing field from Cheshire East a few years ago but chose not to do so. I appreciate the objection was the ongoing maintenance costs but judging by the state of the car park, Cheshire East's spend on such matters is minimal.

I'm not sure if any publicity is planned on how to get booster jabs and it seems that it's working differently according to where you live. A pal of mine in Northwich was called by his GP surgery, but I gather that won't be happening here. It may be worth checking if elderly neighbours or relatives get fixed up. I'm informed you either need to ring 119 or preferably book online at

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/

In yesterdays Chronicle they are proposing for Audlem: 1st hour 60p rising to 6-10 hrs £3.40 or £490 for a year as example. The only way I think we could improve parking is that people with drive space near the centre advertise and come to an arrangement with people who need to park regularly.

The A529 was open at Swanbach Ford when I went through it just before 0800 today.
The A529 was closed at the top of Green Lane when I returned to Audlem approximately 2 hours later.
It is apparently beyond the capability of CE Highways to put the hours of closure on their temporary road signs, just as it was beyond the capability of Shropshire Highways when they closed the A529 just north of Adderley for a few days earlier in the year.
There were several vehicles with flashing lights and traffic lights at Corbrook and two workmen conversing when I returned mid-morning; no sign of any work actually being done, though.

I am glad AOL put the complete walk description up as several people had asked for it. To my shame, on rereading it, I have mixed up my rights and lefts. In the last sentence it is turn left back to the canal. Sorry!
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Please would someone advise me what time approximately the jetting/rodding works (with associated road closure) start each day.
I rang CE Highways yesterday morning & was told that the road was closed each week day this week except for emergency services' and residents' access.
I went the long way round to Nantwich yesterday (Red Bull, Woore, Bridgemere etc) at approx 1515 and when I came back & travelled south from Audlem down the A529 at approx 1640 the signs warning of road closure had been turned round and the road was open.
I have to make 2 further journeys to north of Audlem tomorrow and Friday (both before 0800).
I'm fully aware of the flooding problems at Swanbach Ford but baffled as to why a 5 day road closure is necessary for rodding/jetting works.

Steph; All the ideas you have are great but (puts sensible head on now. I use it once a year and this is it's only, and maybe last, outing for 2023)
How about CCTV cameras in that area (Government Cameras) and send a fine to the offenders. That'll should possibly do the trick....perhaps. ;-)

CEC will announce details of its car parking consultation tomorrow.. The consultation will open on 20/9 and run for 6 weeks. I understand that it will be available digitally with paper copies at libraries; I will of course forward the full details once they are issued.

Thank you Simon.
Very helpful

Thank you for the responses, we have now filled the Audlem position but still require help in Nantwich town centre.

Are there CCTV cameras on the public car park?

Following on from Cheshire East Council's 'pre-consultation with Town and Parish Councils' regarding their review and associated consultation on potential changes to Car Parking Charges, I will be attending a CE Councillor briefing this afternoon (18 September).
Whilst I will provide a full update thereafter, I anticipate that a 'Statutory Consultation with Businesses and Service Users' will open on Wednesday 20 September and run for six weeks.

I will provide a fuller update along with details of accessing the consultation, electronically or in writing, once I have heard from CEC Officers in this afternoon's meeting.

As you know Audlem Parish Council have already responded to 'the pre-consultation' and as per their Summary Report below of 11 September, helpfully intend to hold a public meeting.

"2. Car Parking Charges
Proposal by Cheshire East to impose car parking charges – APC has responded see https://www.audlem.org/news/cheshire-east-on-car-parking-charges.html and it is intended to hold a village meeting when the public consultation is announced."

Some of us remember using the Billiard Room when Arthur Cliffe was resident caretaker. Of an evening he would light a radiant hot coke fire and we could sit by it and play dominoes while others were using the table. Often he would sit with us and if we played poor billiards would tell us where we went wrong.
Now the Trustees plan to follow the current trend to depersonalisation. They plan to do away with the caretaker's flat and use the rooms for storage etc. I would be surprised if the rooms were not already so used without any legal shenanigans.
It would be a mistake for future Trustees to no longer have the flat and the possibility of using it as such. We live in uncertain times and it is possible that they will be told that a resident caretaker had become an insurance requirement.

One of our outdoor garden chair legs has broken and we are finding it difficult to replace. Can anyone help as regards making a new leg, or four new legs to fit. Further information available

Hi, if anyone has lost a bank card can they please text me on 07813889673.

I suspect it was dropped between 7.30am and 8.30am

Thank you

The contact for the Lightwood Green Workshop is ansentownsend@gmail.com

Hello Jessica

The ADCA Christmas Craft Fair is indeed on 2 December. All stalls are booked, but there is a waiting list for cancellations.

The person to contact is Geof Clarke (07961 149666).

Jessica Richardson – Christmas Fayre – Buerton Events group are having a Christmas Fayre in Buerton on Sunday 3rd December. If you would like to have a stall with us, or need more information, please contact me – 07554 426943. We would love to see you there.

If there is anyone else on in the area who would like a stall at the Buerton Christmas Fayre I would love to hear from you. Contact details as above.

Anyone missing a tabby cat now resident on monks lane short stay , very thin contact 01270811649

Thank you to Jeremy (Nicholls) for his post on 8th September confirming information about the closure of Audlem station in the 1960s. We can see that Wikipedia, the source of our original information about the closure of Audlem station, is inaccurately citing Dr Beeching as being responsible for this.
Looking forward to hearing more about bygone times in relation to trains to Audlem prior to the closure of the railway station at this Thursday's Audlem History Society meeting (21st September).