Chatbox

Just a thought Cindy, but maybe they ordered vanishing cream.

Is anyone missing an Amazon delivery of large amounts of E45 cream? If so it's been delivered to me in error. Get in touch on here to arrange to pick up. 😊

The following item has appeared on one.network, detailing a road closure between 0930 & 1445 on 10th to 14th July inclusive in order to carry out work on the A529:
https://one.network/?tmi=GB26459208

I have checked the year in the .pdf attached to the entry. :-)

I wondered if anyone knew of any cctv footage captured anywhere along the A525 in the Audlem area, as a truck hit a car and forced others off the road on Fri 23rd June at around 12.30pm but didn't stop. We need to identify it from any footage from around that time. Thanks

Repairing the flashing warning signs would not be useful. They produced false positive and false negative warnings and may have caused more traffic hold-ups than they prevented. The middle one of the three between the wider middle stretch of the street and the narrower bottom third actually faces the wrong way. It suggests to the driver on the narrower side that he is the one that should give way when that is impossible.
The flashing signs are the relic of a failed experiment and need to be removed before any positive improvement can be made.

Some months ago, I reported to Cheshire East Council via FixMyStreet that the flashing vehicle approaching signs covering the stretch of Stafford Street from The Square down past the church were not working. As everyone knows, this fault contributes to the difficulties and hazards of traffic travelling into and out of the village.
I have received a message today which confirms that they have been to look at the problem, but also that they have no idea why the warning lights aren't working with no timescale for any repair, but that further investigation is required.

"Village gossip" Ken? That'll be a resounding NO from me. That can be an extremely dangerous thing! Not too sure if you meant village gossip in the old fashioned terms though, but if you did, no thanks. I'd rather hear stuff on here then have the right to defend or explain it if need be.
For what it's worth; of all the post's I've ever submitted to AOL, not one of them have been altered in any way from my original draft; maybe I'm too boring and not controversial enough. ;-)

The irony is not lost on me when a poster posts that they 'no longer put comments on Chatbox'. It puts me in mind of someone saying they are leaving a Facebook group and waiting before leaving :)

I would be very sad to see Chatbox disappear, it's one of the first things I open in the mornings – unless I'm up before Chatbox with their leisurely 0600hrs start. I've been starting at 0500hrs for the last nine days ... did I tell you I'm walking the length of Hadrian's Wall

I do not do social media for its unpleasant at times behaviour. I applaud the AOL editors on taking a strong line with inapprpriate posts. I also agree that such posts should be deleted and the senders account cancelled. Chattbox by and large does a good job in reporting both problems, celebrations and sadly obituaries as well as acting as a conduit for villagers to find local carftsmen to assist with their projects.
Chris Lewis

Thanks for the information, Wes.
I have done a quick Web search and found that this mechanism (complaint under Section 56 of the Highways Act 1980) was used by an Audlem resident in 2021:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/little-known-legal-procedure-cheshire-20579662
I have also found the following: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/cy/request/notices_under_section_56_highway

The sections of The Highways Act 1980 that appear to me as a non-lawyer to be relevant are

Section 41 (statutory duty to maintain highway): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/4, Section 56 (Procedure for an order to repair highway): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/56 and Section 58 (Special defence in action against a highway authority for damages for non-repair of highway): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/58

Clearly there are at least two issues at 'Swanbach Ford':
1. The frequent flooding of the highway leading to a significant amount of standing water on occasions apparently because Cheshire East Highways has not, over the course of several years, addressed the drainage issue at this location.
The standing water can and has posed a hazard to motorists. For example, I'm aware of someone who incurred significant cost following an incident when a tanker coming from the opposite direction failed to slow down when driving through a flood at this point, thereby creating a wave that flooded the engine compartment of his saloon car, causing the engine to cut out and not be restartable.
2. The frequent potholes at this point that are hidden under dirty water when the road floods, which it obviously does frequently after any substantial amount of rain. Despite closing the road for a week or two within the last two years to carry out work under the A529 Safer Road Project, Cheshire East Highways apparently did not take the opportunity to resurface the highway properly at this point. Instead they continue to make ineffective attempts to repair the potholes here as they do elsewhere around Audlem (as documented repeatedly on Chatbox), i.e. by just getting their operatives to chuck a bit of tarmac mix in the potholes which is then washed out or dragged out by vehicles in a short timescale.

The following section of the Institute of Highway Engineers Winter Maintenance Handbook 2022 (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi597aehN__AhXTh1wKHT8zDI0QFnoECC8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theihe.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FWMHB-Law-and-Policy.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0UUle2YvU3Wi71jJE8GvhQ&opi=89978449) includes the following:
' If a failure to maintain the highway leads to the existence of a transient hazard such as a flood caused by poorly maintained drains, then liability for a breach of section 41 can be established, subject to the statutory defence.'
The first page of the same section of the document includes the following about the statutory defence:
'To mitigate the effect of imposing an absolute duty of maintenance, Section 58 of the Highways Act created a statutory defence whereby it is a defence in a private law claim for damages against the highway authority to prove that it had taken such care as was reasonably required to secure that the highway was not dangerous.'

I WOULD WELCOME COMMENT ON ALL OF THE ABOVE, ESPECIALLY FROM MEMBERS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OR ANYONE WITH RELEVANT LEGAL EXPERTISE OR KNOWLEDGE.

I for one no longer put comments on Chatbox because even when an opinion or view is put politely and not directed against individuals it still seems to get edited and bits omitted and then this leads to the submitters comments being mis-construed by readers. Perhaps the time has come to drop Chatbox, get back to 'village gossip' and send concerns direct to the various committees and organisers – which is why they are there.
Definitely keep Buy and Sell and any help of any nature or the like in the wanted can be put in there.

Surely if people try to post inappropriate/offensive post then AOL should simple delete their accounts

I think the Editors decision and statement on Chatbox posts is the right one if it is applied even handedly. It would be a shame, and dilute the interest in AOL, if Chatbox was closed down due to the spiteful posts of a few. There are many people in the village/parish that have started to avoid 'raising their heads above the parapet' by saying something on line due to the way some want to take it. I for, one, don't have any social media accounts but look each morning with interest to see what's going on on AOL (I don't think I'm alone in doing this).

I have in the past complained to AOL about perceived bias as I'm sure other readers and contributors may have done and I'm sure my blood pressure will be tested in the future but I do however support tighter control of the editorial side as it's the only way to allow Chatbox to continue for the benefit of the majority. Perhaps more locals may try putting things on Chatbox now, I think the young 'ins call them 'posts' !!!

I can recommend Davey his firm is Fawcett Fresh 07910693567

He cleans all carpets ,curtains and furniture and very clean, efficient and reliable

Could anyone please recommend a good carpet / upholstery cleaner? Thank-you.

Followed up on Carol's recommendation (14 June) & had Darren Orwell (07557902294) resolve several lock & patio door issues. Excellent & local service.

Bruce
I'll attempt to post the url, but I find that AOL often removes them.
It's https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/im-road-expert-im-sharing-30281626

Otherwise, it's on the Mirror website 20th June titled "I'm a road expert and I'm sharing the rule which forces councils to fix potholes". I think it applies to all road defects though (I haven't looked at the source law itself)

What's happened to it

Thanks, Wes.
Are you able to supply a url for the article, please, or if it's not on the Web tell me where you read it?

Hello, my wife and myself are not residents of Audlem but visit at least twice a month as we enjoy your lovely village and have met some very friendly residents. I just wanted to say myself and my wife visited the Bridge Inn today for lunch and to be honest we have not been there for over a year. The pub and the people in the pub at lunch time made us feel so welcome as did the most friendly dog which I was told is part of the fixtures. We had a lovely lunch and even got a OAP discount. Thank you for making our day.

To the car driver that ran my Dad's carer off the road down Coole Lane around 5.15pm on 22nd June.

He didn't have any care this evening because of you.

You were on your phone on the wrong side of the road and didn't even have the decency to stop.

You are reckless and a coward.

Hello; May or may not be the right forum here!
We are looking for someone to look after our dog Digby, while we are away. If you feel you can provide a very caring, dog friendly / loved home please contact me or call into the shop (Brambles Cookshop) Experience of dog handling is essential and must be able to pride time for lots of energetic walks, as he is a working cocker! 😃🐾🐕�€�🦺🦴
Many thanks
Nicola

Bruce – I'm not an expert but I've just come across an article which refers to S56 of the Highways Act. It indicates that under it application can be made by members of the public to the Magistrates Court for a notice to be issued on the Highway Authority to compel them to attend to defects. Might be worth looking into.

Facing the traffic may be advised but on a very tight right hand bend it is highly dangerous.

This is the Highway Code
If you have to walk on the road, because there is no pavement, walk on the right hand side of the road and face the traffic coming towards you. If you have to walk on the road, walk in single file, one behind the other.