Chatbox

I've had a response from Shropshire Highways to a Freedom of Information request:

1. What is the total cost to date (as at 17/10/22) to Shropshire Council of installing and maintaining the 'temporary' traffic lights on the A529 north of Adderley school and south of the Shropshire/Cheshire county boundary?

Response:  £70,048.55 spent on the lights to date.

2. What is the daily cost (as at 17/10/22) to Shropshire Council of maintaining the same traffic lights in situ (costs to include hire cost and any additional costs)?

Response:  The latest order raised at current indexation levels, has a weekly rate of £375.

 I wonder how much the current Cheshire East temporary lights on Green Lane are costing.

Just thought I'd make a 'quick' trip to Market Drayton this afternoon. (to the tune of 12 days of Christmas) 'Three traffic lights, two big tractors and a herd of cows crossing the road' later, finally reached my destination. It would have been quicker going to Crewe!

That book is nothing to do with me John. The book that IS to do with me isn't quite completed yet. It's taken me 12 years so far but it's almost finished now. I know what your thinking; 12 years!?! To read a book!!! Yes, I am a slow reader but, I'm almost done. In case your wondering; it's called A Dictionary. It's quite hard going but at least each word is explained as you go along so that's something I suppose. The story is about an Aardvark...there's a load of stuff inbetween that goes on and it ends with a Zyzzyva, the name of a genus of tropical weevils native to South America and typically found on or near palm trees. Just so ya know. ;-)

Billy Gibbons.....This book anything to do with you ? The Confused Ramblings of a Demented Mind Amazon

Thanks Jane, I didn't know that. Mind you, if they were let off in Shrewsbury I'd never hear them living in Green Lane. Then again, if they were let off in my back yard and they were nearly silent I'd still never hear them for 2 reasons. 1: They would be nearly silent and 2; My ears aren't what they used to be...they used to be my eyes but I had them swapped round so now instead of not seeing what I couldn't hear, I now can't hear what I couldn't see before I could hear it in the first place. Plus....I have my TV on Volume 100 so no matter what was going on in my back yard, I couldn't hear it. Unless I don't have my TV on. And I happen to be in my back yard at the time. And I have my hearing aids, which are on my Christmas list, turned up to 100.

Billy – they do make silent (or nearly) fireworks. We went to a silent display on Saturday at Love2Stay at Shrewbury. All the display was mid level and very effective.

WOW. Public Art in Audlem.
Whoever curated this, can we have more please.

Thankyou Peter.
Airband were contracted by the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and their constituent councils back from the start of 2021 to March 2023!

https://www.airband.co.uk/airband-wins-4-5-million-contract-to-roll-out-full-fibre-broadband-in-cheshire/

I understand that over a 100 houses have been connected in Malpas but that progress in Cheshire East hasn't mirrored that. You are also correct that their offer failed to meet the needs of a nearby community, albeit an alternative has been found. Whilst the MP's Office and I have supported this work, the local Community and the Council's Digital Team have worked diligently to make this happen.

Thanks to your communication Peter, I will contact the Digital Team to (a) seek further detail of Airband's proposal for Salford and (b) what options there are, if any!

Bob. Totally agree with your sentiments about priorities when living on a restricted budget. I too experienced the high interest rates of the 1980's and we had to live within our means. Every year we always managed to visit a local bonfire celebration as a social event on November 5 and don't remember having to adjust the finances to attend. I think it's important to maintain our traditions and perception of history before too many of them get lost, cancelled by the PC brigade or Americanised like 'Trick or Treat'.
I

..........and Budgies.

John, Does five minutes of sparklers, bangers and a few rockets really significantly enlighten anybody's life? The problem today is that everybody is complaining about the rising cost in, fuel, utilities, life's necessities and mortgages (I remember back in the late 1980's having to pay a whopping 15%, yes 15% on my mortgage!) but many still want their fireworks, their Cost (alot) coffees, their nail bars and lots of other such non-essentials. As a youngster, I was taught to cut my cloth according to my means, a maxim I have followed all my life. Whereas the current trend is to want your cake and eat it, with cream and a cherry on top! I think that people just need to get a sense of perspective about what is really important and essential in today's climate.

Come on Bob, lighten up a bit. Not everyone is down to their last twenty quid and probably need a break from watching all the gloom and doom fed to us every day on the BBC news bulletins. Commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 is part of our history and has been celebrated throughout the nation ever since. I am sure a modern day Guy Fawkes would be hailed a hero if his attempt proved more successful than his unfortunate predecessor .

An Airband operative turned up in Salford last week seeking permission from a neighbour to erect a pole in her hedge, right in front of her house and ours, one of three proposed for Salford, in order to provide superfast 5G broadband in the village. He informed her, although the letter he left didn't mention it, that an agreement had been reached with Cheshire East to provide this service in all the rural areas. Are the parish council aware of this proposal as Airband wish to erect such poles all over the village?
The reason that I ask is because I have had personal experience of the way this 'outfit' operates on our farm in Shropshire. I was not impressed by the letter they sent me with contract attached, giving me a weeks' notice to sign up for permission to erect a pole. The small print gave Airband all the cards, aces and jacks included.
I checked out Airband's track record with users in the county, which was not good and thankfully their project was turned down by the local people, that Airband proposed to serve.
Nantwich I note, are having superfast cable laid underground to provide this service, so why not Audlem. Do we want or need to have our village desecrated by a surfeit of 5G aerial poles when an underground fibre option is available?
I advise people to be very wary of signing up to the Airband pole contract without taking legal advice on the small print and what it will mean for the potential devaluation of their property. Also, go online and study the reliability track record for their service. Meanwhile, if they haven't already done so, the parish council should be taking issue with CE and pressing for the fully fibered option.

Here's me believing that there's a cost of living crisis and there are people out there who can afford £20, £30 or lots more just to watch a few minutes of fizz, fizz, bang. Am I getting my priorities wrong by thinking that heating, light and food bills are far more essential?

Just because something 'has been happening for years' doesn't mean it's right, ie bear baiting, whaling, fox hunting, hare coursing, battery hens, children up chimneys etc ,etc, etc. But over time it becomes obvious that it is wrong and we slowly develop and hopefully improve society, would silent fireworks or even no fireworks be such a great loss, I am sure you would get over it eventually

Did anybody else witness the numbers of geese flying over this morning , then landing in large field on the Buerton rd never seen so many before , been a few hundred for weeks but must have been couple of thousand at least , wonder were they are coming from ?? Can anybody enlighten thank you .

So we should all stop enjoying ourselves as someone's cat / dog ain't happy? Move on it's been happening for years

Well said Suzie; For what it's worth (and, as I'm finding out quite fast just lately, it's worth nothing what I think) I totally agree with you. I just wish Animals could speak (apart from Parrots and Mynah Birds....they don't count. Having said that, they probably do count AND speak to be fair) They would tell us what it's like to live in fear.

For once I'm being serious. Why can't people who make Fireworks make them very lovely with all nice colours etc etc if that's what people want BUT........make them silent? Wouldn't be hard to do, would it? Just take the things out of them that make them be loud! I'm pretty thick but I think even I could do that!

I'm looking for someone to help me with yard duties Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday every week. Just a couple of hours a day for mucking out, filling hay nets, grooming etc. Can you please contact me on 07908829669. Many thanks

What a pity the safe driveway ar Corebrook was rejected by above desk bound agency . In my opinion anything that reduces traffic in Hall Lane can only be for the good of that community.Once again the complainers have won the day.

The only consolation I can take from last night's (time dependent on publication) explosions is that 'you' are burning £10 notes at a fast rate – although probably not at the same fast rate as my scared cat's anxiety. When will this stupid, cruel activity be assigned to the past!

Well done the Co Op team for local distribution of funds Furthermore Thanks for doing what you do I reckon you are a good team.

We are hiring childcare practitioners at ABC Childcare Services in Audlem. Please get in touch at abcoperationsdirector@outlook.com or call 07776 386042 to find out more.

When is a farm track not a track? When the hardcore surface is covered with a few inches of soil and grassed down. Then it can be grazed or the grass harvested, the surface is green and it is essentially returned to agriculture. It also has the advantage that it can safely be used by farm vehicles for agricultural (underlined) use.

ADAS dressing of small Christmas Trees will be 16th and 17th Nov at 09.30 for all volunteers at the Barnes at Churchfields
The Big tree will be going up at 09.30 on the 19 th November
The Big Switch on is the 25th November Santa will be arriving at the Wharf at 18.00 and Switch on at 18.20
Thankyou ADAS