January News Summary

A monthly news summary is a new idea being introduced to Audlem Online. Many readers – and we had over 18,000 in January, a new record – don't want to read our news stories every day. So the Summary brings you the highlights of the month just gone, hopefully in an easily digested style.

New also, the Summary is now available in audio – go to the News Page and click the play button on January round-up to hear Audlem's news on audio for the first time.

Moorings successSuccess was achieved in one long-running campaign – to save the permanent moorings on the canal in Audlem. British Waterways agreed on 27th January to re-let the vacant permanent moorings and not reduce the numbers of existing moorings.

You can now apply for a permanent mooring here – there are five vacant – via www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk/ or by telephoning Siobhan Collins on 01923 201451.

AmbulancesThere's good news too about ambulances – to be published shortly. A meeting was held on 30th January with NWAS's chief executive, chaired by local MP Stephen O'Brien, where the ambulance service announced they would agree to local demands from Audlem and Nantwich for an ambulance to be stationed in Nantwich town to improve response times in the Audlem area and Nantwich itself. More to come on this good news.

Tragically, on 27th January, we had to report another massive delay – almost two hours – in an ambulance getting to a local family. The patient died the following day in hospital. A formal investigation is now underway.

Medical limboStill on the medical front, we reported on 28th January that the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust (WCPCT) has taken back full responsibility for Audlem Medical Practice. This means the Audlem area is politically in the East of the county but medically in the West!

The Audlem Patient Group expressed dismay at these moves as the change appeared to take no account of patients' needs. The move westward, in their view, will be detrimental to patient care, will raise governance issues, increase clinical risk and result in impaired access to services.

This move, which appears to have been imposed for reasons that are not entirely clear, has already been taken up by Audlem Online with MP Stephen O'Brien and via him, the chief executives of both Cheshire's Primary Care Trusts.

Audlem schoolAudlem St James' school has been in the news with picture features in both the Chronicle and the Local Life magazine. Many local children are pictured in the two major articles.

PantoThe 5As panto Cinderella was reviewed on 29th January during the company's five-performance sell-out run. Performers age 5 to 65 put on a fabulously entertaining show while the Public Hall's brilliant new sound system brings a new dimension to the show.

The synchronisation of sound, lighting and effects, the set and costumes, were all worthy of a professional performance.

The 5As, over the last 14 years, have donated over £10,000 to local and national charities from their nightly raffles. This year, the cause is international and the need very immediate. The proceeds from this year's 5As raffle will go the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

The Big FreezeThe weather played a starring role throughout the month. Audlem Online received dozens of splendid photographs which have featured daily on the Homepage.

Potholes and repairs to drains – one leak at the top of Green Lane threatened Audlem village with its first glacier since the Ice Age – were regular news stories and attracted many Chatbox comments.

There were many grateful comments about the ADAS Christmas tree displays that came down on 6th January while Audlem Scout & Guide Hall raised the amazing sum of £684 by collecting the old trees from households.

On the roadGeoff Farr has an amusing new article about his life on two wheels on the Homepage while we were delighted to report Billy Gibbons' appearance in Practical Classics when he sold his Allegro in inimitable style to a journalist from the magazine.

Short-ARSFear not, this has nothing to do with being vertically challenged! ARS, the Audlem Ramblers Society, agreed to add a series of shorter walks to its programme.

Short-ARS walks will be 5 to 7 miles in length with only easy climbs. They will normally be on the last Saturday of the month. The walks will be no more than 45 minutes or so (and usually less) driving from Audlem. Like the monthly ARS walks, they will be announced on Audlem Online each month.

Local ShoppingMany found the local shops, and the surprising range of goods now available, a great boon during the severe winter weather. The local shops have featured strongly on Audlem Online. Encouraging local shopping is a key aim of ADAPT, the newly formed environmental group, and the Audlem Village Traders' Association.

On 11th January, we were pleased to report that staff at Audem's Co-operative Food store have been given specialist life support training to boost the survival chances of shoppers who suffer a cardiac arrest.

SaintsDespite the weather and some cancelled matches, the Saints were back on song and ended January top of the League. Their match on 24th January saw them win 9-0.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.