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Has anyone been to Leighton Hospital recently and can suggest a route from Audlem. I am considering a helicopter!

Can't disagree with Hannah, with the
£12 Million hole in Cheshire East's budget announced last October, they should be prioritising residents needs. If Coxbank need airband that's no excuse to give it to areas that already have a good supply.

If they were installing electricity cables to homes without power, there surely wouldn't be a need to give homes with electricity a second supply as well.

Further to Hannah's comments re Airband, for many years we received a very poor signal via our BT landline, coming from the Calverhall exchange. The computer speed was so painfully slow and office work could not be carried out satisfactory without shedding tears. Then Mr Brosy of Market Drayton Computer shop suggested that Airband might be an alternative. After a phone call to their Worcester office, a young man came out to check if we could get a signal and yes, it could be done. We have a small dish fixed to our chimney stack and since then have never looked back. It was all so simple and inexpensive. For rural homes and businesses, we cannot fault it.

Although much of audlem (closer to the exchange the better) is connected to Fibre through BT there are vast numbers of people who are not – parts of coxbank were never connected despite the infrastructure being there, BT never continued the lines – our property in coxbank along with neighbours suffered so badly in lockdown, unable to educate/do zoom or even watch Netflix. Airband provide a superb service with customer service based in Worcester – you can talk to human beings in the UK. BT failed to provide the service despite Cheshire East funding the rural role out! It was utter waste and failure on their part. Airband just need to increase their infrastructure because those old copper lines will not last. I'm only writing this as I'm now a customer of theirs and they're great. So yes we need to fix the awful roads but truly their are people who need to have access to decent internet and Airband for them may be the only hope. BT were useless. To connect the rest of coxbank they wanted households to clubs together and pay £22k ??? When CE had already given them funding??? Cheshire East are a failure full stop!

At today's meeting initially it was inferred the purpose of this installation was to "future proof" our Broadband because the copper wires were degrading.

However by the end the story changed somewhat.
Air broadband were installing a new separate system to compete with BT Openreach etc, which when completed, residents would be able to switch to their faster "future proofed" system. It was not a replacement of old hardware.

If residents are happy with our current supplier we can stay with them.

Air Broadband will of course have been paid for the installation whether we take up the offer or not and it won't therefore matter to them if the installation costing millions across the North West is used or not because they will have fulfilled the contract. Cheshire East are pushing this because the European funded money will be lost if not used.
The money can't be used on residents real priorities, pot holes, reliable water supplies, reliable bin collections, gritting etc.

The stretch of the A529 between Adderley & Audlem hasn't been A road quality for years and it's obviously got worse in recent years.
The intermittent ford between the former railway bridge supports at Swanbach is dangerous because it's obviously impossible to see the often significant potholes beneath the water when it floods, which as today is after every time there's been any period of non-trivial rain.
Not only can Cheshire East Highways not resolve the drainage problem, allegedly because it would cost too much, they can't even fix the potholes that frequently reoccur between the brick supports for the bridge that no longer exists.
There's obviously the question of how much in total it has cost and will cost CE Highways to deal with the problem each time the road at this point floods.
If I recall correctly Norman Huntbach was going to put in a Freedom of Information request about the past costs for this. Apologies if my recollection is incorrect.
Whilst I have some sympathy for CE Highways because they've had their funding from central government cut significantly in real terms in recent years and for the next few years, that sympathy is reduced because of their inept inability to maintain the roads in the Audlem area in a safe condition.

Three cheers for those who organised the Turnpike boardwalk and path from the Green Lane access .
At long last we can walk mud free into the field whilst supporting the wetland area and its wildlife .
Amazing what can be achieved with persistence !

Maybe the Parish Council should apply for a grant under the Community Cashback Fund. One of the headings is"make Cheshire roads safer", they could start by filling in some potholes!

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/12/airband-suffers-slow-broadband-speeds-in-shropshire-and-herefordshire.html

I completely agree, we have one of these Airband markings right outside our living room and bedroom window. No consultation, nothing. Don't know if anyone has seen this, but it may be of interest and/or use: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-siting-and-pole-siting-code-of-practice-issue-2-2016

Hi
I have an email from CE assuring me that there is no plans for any work to be carried out in Kettle lane by Airband
Ironically I received an email today from Airband stating that the council are fully aware of the plans to put poles in Kettle lane and have agreed on where the poles will go, they also state that letters were supposed to be sent by CE advising of the plans.
So either one or both parties are being economical with the truth

Considering this government want us all to go Green and buy electric cars... I suggest a tractor or tank is more appropriate for the road from Audlem to Adderley at the moment. Who would have thought that its actually an A-road! Wow

Hi everyone. I am your local Body Shop Consultant and I am looking for anyone who wishes to hold a Fundraising Event.

Please get in touch for more information. I look forward to hearing from you

Denise
denise.harrison1988@gmail.com

100 per cent agree Why waste money on something that isn't needed and not even wanted by most instead of using monies on more important issues that are urgently needed. Were house occupants simply told rather than consulted about such poles?

This is privatisation at it best. This has been going on since 1984, when BT was privatised. As a nation we have spent/ wasted billions.

Apparently £59 Million of taxpayers money is being spent on this in the North West.

Last week 3 cars were involved in accidents caused by a huge pothole on Woore Road.

In Kettle Lane we are, without any consultation getting at least 2 x 9 metre high airband poles, to give us broadband that we already have.

How much are these monstrosities and how many potholes would the money repair.

What is the Carbon footprint of supply and installation of these poles, pick-ups ticking over all day, etc.

The Government/Councils seem determined to tell us what we need rather than listening to our needs

I agree D Smith, it is a shocking amount especially on the public pathway that runs from church view up to churchfields, commonly known as dog poo alley, the school children walk up and down here every day, the pathway can be slippery enough without the added hazards of dog mess.

Being a responsible dog owner and picking up after my dog when out walking around the village, it has come to my attention lately just how much dog mess has been left on the pavements, walk ways and grassy areas.
The public footpath off Churchfields and Churchfields itself have been disgusting & know that the residents themselves have been known to clear it up.
For everyone's sake and safety, please pick up after your dog.

Good input Karen . However , I feel sure we don't need much assurance as i'm led to believe we still have councillors who where in office at the time of the alleged irregularities. If this is so .I wouldn't think the same mistakes would happen again . My concern is monies going to Turnpike for the benefit of the weed lovers and dogs , while the playing field remains a disgrace to the village and will remain so because we've got no money to buy it

The various statements and articles which have been provided by the Parish Council repay careful reading.
First, the increased precept is clearly stated to be a measure designed to meet the current basic financial needs for the current year only.
Second, the removal of virtually all of the funds from the bank account is subject to criminal investigation, the timescale an outcome of which is entirely out of the control of the Parish Council. Until that investigation is complete, it would be speculation to reach any conclusions as to how the loss has been sustained.
Third, there is a live complaint by the Parish Council against the bank relating to the bank's management of the Parish Council bank account.
Fourth, there is at least a prospect, from a number of angles, of recovering some of the missing money.
Fifth, at the recent Parish Council meeting, Audlem residents were able to ask the current Councillors questions and receive answers on this topic.
In the current financial climate, no-one welcomes any increase in spending, but it seems to me that the relatively modest sums involved (£2.63 per week at the highest level and £1.31 per week for the mid-range property band and 88p per week at the lowest band level) put the issue into perspective.

Having read the recent article about increases to the precept as a result of the poor management by the Parish Council is there any option for residents to dispute this at all? And is there any insurance in place within the Parish Council to cover such a situation? And does this mean that all attempts to resolve the issue and locate the funds have been abandoned?

It was a pity Billy did not get him to film the huge pothole jut s few yards up from,his property.Careful observation shows that tractors wether travelling to or from Drayton invaribly drop into it enlarging it on a regular5 basis. I hope to photo it in the next few days(whenthe sun shines) and pit to Rachel Bailey tying to claim the prize for the biggest and best
Chris

Hello to any other local customers of bulk LPG from Extra Gas. I've just placed an order, if you're thinking you might be due to order soon they (Extra Gas) may be able to co-ordinate deliveries, thus reducing their mileage. Just a thought.

The Sun shone in Audlem on Friday. Well, to be more specific, down Green Lane. 'The Sun' being the newspaper and the 'shone' bit was the flashbulbs of the camera. The finished results will or won't be in the paper possibly Monday or thereafter or, if someone famous gets stuck in a toilet or a member of the Royal Family dosen't get stuck in a toilet or a combination of both, it won't be in at all. Mind you, it was fun...if your idea of 'fun' is trying to get the camera man to stand in a position with his camera to try and make it look like I've got one chin rather than the three I actually possess. ;-)))

Hello does anyone know of a plumber please