Westminster Park Residents Association

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking residents to give their views on how it manages wildflower planting, Council-owned parks and open spaces, and outdoor play and youth areas in a consultation launched today.

The Council plans to produce an overarching Environmental Management Strategy, which will include a review of its current Play Strategy, a Wildflower and Grassland Strategy and a Parks and Greenspaces Strategy.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “The Council has carried out initial engagement with staff, town and parish councils, councillors and other key stakeholders, such as Chester Zoo and Plantlife. The feedback we received has helped to create three draft strategies. I hope as many people as possible will give their views on our plans and ideas so far.
“Parks and green spaces are a vital part of the borough, providing spaces to help improve the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of residents and attracting visitors to the area.”

The consultation also includes an on-line mapping tool where participants can help identify Council-owned and maintained green space/grassed areas where wildflower meadows could be created in the borough.
The Council has declared a Climate Emergency in the Borough and is committed to helping west Cheshire to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency added: “A Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy is needed to help us tackle the climate emergency. This strategy aims to improve the amount of pollinator species and conserve biodiversity in local areas, addressing how we can better manage our existing wildflower verges and including how more people can be encouraged to plant nectar-rich native plants in their own gardens that will provide food for wildlife. It will also identify green corridors in the borough, which will help link our urban and rural green spaces.”
The Council already has an existing Play Strategy, which will be reviewed and updated to reflect the present situation in relation to outdoor play and youth facilities and any gaps that currently exist. The strategy will also include updated legislation and best practice in relation to developing outdoor play and youth areas and also an updated position on improvements at facilities undertaken by partners over the last four years of the current play strategy programme.
The eight-week consultation period starts on 30 November 2020 and closes on 25 January 2021. Residents can give their views by taking part online at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/environmentstrategies.

Comments can also be sent to the Council by the following methods:

Email: EnvironmentalStrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Postal address: Environmental Strategies Consultation, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Clough Road, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 4BD
The questionnaire is also available in accessible formats (easy read, braille) upon request.

Date: 01 December 2020
Reference Number: 4889

Council’s libraries, museums and the Cheshire Record Office to reopen from 2 December
Following the news that Cheshire West and Chester has been placed in Tier 2, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s libraries, museums and the Cheshire Record Office will reopen from Wednesday 2 December.

Libraries will reopen on reduced hours for browsing and computer access. There will be a temporary replacement Mobile Library service for Malpas, Tarporley, Tarvin and Tattenhall.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “Staff will be working hard to ensure everyone’s safety. Our museums, libraries and the Cheshire Record Office have tested processes in place to ensure that all spaces are cleaned on a regular basis and visitors adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back. Look out in the press and on social media for details of festive activities taking place at a museum near you and online with West Cheshire Libraries.”

To ensure the safety of staff and visitors revised opening times and pre-booking has been introduced for all museums. Find out more to plan your visit:

http://westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/ Opening times and booking procedures may change at short notice.

There are no separate booking arrangements needed for The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition at the Grosvenor museum, just pre-book a visit to the museum as normal.

For further information and details of library opening hours visit www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/libraries.

The Home Library Service will resume where volunteers and clients are able to, supported by Council Library staff. Some Library services are available 24/7 online.

Reservations will resume on Wednesday 2 December and normal loan periods and overdue charges will resume from Monday 7 December. Libraries will also be fine-free for under 13s from 7 December. Children aged 0-12 years will no longer be charged for any overdue items and any pre-existing late charges will be removed from their accounts. Check items on loan by logging in to your account.

Cheshire Record Office will be open on an appointment basis after 2 December from 10am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Tuesdays and Fridays. Requests to view archives must be made in advance by email: (recordoffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk).

Further information can be found at http://www.cheshirearchives.org.uk. All online services remain unaffected.

ENDS
The Grosvenor Museum

We are pleased to announce that our free The Tiger Who Came To Tea exhibition will reopen on Wednesday 2 December.

Please note there are no separate booking arrangements The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition, just pre-book a visit to the museum as normal.

To pre-book your visit please ring from Tuesday to Saturday 01244 972197.

Advanced booking for The Tiger Who Came To Tea reopens on Tuesday 1 December at 10.30am.

Visit our other exhibition Clive Hicks-Jenkins: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight exhibition.



The Lion Salt Works

To pre-book places please ring from Tuesday to Thursday on 01606 275066.

Advanced booking reopens on Wednesday 2 December at 10.30am.

Visit the exhibition: A Brine Romance: Salt and Food joined by sculpture inspired by the theme by HND Fine and Applied Art students Warrington & Vale Royal College.



Weaver Hall Museum & Workhouse

To pre-book places please ring from Monday to Thursday on 01606 271641

Advanced booking reopens on Wednesday 2 December at 10.30am.

Visit the exhibition: Visual Arts Cheshire: Winter Open Exhibition.



Stretton Watermill is now closed for the winter and will be open again in April 2021.

Council Leader responds to borough’s new tier 2 restrictions
Cheshire West and Chester will move into COVID-19 tier 2 from 2 December, after the Government reinstated the regional tiered restrictions to suppress the virus through the winter.

Cheshire West and Chester’s tier level has been decided by the Government, determined by the borough’s current COVID-19 infection rate. The decision has not involved any negotiations with local leaders.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, gyms and retail can open, as can restaurants, but pubs not serving meals will remain closed. There will be no mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles. A maximum of six can meet outdoors.

Wherever possible the number of journeys made should be reduced. Travel into Tier 3 areas should be avoided, except where necessary, such as work, education, for medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities. Everyone who can work from home should do so.

COVID-19 infections have fallen in the last seven days; there were 635 positive cases between 15th and 21st November, a rate of 185 per 100,000 of population.

Responding to the government’s announcement, Council leader councillor Louise Gittins said: “I’m pleased that the collective efforts of our residents and businesses mean we will be in tier 2, rather than the higher level of restrictions in tier 3. But we can’t be complacent. We all need to stay the course, continue to reduce infection, and therefore get down to the lowest tier as soon as possible. The council will also continue to step up to drive down the virus through local contact tracing and an expansion of testing.

“I recognise that there will continue to be a severe impact on many of our local businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector. We will continue to provide local support wherever possible.

“For those people who work in retail, entertainment and personal care, it is good news that they will be able to trade in the run up to Christmas. We encourage all our communities to shop local and support these businesses.

“Let’s keep going to support each other and turn this around.”

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Local contact tracing launched in Cheshire West and Chester to stop the spread of COVID-19
A local contact tracing partnership has been launched in the fight against COVID-19 in west Cheshire.

Cheshire West and Chester Local Contact Tracing Partnership will start calling people who have tested positive for Coronavirus from Wednesday, 25 November.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has set up the partnership with NHS Test and Trace and Council company Qwest.

In this new partnership, the Council will contact any borough residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 which the national NHS Test and Trace service has not been able to contact within 24 hours.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Contact tracing is a vitally important part of the strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the borough.

“Effective contact tracing is based on getting in touch with as many people who have tested positive as possible and getting in touch with them as quickly as possible after their test result.

“We know from information collected by NHS Test and Trace that as many as 30% of people are not contacted at all, and for a number of people it can take more than 48 hours before they hear from Test and Trace.

“Our new partnership will work closely with NHS Test and Trace to take responsibility for those residents, aiming to reach more of them and reach them more quickly to make sure people have the support they need to self-isolate.

“It’s about working together with our partners and residents, all playing our part to turn this around.”

Working directly with our Public Health team, specially trained contact centre staff will telephone residents to offer advice and guidance on how to self-isolate following a positive test result and ensure they have the support they need to do this successfully.

They will help residents identify anyone else who may also need to be advised to self-isolate and will make sure residents know how and when to access healthcare if they or their families develop more serious symptoms of COVID-19.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – should self-isolate immediately and book a test by calling: 119 or visiting: nhs.uk/coronavirus.

If you have symptoms you should self-isolate for 10 days unless you receive a negative test result. Anyone in your household should self-isolate for 14 days. They do not need to get a test unless they develop symptoms.

If you need support to self-isolate and do not have friends or family to help then you can call the Council’s helpline on: 0300 123 7031.

If you have online access you can visit: livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for information about support available in your community.

For more information about financial support, including help with council tax payments, financial and practical support or the Test and Trace support payment, and to find out if you are eligible, visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/coronavirus and click on ‘how to get help’.

Final preparations are now in place to commence the Clockwise plan for the inner ring road on 16th November for approximately 12 months, in order to allow for essential infrastructure works to install a new rainwater drainage tunnel through Chester from the Northgate site.

In response to a number of enquiries, we have developed at set of FAQs explaining the changes and some of the finer details around how Nuns Rd. and Castle Drive, for example will be impacted. See www.clockwisechester.com for more or email us at: northgate_int@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

In advance of the main clockwise plan, prior enabling works will take place overnight on Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15^th. This work will require the road to be closed in both directions along Vicar’s Lane and Pepper St. from 7pm to 6am on Friday and Saturday, and from 10pm to 6am on Sunday. Residents’ access will be maintained but may be subject to delay while equipment is moved.

Northgate Site Updates

 Foundation Piling

This work has now been completed, apologies for any disturbance while the sheet piling adjacent to Hunter St. was carried out. The sandstone geology created a very hard rock bed which resulted in louder than planned piling. Thankfully the vast majority of the piling was completed with an auger which was significantly quieter.

Weekend Working 8am – 6pm

Further permission to work at weekends has been granted to allow for limited small scale works until the end of December. This is to allow for critical groundworks to enable the superstructure works to start on time after Christmas. VINCI have assured us that they will try to minimise breaking works in the first hour where possible.

 And finally… Movember

Our VINCI site management team have all committed to take part in the Movember Challenge to raise funds for the homeless in Chester by growing facial hair in various guises. So far they have raised over £1,700, to support them please visit: http://www.justgiving.com./fundraising/vincimovhomeless A great team effort!

This information is also available in our latest newsletter if you wish to share:

http://chesternorthgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CNG-Newsletter-Nov-2020.pdf

Latest news from CWAC about the Recycling Centre (tip): Household Waste Recycling Centres remain open but we ask that people only travel there for essential reasons and be patient to ensure distancing can be maintained on sites. A proof of residency will need to be shown to staff.

GAS MAINS REPLACEMENT:
The plan for this work is over a 12 week period. This has started on Phase 1 at Boxmoor close/Rowcliffe Ave and hope to replace the gas main pipe today 5th November, then 1 week to complete the reinstatement.
The residents will get the 10 day advance notice letter and a visit from a Colleague to help explain the procedure. It’s important that people are not left worrying about the situation in this current climate. Please ring the number on the letter or the customer service desk if they have any issues.
We hope to complete each phase in 1 week replacing the main gas pipe followed by 1 week to complete the reinstatement(and get back to normal).Delays can be created by incorrect maps or the depth of the gas pipe.
Est start Pipework Est Finish Reinstatement start Streets
Phase 1 started 5/11/20 06/11/20 Boxmoor Close
Phase 2 6/11/20 13/11/20 16/11/20 Rowcliffe Ave
Phase 3 16/11/20 20/11/20 23/11/20 Rowcliffe Ave
Phase 4 23/11/20 27/11/20 30/11/20 Merton Drive
Phase 5 30/11/20 04/12/20 07/12/20 Merton Drive
Phase 6 07/12/20 11/12/20 14/12/20 Merton Drive
Phase 7 14/12/20 18/12/20 21/12/20 Rowcliffe Ave
Christmas Break
Phase 8 04/01/21 09/01/21 11/01/21 Rowcliffe Ave
Phase 9 11/01/21 15/01/21 18/01/21 Rowcliffe Ave
Phase 10 18/01/21 22/01/21 25/01/21 Denstone Drive
Phase 11 25/01/21 29/01/21 01/02/21 Radnor Drive
Phase 12 01/02/21 05/02/21 08/02/21 Radnor Drive
While the work is taking place we will supply Hotplates and electric heaters to any resident off gas. Please let me or a team know so we can supply these items before the gas goes off.
These are all planned estimated dates subject to change but at all times we will do our best to communicate any changes. People can ring the office or even talk to the team members on site(they don’t bite)

Due to a family member testing positive, Dave the fishmonger is self isolating as a precaution in line with government guidelines.

The shop will be closed from Monday 2nd November to Saturday 7th November.

We plan to re-open on Tuesday 10th November.
Thank you for your understanding.