Kelsall Village, near Chester, Cheshire, UK

Taylor Wimpey plans to build a housing estate in the heart of Kelsall - consultation expiry date is 29th May 2012

Taylor Wimpey's planning application to build 90 houses behind Kelsall Primary School is the latest attack on the green heart of Kelsall. Information on the proposed estate can be found here. Concerns have already been expressed by Kelsall Parish Council and by residents about the impact this proposed development would have on the infrastructure of the village, including the inability of Kelsall Primary School to be expanded to accommodate the extra pupils arising from the proposed estate, and disquiet that Flat Lane, already a 'no-go' area during school drop-off and pick-up times, would descend into chaos during most of the day. Comments on this planning application can be submitted online, by email, or by post (Development Management, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH). The consultation expiry date is 29th May 2012. The first comment to be listed on CWaC's website noted that the destruction of this green space in the heart of Kelsall would force the Folk Festival, an annual event that has been held in the village for more than 30 years, to withdraw from Kelsall.

Photoshoot held on Kelsall Green: A photoshoot was held on Kelsall Green on Friday 11th March to support a Chester Chronicle article about the building applications and proposals that are threatening the green heart of Kelsall, namely Rowland Homes' 20 houses off Willington Lane and Green Lane, Taylor Wimpey's 90 houses behind Kelsall School, and Bloor Homes' 35 houses to the north of Hallows Drive. Much has already been writen about the inability of Kelsall's infrastructure to cope if all these 145 houses were to be built. The destruction of this green space in the heart of Kelsall would also force the Chester Folk Festival, an annual event that has been held in the village for more than 30 years, to withdraw from Kelsall.

Click here here for a photo of concerned residents, headed by Noel Dutton, Parish Council Chairman, and with the proposed site of Taylor Wimpey's housing estate in the background. The Chester Chronicle article will be published on Thursday 17th May.

Gardening Club's Plant Sale raises £402: Kelsall Gardening Club's plant sale did exceptionally well this year, raising a total sum of £402. Many thanks to all who bought plants and helped on the day, and all those who provided such an excellent array of plants. The event was helped by sunny weather this year, and is appreciated by everyone as a source of good bargains. The club is particularly grateful to the managers and staff of The Lord Binning for letting it use part of their car park.

More flooding of Willington Lane, Church Street, Flat Lane!

Many of the objections to Rowland Homes' application to build houses off Willington Lane and Green Lane refer to the likelihood that the severity and frequency of flooding in this part of Kelsall would increase as a direct result the proposed development. These photos, which were taken on 19/20 April 2012, underline the extent of the problem and reinforce the urgent need to deal with the drains, both foul and surface, before considering any further developments in this part of Kelsall.

There was yet more flooding on 29th April and 7th May.
This part of Kelsall has now experienced three floods in less than 3 weeks.
Click here for general photos of the flooding and here for photos near the Willington Lane/Kelsborrow Way junction, at the exact location of the proposed entrance to the Rowland Homes estate.

More publicity for Alex!

2012 is turning out to be quite a year for Alex Staniforth, Kelsall's teenage wildlife enthusiast and runner. His next TV appearance will be a feature on BBC North West Tonight about his selection as an Olympic torchbearer and his plans to climb Mont Blanc and to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End. Filming will be on 15th May - we don't know yet when it will be aired. We reported last month that Alex took part in a torchbearer photoshoot on 26th March in London. Alex is on the left of this photo, which is being displayed on billboards across the UK.

Rowland Homes planning application - date for comments extended to 24th May

Rowland Homes resubmission of its planning application to build houses off Willington Lane and Green Lane is for a total of 20 houses (11 off Willington Lane and 9 off Green Lane). To date there are 76 documents relating to the application on CWaC's website, of which 32 are objections to the application that have been submitted by email or letter (labelled 'Representation'). 13 objections have been submitted on-line, giving a total of 45 objections, including this comprehensive list of objections from Kelsall Parish Council. The consultation expiry date has been extended to 24th May, so there is still time to comment, either on-line , or by email or letter to Miss Lyndsay Ainsworth (Development Management, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH). Lyndsay would appreciate it if comments could be submitted sooner rather than later!

New Photography Business in Kelsall: Nadia Fortune Photography specialises in portraits and wedding photography. Residents of Kelsall, Tarporley and Tarvin areas benefit from a 15% discount on wedding prices throughout 2012. More information here.

Impact on Kelsall School of proposed housing estates: Kelsall's residents have been bemused by the predicted demand on Kelsall Primary School arising from Rowland Homes' and Taylor Wimpey's proposed housing estates in Kelsall. Both developers used the following equation in Supplementary Planning Document 3 (SPD3), a document inherited by CWaC from Vale Royal Council.

Number of houses x 0.026 x Number of year groups

This equation predicts that Rowland Homes' and Taylor Wimpey's proposed housing estates would generate a demand for 4 and 17 additional places respectively in Kelsall Primary School. The likely accuracy of these predictions can be gauged by comparing prediction with reality for Rookery Close, the most recent significant development in Kelsall. The equation predicts 2½ primary school children for this 14-house development, a factor of about 6 lower than the number of primary school children who actually live in the Close. The increased demand on Kelsall Primary School would be about 110 if the proposed estates experience the same demand as Rookery Close. The school is presently full, and would be unable to absorb this number of children without a significant extension or rebuild. The equation in SPD3 is clearly flawed, but, in the absence of anything better, will continue to be used by CWaC. This problem needs to be addressed urgently.

Taylor Wimpey's presentation to Parish Coucil: The Parish Council meeting on 16th April hosted a short presentatation by Taylor Wimpey on their proposal to build 90 houses on the land behind Kelsall Primary School. Comments by Kelsall Parish Council and by members of the public were generally negative, ranging from concerns over the inability of Kelsall Primary School to be expanded to accommodate the extra pupils arising from the proposed estate, to concerns that Flat Lane, already a 'no-go' area during school drop-off and pick-up times, would descend into chaos during most of the day. The slides presented during the presentation may be found here (1.92MB download).

Habitats and Hillforts Photography Competition: Habitats and Hillforts are looking for striking, original and beautiful landscape photographs of Cheshire's Sandstone Ridge. Closing date is 31st August. More information here. Entry details here.

Kelsall's D of E Group needs more helpers

Marian Bythell publishes another book! Marian Bythell, Kelsall's prolific author, has just published a children's illustrated poetry book 'Jamie Tales'. This book is a sequel to 'Jamie', and can be ordered through Amazon or Waterstones.

Exciting day for Alex at BBC Studios! Alex Staniforth, Kelsall's teenage wildlife enthusiast and keen runner, was interviewed by the BBC's Roger Johnson on 15th March about his selection as one of the London 2012 Olympic torchbearers. You can see the interview on this BBC News School Report video clip (drag the slider to 1:12:00). Alex spent the whole day at the BBC Studios and was "awestruck" by the technology and building design. An exciting day for a sixteen year old! Alex was interviewed by BBC Radio Merseyside on 23rd March (drag the slider to 1:26:40), and was included in a torchbearer photoshoot on 26th March in London! Alex will be running his 'leg' of the torch relay on Tuesday 29th May.

Click here to see Alex's blog about his Torchbearing and Mountaineering!

Good news for those living near Kelsall's Co-op

Kelsall's Co-op has confirmed that it is withdrawing its application to extend its opening hours, both for the shop and for the sale of alcohol, to 6:00am to 11:00pm, seven days a week. No reasons have been given, but we would like to think that the decision might have been influenced by all the objections that were sent to CWaC's Licensing Team.

Another housebuilder is eyeing the green heart of Kelsall: First it was Rowland Homes, then Bloor Homes, and now Taylor Wimpey want to build in Kelsall, specifically up to 90 new homes on the land behind Kelsall Primary School. Click here for a preliminary outline of their proposals, or have a look at the proposed development's dedicated website.

Highly successful Grand Auction and Jumble Sale: The Kelsall Branch of the Clatterbridge Cancer Research Charity is pleased to report that it raised the wonderful sum of £1475 at the Grand Auction and Jumble Sale on 17th March, and would like to thank everyone who gave items and everyone who came to the event and supported this very worthy cause.

'Some like it Hotter', a great success! The joint KADRAS/CRTA promotion of 'Some like it Hotter' on 10th March was a great success with all seats being sold. The audience were entranced with the performance of Sara Applewood as Marilyn Monroe very ably supported by Paul Matania as Tony Curtis, TJ Holmes as Jack Lemmon and Patrick Bridgman as Charlie. All the performers played an array of musical instruments, what talent! The scenery, lighting and sound were superb and gave exactly the right atmosphere. An inexpensive and excellent night out and for most people within easy walking distance. Thanks to all who supported this production especially those who travelled from further afield.

Lord Binning's co-owner wins industry accolade: Congratulations to Paul Newman, co-owner of the Lord Binning, on his inclusion in Northern Restaurant & Bar's 2012 list of the 'top 50 influential operators in the North of England'.

Chester Folk Festival applies for new Premises Licence: Chester Folk Festival has applied for a new Premises Licence for Kelsall Green for the duration of the Folk Festival on Friday 1st June 2012 from 18:00 to 0:00, and on 2nd, 3rd and 4th June from 10:00 to 02:00, the licence covering the performance of 'a Play', 'Live Music' and 'Dance', and the provision of 'Late Night Refreshment'. Some residents are understandably concerned that this application, if approved, could result in late night disturbances on Kelsall Green as late as 2:00am. Click here to see Chester Folk Festival's reassuring response to these concerns. Objections to the application must be submitted to CWaC by 26th March. CWaC's website explains how to object, either by letter or by downloading and completing the Representation Form.

Feedback sought on proposals for Delamere Forest

The Forestry Commission's draft plan for Delamere Forest includes a new Visitor Centre to the south of the exising nursery, a new access road to a new car park to the south of the existing Forestry offices, and a block of 78 holiday cabins in the Kingswood area of the forest. The Forestry Commission is keen to receive feedback on these plans by the end of March. The draft plans are presently on display at the Information Centre at Linmere. Four open sessions have already been held for the public to discuss the plans with Forestry Commission personnel.

Kelsall Co-op applies for longer opening hours: Kelsall's Co-op, along with many other Co-ops in CWaC, has applied to extend its opening hours, both for the shop and for the sale of alcohol, to 6:00am to 11:00pm, seven days a week. At present the Co-op is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm, and, somewhat bizarrely, the alcohol licence is from 8:00am to 11:00pm. If you are concerned that this application will negatively affect you or your family or organisation you need to object by 13th March. CWaC's website explains how to object, either by letter or by completing this form. Objections should be sent to CWaC's Licensing Team at The Forum, Chester CH1 2HS. You may prefer to email your concerns to Kelsall's Parish Clerk, who will co-ordinate an appropriate response to CWaC.

Kelsall Medical Centre Newsletter: The latest newsletter from the Kelsall Medical Centre highlights the newly formed Patient Participation Group (PPG) and reminds patients of the various types of appointment that can be booked, including 'Out of Hours' appointments. Two meetings of the PPG have been held to date, on 8th December 2011 and on 13th January 2012. The next PPG meeting will be held on Friday 20th April at 10:30am. If you are interested in joining the group please download, complete and return this application form.

There's much more information on Kelsall Medical Centre's recently updated website.

Community Centre upgrade awarded £2500! We only received 49 votes to support our bid for the Natwest Community Force Initiative to help fund the Community Centre's heating upgrade, so we weren't really surprised that our bid was unsuccessful. We were, however, awarded £2500 by CWaC through a Members' Budget Grant. The Community Centre's Management Committee would like to thank Councillors Leather and Deynem for their helpful contributions.

Rowland Homes planning application withdrawn: Rowland Homes planning application to build 21 houses on two sites in Kelsall was withdrawn on 13th February, presumably because they knew that the application would have been refused in its present form. 22 residents' objections, 89 signatories to a petition, and a comprehensive rejection by the Parish Council had underlined the village's concerns about the proposed development. The Highway Engineer's comments were particularly negative, stating that 'Given the nature and layout of Green Lane I do not consider that the proposal can be supported and that it will lead to a significant detriment to the lane and its users and also users of Willington Lane.' The residents seem to have won this battle, but will they win the war? It would be surprising if Rowland Homes, having licked its wounds, doesn't return with a revised proposal!

Possible development by Bloor Homes in Kelsall

Representatives from Bloor Homes attended the Parish Council meeting on 13th February to inform the Council of their interest in developing a plot of land to the north of Hallows Drive. The proposed 2.76 acre site would be accessed from Hallows Drive, with pedestrian and cycle access at the north end of Church Street and, possibly, directly into Kelsall Green. Click on the adjacent thumbnail to get a bigger image of the location. The Parish Council believes that the infrastructure of the village would have to be significantly upgraded, eg school, drains, roads etc, before such a development, comprising 34-35 houses, could be implemented.

'The Greedy Pig' - another new shop in Kelsall!

Another new shop opened in Kelsall on Thursday 16th February. The Greedy Pig, a new deli/sandwich bar, is located at the corner of Hollands Lane and Chester Road, on the opposite corner from the Co-op. Click here to read about the wide range of foods on offer, many being baked on the premises. Please help the proprietor, Raina Muggeridge, to make a success of her new venture.

New Non-Emergency Number 101: The 101 non-emergency number went live on 23rd November 2011 and makes it easier for members of the public to contact police in a non-emergency, where an immediate police response is not required. '101'replaces the police force's previous non-emergency number 0845-458-0000. Calls to '101' will cost 15 pence for the entire call, no matter how long the call or what time of day it is. This applies to both land lines and mobile phones. More information here.

Kelsall School's 'Outstanding' Ofsted Report: Many congratulations to Kelsall Community Primary School for being the first school in the NorthWest to receive the 'outstanding' judgement from Ofsted under the new 2012 framework. Click here to read the report. David Wearing, Deputy Head of the school, emphasises that it takes a whole TEAM, past and present, to achieve the 'outstanding' accolade, the acronym TEAM standing for 'Together, Everyone Achieves More'. This letter to parents highlights the excellent work of everyone associated with the school, including teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, governors, pupils and parents.

Kelsall School looking for WW2 photos: Kelsall Primary School's Year 5 pupils are researching life as a child in Kelsall during WW2. An old school log book mentions evacuues air raid shelters, prompting a search for photos and/or information about the location of the air raid shelters on school grounds. Does anyone remember taking in an evacuee from Liverpool? Please contact David Wearing, Deputy Head of Kelsall School, if you can help.

Yet another email scam! Trading Standards reports that an email entitled 'Population Census: a message to everyone - act now' is being circulated, allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. This email asks individuals to provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance. This email is a scam and a hoax. Please don't respond to this email and don't open any links within the email. The email should be deleted. Click here for more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat.

Another entry on our Businesses Page: Kelsall Service Station has been trading in Kelsall for the past 8 years. Click here for more information.

Volunteers Wanted for Horse Trials: Volunteers are wanted for horse trials being held at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre on 20-22 April. Non-horsey jobs include car parking, marshalls, tea/refreshment providers. Horsey jobs include dressage writers, dressage stewards, cross country fence judges, show jumping arena party. Please contact Jane (07807-120921) if you can help.

New Guide commemorates Kelsall Men who served in Great War

Kelsall men who gave their lives in the Great War (1914-18) are commemorated on the War Memorial on the Green opposite the Methodist Church and on memorial plaques in Kelsall Methodist Church, St Philip's Church and St Peters Church Delamere. In 2010 the members of the Kelsall Family History Group decided to research the names of the men on the Kelsall War Memorial and to publish their findings to raise money for the Royal British Legion and the 'Help for Heroes' campaign. The scope of their project was substantially extended by the discovery of the Kelsall Roll of Honour, which includes the names of all those who had served in the forces during the war. Using techniques that are used to research families, the Family History Group has produced an excellent illustrated Guide that commemorates 136 local men. The Guide can be purchased (£5.00) from Ruth (01829-751463), Lyn (01829-751659) and Anne (01829-751836).

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Alex Staniforth to be Olympic torchbearer! Many congratulations to Alex Staniforth, Kelsall's teenage wildlife enthusiast, on his selection as one of the London 2012 Olympic torchbearers. Alex will be running his 'leg' on Tuesday 29th May, somewhere between Beaumaris and Chester. More details are expected in March. Alex started running in March 2011, and is now 'hooked' on the sport. He has taken part in a few races, the most recent being the Tatton Park 10km Yule Yomp, where he achieved a remarkable 11th position in a field of 873 runners! He has several local races lined up for 2012, including Helsby Running Club's Four Villages Half Marathon on 22nd January and the Chester Half Marathon on 13th May. We'll let you know how he does.

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'Some Like it Hotter' coming to Community Centre

The next KADRAS promotion is 'Some Like it Hotter' by the renowned Oxfordshire Theatre Company, a brand new fast moving comedy that reunites Monroe, Lemon and Curtis as they are forced once again to don heels and stockings and go backstage during the making of the classic Hollywood comedy 'Some Like it Hot'. With razor sharp wisecracks, sparkling musical numbers and red hot jazz.

Tickets £7.00 from John Gray (01829-752833) and Anne O'Donnell (01829-751836).

Many objections to Rowland Homes Planning Application: CWaC's website lists 21 objections to Rowland Homes Planning Application to build 12 houses off Willington Lane and 9 affordable houses off Green Lane. Many issues are raised by those objecting, including concerns about the scale and character of the proposed development, traffic implications, the inability of Kelsall Primary School to absorb more children, and the capacity of existing drainage/sewerage systems. Kelsall Parish Council is also strongly opposed to the proposed development and has submitted this excellent synopsis of its objections.

The following petition rejecting the proposed development has been signed by 89 residents:

CWaC's website states that the 'Target Determination Date' for the application is 14th February 2012.

Cheshire Constabulary advises owners to register their bikes for FREE

PC Steve Trow's most recent newsletter advises owners to register their bikes for FREE on the Immobilise website. Other items such as laptops, iPods, iPads, cameras etc can also be registered, thereby allowing police officers to identify stolen property and return it to the rightful owners. Immobilise also offers numerous security products that are well worth considering.

Quest to find a corporate sponsor! Following his recent 3 Peaks Success, Alex Staniforth, Kelsall's teenage wildlife enthusiast and A-level student, has his sights set on climbing Mont Blanc next year. The cost of his flights will be covered by his mum and he is working all the hours he can to cover the cost of insurance and equipment. The cost of the 5-day course with Dream Guides, amounting to £1720, will however be a struggle unless Alex manages to get financial assistance from local businesses or individuals. Are there any potential sponsers out there? In return for sponsorship Alex will seek publicity through local newspapers and online blogs, both before, during and after the climb. Mont Blanc is just the beginning of his high-profile mountaineering ambitions!

Rowland Homes planning application to be discussed by Parish Council

Rowland Homes planning application for housing developments off Willington Lane and Green Lane will be discussed at the next Kelsall Parish Council meeting on Monday 12th December at 7:30pm. The application comprises 42 documents, all of which can be downloaded from CWaC's website - plenty of information for you to assimilate over the next couple of weeks!

Volunteer tutors needed to work with Delamere Academy

'Passion for Learning', a not-for-profit service for schools, provides trained and supported volunteer tutors to work one-to-one with children. Four volunteers are needed to work with Delamere Academy to provide enrichment activities with their children. Please contact Diane Clark (Volunteer Manager, 07966-404355) if you think you might be able to help. 'Passion for Learning' is looking for people who will pass on their zest for life, their knowledge of the world and their interest in reading and literature, to the children.

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Crash site reinforces concerns about Rowland Homes proposed development

An accident at the junction of Kelsborrow Way and Willington Lane on 2nd November was exactly where Rowland Homes intend to locate the entrance to its proposed housing development, and reinforces local residents' concerns about the safety of both developments. Rowland Homes is proposing to "introduce measures to increase safety on Green Lane and Willington Lane as an added benefit to the local community". We'll find out more about these measures when Rowland Homes' submits its planning application.

Rowland Homes proposed developments - update: Rowland Homes latest proposals are summarised in this letter that was sent to residents who had responded to their consultation leaflet and/or attended their exhibition on 2nd September. The proposed 'shared ownership' development off Green Lane has been reduced from 14 to 9 houses, 3 of which are bungalows for the over-55s. The letter addresses many issues, including highway safety, sewer capacity, and how the proposed developments relate to Kelsall's Parish Landscape and Design Statement (an SPD). More information will be included in Rowland Homes' planning application, which is expected shortly.

New shop in Kelsall! ZOZO'S Magical Toy Emporium, the first new shop in Kelsall for many years, is now up and running! Located in Flat Lane, it opened its doors for the first time on Friday 18th November. The timing of its opening, as Christmas approaches, and its location, close to Kelsall Primary School, bode well for a successful future.

Food Hygiene Ratings for Kelsall's food businesses: CWaC's official hygiene ratings for food businesses in Kelsall can be found on the 'Scores on the Doors' website. We last reported on the ratings of Kelsall establishments around the middle of 2010, most achieving 4-star or 5-star ratings. There were a couple of laggards, but we're pleased to note that the rating of the Boot Inn has now risen from 2-star to 4-star, and the rating of the Farmers Arms has shown a big improvement from a zero-star rating to 3-star. The only establishments to be rated this year are the Farmers Arms, Sable Cottage Care Home (still 5-star) and The Lord Binning, which was rated at 4-star a few days after it opened in August.

CWaC's Budget Consultation closes on 15th December: Cheshire West and Chester Council's draft budget proposals for next year (2012-2013) provide details of 18 specific proposals for delivering services in a different way. CWaC would love to know your views on these proposals by 15th December. Click here for information about the draft proposals and to download a feedback form.

Yet another entry on our Businesses Page: Cheshire Pony Parties, located off Willington Road between Willington and Oscroft, was started in 2008 by Cheshire mum of two and long-term horse enthusiast Amanda Keech. Amanda initially provided the ponies to attend children's birthday parties but now offers a range of parties, experiences and holiday activities for the whole family. More information here.

Theft of metal doors on lamp posts "downright dangerous": A CWaC Press Release urges people to be on the lookout for thieves who are stealing the metal doors off lamp posts in the Chester and Ellesmere Port areas. There have recently been numerous instances of the covers being removed from entire streets. Apart from the cost the Council's main worry is one of safety as the thefts could result in someone being electrocuted. A missing lamp post door is classed as an emergency and a temporary one is fitted as soon as possible. A new door can take up to six weeks to be made and, to date, the thefts have cost the Council approximately £10,000 of Council Tax payers money. Councillor Lynn Riley, Executive Member for Community and Environment said "These thefts are downright dangerous and could put lives at risk. We urge people to report a missing lamp post door as quickly as possible so that a temporary one can be fitted. The telephone number to ring is 0300-1237036." Click here for the full story.

Carmella de Lucia (01244-606438), Chester Chronicle's reporter for the Kelsall area, would love to hear from you if you have personal experience of metal theft.

D of E Group has a highly successful year!

The Duke of Edinburgh Group in Kelsall has been running for about three years, and, during that time, about 40 young people have enjoyed their involvement at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The expedition section has been particularly successful, with trips to North Wales, Yorkshire Dales, Shropshire and the Lake District - see the following photos for an appreciation of what the groups achieved:

Please contact Peter Moore (01829-759179) if you are interested in joining a new Bronze group, starting in December (age 14 up to June 2012), joining this year's Bronze group as it progresses to Silver in 2012 (age 15 or thereabouts), or helping as a Leader or Helper.

More information about Kelsall's D of E Group can be found here.

Kelsall OPAL looking for more volunteers: Kelsall Day Centre, which has been successfully caring for up to 12 older people from Kelsall and surrounding villages for more than 20 years, began its new life as Kelsall OPAL Club at the beginning of June this year. Click here for more information about the club. Kelsall OPAL would be delighted to have more volunteers on the team, and is especially appealing for a cook to do one Monday per month. Please contact Jane Colville (01829-752607) or Mary Diggle (01829-752608) if you can help.

Home Watch warning about phishing HMRC emails: Residents are reminded to be on their guard against scam emails following the announcement from HM Revenue and Customs of potential errors in the tax code system. Phishing emails purporting to come from HMRC have appeared in mail boxes up and the country in recent months and this kind of announcement unfortunately gives internet scammers a further window of opportunity. Trading Standards would like to repeat that HMRC would not inform people of a tax rebate or demand via email, or invite them to complete an online form to receive or claim tax. Those who are affected will receive written confirmation. More information here.

Tarvin Education Foundation: The Tarvin Educational Foundation is a charity set up to assist the educational needs of students of secondary school age and older who live in the villages of Kelsall, Tarvin, Ashton and Clotton Hoofield. Awards may take the form of financial assistance for tuition fees, maintenance, books, musical instruments or travel on approved courses. More information about the charity and contact details can be found here. Applications can be made at any time.

Voting now closed for Community Centre upgrade: In each of its local markets NatWest's CommunityForce initiative provides an opportunity for community projects the chance to win awards of £6,000 each. John Gray submitted an application for completion of Kelsall Community Centre's central heating upgrade, including radiator guards, redecoration, new lighting and facilities for the disabled. Click here for more information about this project. Voting for the winning projects has no closed. John's project received 49 votes, which, sadly, is unlikely to be enough to put it in the top three projects in the Warrington area. We'll let you know the local winners when they become known around end-November. In the meantime, a big thank you to those of you who found the time to vote for the project.

Baby and Toddler Group now open throughout school holidays

From now on Kelsall Baby and Toddler Group's weekly Wednesday morning meetings will continue to run throughout the school holidays, including half term weeks. The group will be running normally during the next half term week on Wednesday 26th October.

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Community Pride Successes!

The Community Pride Competition, formerly known as the Best Kept Village Competition, is co-ordinated by Cheshire Community Action. This year's awards ceremony was held on 6th October, and Kelsall collected two awards for the third year running, one being a 'Community Website Award - Highly Commended', and the other being a 'Little Gem Award' for the Children's Play Area on Kelsall Green. Congratulations to all those who contributed to these two awards.

Click here to see Kelsall's 7 awards over the last 4 years.

Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Unit has a new Inspector: Inspector Phil Hodgson headed the Western Rural NPU for 6½ years before moving on in September 2011 to take a new role as the Partnerships Inspector working with Cheshire West and Chester Council. Inspector Keith Curbishley took over Phil's role on 10th October 2011, and is intending to continue to produce weekly News Bulletins. Keith's first bulletin on 10th October includes a brief summary of the positions he has held within Cheshire Constabulary over the last 24 years.

'Body transformation programme' at Community Centre: Do you want to get in shape for the Christmas parties? Katie Chaloner (PowerToBe) is starting a six week 'body transformation programme' on 24th October at Kelsall Cmmunity Centre (every Tuesday & Thursday, 11.30am-12.30pm). Includes both exercise and nutrition sessions. Places limited to 12 per course. Contact Katie (07765-868566) for more information and to book your place.

Another addition to our Businesses Page: Many of you will be aware that the Willows Veterinary Group took over the Firs Veterinary Surgery in Dog Lane earlier this year. The Surgery offers everything from routine vaccinations and neutering to more complex surgery, and has recently invested in analysis equipment for swift and accurate diagnosis of conditions, a new x-ray machine and a new dental scaler and polishing machine. More information here.

Salsa Comes to Kelsall! Want to lift your spirits, get fit and have some fun as the long winter evenings draw in? Come to the NEW salsa classes every Thursday at Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, from 8.30 to 9.30pm, starting Thursday 3rd November. Taught by Mike Mitchell from Chester's leading salsa school, Funky Salsa. Men are being offered FREE lessons for the month of November! More information and contact details here.

Fox Web Solutions, another business in Kelsall: The latest addition to Kelsall's Businesses Page is Fox Web Solutions, a provider of creative and professional web design and development services in Cheshire and the North West. More information here.

Water, a most precious resource: John Gray, Kelsall's erstwhile 'Recycling Champion' has turned his attention to our profligate use of water. This is what he has to say:

It falls from the sky freely and keeps every living thing alive. It gives us life and maintains life. At times we have too much, at others too little. As a small country we in Britain have to preserve as much of it as we can and generally we are OK. But there are exceptions as in the spring of this year when the east and south east of the country were suffering drought conditions. We are all guilty of wasting water. Prince Philip allegedly remarked many years ago that for less than a pint we flush away a gallon and a half almost every time we use the toilet. Until recently I was as guilty as anyone of wasting water until I read in the newspaper that one in four people leave the tap running while they brush their teeth. I did this without a thought. This accounts for around 120 billion - yes billion - litres of wasted water every year according to Thames Water. Now I put the plug in the sink and turn the tap off. I never thought to do that before. And women who shave their legs in the shower and leave it running are guilty of wasting around 50 billion litres, enough, say Thames Water, to supply the whole of London for 25 days. There are 26 water companies operating in Britain, admittedly not all as big as Thames Water, but even multiplying half as much waste by the other 25 the figures are mind boggling. So perhaps we should look to ourselves a little closer rather than immediately criticising our water companies for unrepaired leaks. Perhaps we should try-out the euphonic advice 'If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down'! If you have a water meter it obviously makes economic sense to conserve water. If you don't have a water meter, you may be better off if you install one.

Cheshire Rural Touring Arts Autumn Season 2011: Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, in conjunction with KADRAS, are organising two events in Kelsall Community Centre this Autumn. On 8th October The Sterling Trio will present an adventurous programme of famous and lesser known works, and on 10th December the New Perspectives Theatre Company is presenting 'How Steeple Sinderley Won the FA Cup', a tale of the unstoppable rise of the ultimate underdog. Tickets (adults £7, children half price) are available from John Gray (01829-752833), Ro Cowell (01829-752618), Anne O'Donnell (01829-751836) and Sian and Richard Hancock (01829-752897).

Kelsall School awarded £10,000 grant: Kelsall Community Primary School has been awarded a £10,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund (Reaching Communities) to provide extended community use of the school facilities. The school has been zoned to allow hirers to access parts of the building, without having responsibility for the whole building. There has been considerable interest in these new facilities - evening sessions are now available for Pilates, Zumba and African Drumming. This press release provides more information about the grant and the new facilities at the school.

New boundary (and name) proposed for Eddisbury constituency: Kelsall presently sits in the Eddisbury Parliamentary Constituency, with Stephen O'Brien as its MP. The Boundary Commission for England is presently reviewing all the Parliamentary constituencies in England, and aims to reduce the number of constituencies in England from 533 to 502, each constituency having an electorate that lies between 72,810 and 80,473. Cheshire and the Wirral have been allocated 13 constituencies, a reduction from 15 at present. Kelsall would sit in the new Winsford constituency, which "largely reflects the existing Eddisbury constituency, though it expands to incorporate wards immediately south of the city of Chester". It's unclear why the constituency's name has been changed. You can see the area covered by the new constituency here. More information on the proposals for the North West of England can be found in this summary and in this report. The Boundary Commission would like to know what the public thinks of its proposals. You can email your comments or respond through the Boundary Commission's website.

New bus service for Kelsall residents: There is a new bus route (No 81) from Chester to Winsford, via Kelsall (and return). Click here for a timetable. Timetables for all CWaC's bus services can be found here.

RNLI (Kelsall Branch) looking for support: The RNLI receives substantial income from many villages around the country that have no direct connection with the sea. The Kelsall Branch has a very small committee which arranges street collections, collects donations from a considerable number of boxes placed in pubs, clubs and shops etc, and promotes occasional fund raising events. The concert on Friday 28th October will be the last event in 2011. RNLI Christmas cards will be on sale and orders can be taken for quantity purchases. Prior to the concert, cards and calendars will be on sale at Winsors Fruit Farm Shop between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 15th October. The committee is most grateful to Winsors for its support.

Last year Kelsall Branch achieved total fund raising of £4,215. So far this year, with generous contributions from supporters in the community £716 has been raised from street collections and £1,085 from boxes. Hopefully, a good concert attendance at the in the Community Centre in October will enable the Branch to provide, once again, a substantial income to the charity.

The Branch urgently needs additional support on its committee to continue the work of arranging events. If you are able to offer a little help by giving a few hours of your time to this cause during the coming year, please call Edward on 01829-751967.

Hectic makeover at Kelsall Pre-school and Klub: Kelsall Pre-School and Klub has had a hectic six week makeover this summer! After receiving a quality improvement grant from the council, and lots of fundraising events throughout the year, the Staff have worked endlessly to make the environment a much loved place for the children. The building itself has benefited immensely from newly plastered and painted walls, structural changes to make it more open plan, new lights and flooring throughout, and new heaters and electric sockets. The building has a more up to date, fresher feel which has created a relaxing environment for all who attend both Pre-school and Klub.

The children have all settled in very well, and are very excited by the new toys and equipment. There is a wonderful selection of indoor and outdoor play blocks, as well as a new home corner and a large group area with lots of new bean bags and colorful rugs.

It was a challenge to complete all the structural changes in such a short space of time, but the children's pleasure and excitement in their new environment has made the effort well worth it. Over the coming months the staff and committee will be looking for further grant availability and fundraising ideas to further enhance the environment for the children.

Click here for a few photos of the newly refurbished building.

Report from meeting of residents to discuss proposed new housing developments in Kelsall

The meeting on 30th August was very well attended, with around 30 local residents present. In addition, many more families who were unable to come phoned to express support or sent a written statement expressing their concerns. The planned development was discussed at length, with the main objections centering on whether there was a need for more housing in Kelsall, and whether the housing proposed was suitable. Many residents were concerned that the location of the sites (Willington Lane and Green Lane) could cause problems with traffic. The site on Willington Lane is very close to the junction of three other roads, and Green Lane is very narrow with no pavement. There was a feeling of frustration at Rowland Homes' lack of communication. No answers had been received to any of the questions raised by residents, whether by phone, letter or email. Residents will continue to work together to oppose the developments. Please contact Chris or Bethany Spray on 01829-751453 if you would like to help.

Seasonal flu vaccinations - dates for your diary

Kelsall Medical Centre will be administering seasonal flu vaccinations on Tuesday 4th October (4.30pm to 6pm), Saturday 8th October (10am to 11.30am) and Thursday 13th October (4.30pm to 6 pm). Dr Durrant and Dr Hinds invite patients who are over 65 years or have a chronic medical condition to any of the above clinics. No appointment is necessary.

More photos of crash in Chester Road: Many of you will have seen the aftermath of a crash on Chester Road at 5:40am on 18th August. A white van left the road and smashed into a stationary car and the adjacent house. Thankfully no-one was injured, but the car was a write-off and there was significant damage to the house. This Chronicle article elaborates on the accident. Click here for a few photos, taken by local resident Veronique.

Kelsall Baby and Toddler Group starts again on 7th September

Following a summer break, the Kelsall Baby and Toddler Group starts again on Wednesday 7th September and will continue every Wednesday morning throughout school term time. Parents and carers of pre-school children are invited to join the group at the Kelsall Community Centre between 10.00 am and 11.30 am. No baby is too small. The group is run by volunteers for local mums, dads and other carers, and gives the children the perfect opportunity to meet their future school friends. There is a charge of £2 per family.

Click here for more information, or ring Ruth (01829-759344), or just pop into the Community Centre and join the fun!

Teenage behaviour a problem on Kelsall Green

You may have seen the recent article in the Chester Chronicle urging residents to report crimes in the village to Steve Trow, Kelsall's local policeman, giving as an example the incident at around 10:00pm on 23rd July when mindless vandals set fire to a wooden children's playhouse on Kelsall Green (see photo, £400 to repair). Sadly, this isn't the only example of teenage misconduct on the Green. There's persistent littering and deliberate breakage of glass bottles, bullying and intimidation of younger children, particularly on and near the MUGA area, constant trespassing into the Orchard and through neighbouring gardens, and drug abuse. Some of these teenagers may be from outside the village, but there's no doubt that many are from Kelsall. What do these teenagers' parents think their kids are getting up to late in the evening? Perhaps they should ask a few searching questions! We know for sure that it isn't the parents who routinely clean up the mess that their kids have left behind. Please contact Cheshire Constabulary (0845-458-0000) immediately if you see any incident occurring - there's little point in ringing up the next day when the only evidence is a pile of broken glass!

Warning about cold callers from National Rooflines: It has been brought to the attention of Trading Standards that a trader named National Rooflines has been cold-calling recently. The trader has been distributing professional looking double-sided coloured fliers advertising replacement fascias, soffits and guttering. The flier displays a montage of photographs illustrating roofing work and at the bottom of the page gives business addresses in Ashton-under-Lyne, Batley, Liverpool and West Bromwich. Also quoted are a freephone number 0800 8589470 and a website that doesn't exist. Following investigations, Trading Standards can confirm that these addresses have no connection whatsoever with National Rooflines and are in fact those of another company. If you have been approached by this trader and would like further information or advice please contact Consumer Direct on 08454-040506.

Lord Binning now open! The Lord Binning, the reincarnation of the Morris Dancer, opened to the public at 18:00 on 24th August. The pub, located in a prime location in the middle of Kelsall, has been closed since April 2010, so it's good to see it back in business. Its website, which is still under construction, includes an invitation to book online and receive a 30% discount on food. It looks as if this offer will continue through to end-September.

More information about Rowland Homes proposal: Rowland Homes has provided Kelsall Parish Council with more information about its proposed housing development in Kelsall. 12 family houses are proposed in the plot off Willington Lane and 14 'shared ownership' houses off Green Lane. We've already heard the parish council's negative reaction to the proposal (see below), and we hear that many residents are equally unhappy. What do you think?

Rowland Homes would welcome your views, either before or at an exhibition that they are planning to hold on 2nd September between 3:30 and 8:00pm in the Community Centre. More information here.

You may recall that Mike Jones, the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, was interviewed by the Chester Chronicle in February 2010 about regeneration and development in rural communities. He referred to the new estates that had been built in the villages of Farndon, Malpas, Tilston, Tattenhall and Kelsall with "totally inappropriate buildings, too large, too tall, all the same type which is totally out of character with those villages. Allowing those villages to have small developments rather than one large development, you create a much more diverse village." There's no doubt that Kelsall has been blighted by recent inappropriate developments - we hope the same mistakes aren't made again!

Kelsall's Conservation Area under threat: The new houses being built on the site of the Old Reliance Works on Chester Road lie in Kelsall's conservation area. The original planning permissions, dating back to 2002 and 2004, stipulated specific designs for the windows, lintels and sills. The developer failed to build the houses to the approved design, and CWaC's Planning Department failed to monitor the building of these houses during the construction process. CWaC's Enforcement Officer was eventually made aware that the houses being built do not accord with the original planning permissions, leading to the submission of two retrospective planning applications by the developer to try to restore the houses to the permitted design. No doubt a compromise will be reached, although the height of the houses may still be an issue. This sorry saga was discussed at the Parish Council meeting on 8th August. Click here to read more.

Proposal to build 24 houses in Kelsall: Andrew Brown, the land director of Rowland Homes, presented outline building proposals to Kelsall Parish Council at the parish meeting on 8th August. Click here for a map of what is proposed. Rowland Homes plans to build 10-12 large detached houses (2000 - 2500 ft²)in 'Parcel 1', adjacent to Willington Lane, and a matching 10-12 affordable homes (650 - 850ft²) in 'Parcel 2', in open countryside off Green Lane. Councillors' responses were primarily negative, ranging from concerns about the ability of Kelsall Primary School, which is already oversubscribed, to cope with additional children, the ability of the existing overloaded sewage system to cope, and the inevitable traffic problems that would result at the Green Lane/Willington Lane junction, which is an existing blackspot, and along Green Lane itself which is very narrow and doesn't have a pavement. No credible suggestions were forthcoming on how Rowland Homes might deal with these problems. It was also noted that affordable homes can only be built in open countryside if there is a local demand for such accommodation, an issue that Rowland Homes didn't appear to have addressed. No doubt all these issues will be debated further when the planning application for these developments is submitted.

NatWest's CommunityForce offers £6000 awards! In each of its local markets NatWest is offering three community projects the chance to win awards of £6,000 each, the winners being decided by local people who are best able to judge how the projects would benefit their communities. If you know a local charity, organisation or group which you think would benefit, please ask them to register by 4th September. Click here to register and for more information.

Film Night season begins on 7th October: Good news - it has been confirmed that CWaC will continue to support Film Nights in Kelsall. The first film of the new season will be 'The King's Speech', to be held at the Kelsall Methodist Hall on 7th October. More information here. Further film nights will be held on 4th November and 2nd December.

Latest Community Policing Newsletter now available: Community Policing Newsletters are produced by Steve Trow, Kelsall's local police officer, every couple of months, and can be found on the Police Page of this website. The latest newsletter reports that a Warrington man has been arrested in connection with three burglaries in the Kelsall area during May. Despite this arrest residents are being asked to be vigilant, to make sure all windows and doors are secure, to set their alarm or use security lighting to deter intruders, and to report any person or vehicles that look out of place. Contact telephone numbers are at the end of the newsletter.

Five new parish councillors: Five parish councillors resigned in April for a variety of reasons, leaving only four councillors to carry out parish duties since then. A plea for applications to fill the vacant positions led to a veritable avalanche of applicants, all of whom were well qualified to contribute to our community. The decision process was difficult, but, following a series of interviews, five of the applicants were selected to serve on the parish council, namely Anne Britton, Richard Boyle, Richard Hancock, Terry Harrop and Peter Moore, the latter already well known in the village as the co-ordinator of Kelsall's successful Duke of Edinburgh scheme. The new councillors experienced their first council meeting on 8th August, a somewhat more lively meeting than usual! Click here to see mug shots of all our councillors. We hope to post brief synopses of our new councillors' backgrounds and aspirations here over the next week or two.

Scams, scams and more scams! The important issue of computer scams has been raised by several Kelsall residents recently, the objective of many scams being to gain access to your bank account and extract your hard earned cash. Many of you will have received unsolicited phone calls telling you that your computer has been compromised in some way and offering to fix the problem if you let them have your bank details, or download specialist software, or give them access to your computer. Click here for more information about some of these scams. The best advice we can offer is:

• Never respond to unsolicited emails that offer money, no matter how enticing.
• Put the phone down if an unsolicited caller offers to fix a computer problem for you.
• Never give personal information or bank account details over the phone or by email.
• Don't be seduced by the offer of an unexpected windfall. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Update on Alex Staniforth's '3 Peaks' Challenge

Alex's record breaking '3-Peaks' Challenge on 5/6 July raised the impressive sum of £1700, which will be distributed 50/50 between two charities, REACT, a conservation charity which runs replanting and reforestation projects worldwide, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which fights breast cancer via campaigning, education and research. Alex's '3 Peaks' Blog and 15 minute YouTube Video Clip are well worth having a look at. An inspiring achievement, bearing in mind that Alex is only 16 and had to face appalling weather during his attempt, particularly on Ben Nevis.

Alex's next big challenge is the ascent of Mont Blanc in July next year!

Goodbye Morris Dancer, Hello Lord Binning!

The Morris Dancer, located in a prime position in the middle of Kelsall and closed since April 2010, is about to be reinvented as The Lord Binning from end-August. Why the new name? The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales tells us that Lord Binning was Lord of the Manor of Kelsall around 1870, so there is some logic behind the name. David Mooney and Paul Newman, the managers of the Lord Binning, are keen to revitalise the pub - click here to read about their plans and aspirations.

Summertrees Tea Room now has its own website: Summertrees Tea Room, renowned locally for its home-made soup, hot and cold snacks, home-made cakes and scones, has now got its own website summertreestearoom.co.uk.

Successful '3 Peaks' challenge by Alex Staniforth!

Congratulations, Alex, on becoming the youngest person, at the age of 16, to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, solo, in 24 hours. Alex set off from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel just after 5:30 on 5th July and, notwithstanding dreadful weather, reached the summit of Ben Nevis in 1:59:00. A navigational error on Scafell Pike didn't lose too much time (3:10:00 for ascent and descent), and Snowdon, the final summit, took about 3 hours to get up and down. Alex completed the challege in 21 hours 57 minutes. Alex was ferried between peaks by his step-dad, Chris Brooks. You can read all about Alex's attempt on his '3 Peaks' Blog. A great effort! Alex has already started to plan his next big challenge, the ascent of Mont Blanc in July next year!

Click here for photos at the 3 summits and at the end.

Metal theft becoming more common in rural villages: Liz Biddle, CWaC's Home Watch Officer, reminds us that metal theft is becoming more common, including the theft of lead, cabling, gates and man hole covers. Please report suspicious vehicles and their drivers where their behaviour might suggest this type of activity. The call handlers at Cheshire Constabulary (0845-458-0000) can quickly check a vehicle registration, so please note the registration number and description of suspicious vehicles. A recent call from a member of the public resulted in the arrest of metal thieves in the Helsby area.

Superfast Broadband in rural Cheshire: We hear that BT has already upgraded Hartford, Northwich and Winsford with Superfast Broadband, and that Chester Central, Chester South and Chester North are programmed for upgrade by the end of 2011. Kelsall isn't even on the roll-out schedule yet, but will hopefully benefit from Cheshire and Warrington's joint project to speed up the implementation of Superfast Broadband and improved broadband speeds to rural communities. You can learn more about the benefits of Superfast Broadband on the Connecting Cheshire website. Please register your interest in Superfast Broadband. Kelsall was an 'also-ran' in BT's recent 'Race to Infinity' (ranked 107th out of 2495 exchages) - let's try to do better this time. Without Superfast Broadband Kelsall's businesses and residents will lose out in many ways to neighbouring communities that have been upgraded.

Another book by Marian Bythell to be published: Marian Bythell, one of Kelsall's prolific authors, reports that 'Jamie Tales', a sequel to 'Jamie', will be published next year by Arthur H Stockwell Ltd. The book is an illustrated children's poetry book with rhyming couplets, comprising four poems recounting the endearing imaginary antics of Jamie, a lovable collie dog. Marian is presently working on another book about ways to save money, and recently had this article, entitled 'A Good Idea or a Bad Idea' published in a magazine called Countryside Tales.

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Scarecrow Trail 2011 (updated 7 July 2011)

The 9th Annual Kelsall Scarecrow Trail ran from 28th May through to 12th June. Kelsall Primary School's PTA, who organised the event, is very pleased to report that this year's Trail was a fantastic success. The money raised, around £1,100, will be used for school projects and activities. There were 54 Scarecrows dotted around the village and well over 450 copies of the Trail Guide were sold - a good indication of the enduring level of interest in this Annual Event! On behalf of the School the PTA we would like to thank everybody who built and exhibited scarecrows, the local companies that advertised within the Trail Guide, and the The Cabinet Room (Tarporley), Si Belle (Tarporley) and The Royal Oak (Kelsall) for kindly sponsoring this year's event.

The winners of the two categories of scarecrow received their trophies at the School's Victorian Summer Fair on 18th June. The Grover Family won the award for Best 'Heroes & Villains' Scarecrow with 'Wallace', and Mary Diggle won the award for Best Traditional Scarecrow for 'Just A Scarecrow'. Both trophies were presented by Steve Williams, the School's Head Teacher. Runners up were the Salt Family for 'The Highway Man's Ghost', the Tenner Family for 'Who ate all the crows' and the Burrows Family for 'Scarecrow Bob'. Click here to see photos of all the scarecrows on the Trail.

Please email any comments you might have about the event to Fen & Martin Drew.