Annual Meeting success

Audlem Parish Council hosted its Annual Village Meeting at the Public Hall last night and saw large numbers attend to discuss village issues over a convivial glass of wine.

As well as the opportunity to talk to parish councillors, the wine & cheese event included a number of village and local organisations putting on displays and providing information. These included the newly formed Allotments group who had assembled lots of information on this project to establish allotments in the village. More families registered an interest last night indicating a current demand for up to sixty allotments.

The 5As theatre group, with some members in costume, had a display stand following their hugely successful panto a month ago. Nantwich Dial-a-Ride were providing information – the Dial a Ride and Community Transport Schemes are available for all those unable to use ordinary buses, due to disability. This scheme covers all Crewe and Nantwich urban areas, plus on certain days Audlem, Haslington, Hough, Weston, Willaston, Winterley, Wistaston and Wrenbury.

Inspector Bob Hassall, who is responsible for community policing in the area, and PC Ken Maple were on hand to discuss police issues.

The Parish Plan team had a display showing two alternative ideas for the indoor sports/youth and community centre, one behind the Public Hall (as discussed before at last year's Village Meeting) and an alternative, more ambitious plan that is being discussed currently with the NHS and Audlem Medical Practice. This would be an enlarged Medical Practice in a new building alongside a sports, fitness and social facility. Nicola Kent, Primary Care Project Manager of the local Primary Care Trust, who deals with health centre development, was on hand to discuss issues as did members of the Parish Plan's community projects group.

The Cheshire County Councillor who has been particularly helpful in campaigning for the de-priming of the A525, Eveleigh Moore Dutton, came to the meeting and was warmly welcomed. She wished the village well and said that the A525 was an issue that had long needed tackling and was delighted that, at long last, all three counties involved had been able to reach the same conclusion. The road is due to be removed from the Primary Road Network by the end of this month.

The new format of the Annual Village Meeting aimed to be more informal than the series of presentations that were a feature of earlier meetings. Larger numbers of residents attended and there was an opportunity to raise many issues informally as well as enjoy a social occasion.

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