Kelsall Village, near Chester, Cheshire, UK

Amended plans from Rowland Homes: CWaC has received amended plans from Rowland Homes regarding their planning application (13/01003/FUL) to build 11 four and five bedroom detached houses on land off Willington Lane. The changes are relatively trivial, as shown by this revised Layout, this revised Landscaping Plan, and this 'before and after' schematic.

Premises Licence Application causes confusion amongst Kelsall residents!

Kelsall Parish Council's application for a licence to allow Plays, Live Music and Dance to take place on Kelsall Green has caused much confusion amongst residents. The application's web entry on CWaC's website is, unfortunately, confusing, misleading, and incomplete. This copy of the licence application, obtained from Kelsall Parish Council, adds to the confusion. The period for representations on this application closed on 26th April, notwithstanding the questionable legality of this date.

Open letter from residents about Rowland Homes planning application

Jon Moorhouse and Chris Spray, both of whom live in houses adjacent to Rowland Homes' proposed housing estate off Willington Lane, have written this open letter to Kelsall residents regarding their concerns about the failure of Councillors to 'call in' Rowland Homes' planning application to Planning Committee. Please email Jon and Chris with any comments you may have, whether for or against their stance.

Katherine is first Youth Club member to receive Gold DofE Award

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Congratulations to Kathering Ratcliffe on becoming Kelsall Youth Club's first member to receive a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented to her by Alistair Campbell at St James's Palace. Katherine, who is now studying French and German at Durham University, recommends the DofE Award to anyone who has a sense of adventure and a desire to challenge themselves. There are presently more than 25 young people between the ages of 14 and 18 in Kelsall's DofE Group, ably led by Peter Moore and supported by many helpers. The adjacent photos show Katherine at St James's Palace and Katherine, with Peter and Elaine Shakspeare, on Kelsall Green. Hover your cursor over the photos to get bigger images.

John Street resurfacing planned for this financial year: The part of John Street from its junction with Willington Lane at Willington Hall Hotel to The Willingtons (just before Tirley Garth) was closed on 18/19 April to allow drainage problems to be investigated. Funding has been approved for the design and implementation of a revised drainage system for the stretch between Rock Farm and Willington Hall, during this financial year.

Kelsall Parish Council responds to Rowland Homes' planning application

Kelsall Parish Council's well argued response to Rowland Homes' revised planning application to build 11 four and five bedroom detached houses off Willington Lane is now on CWaC's website. Objections relate to the Type of Development, Traffic/Pedestrian Issues, the impact on Kelsall Primary School, and the effect on Public Utilities' - well worth reading.

Ward Councillor John Leather believes that there is no justification for calling-in the application to a Planning Meeting, so a planning officer will make the decision on whether to approve or refuse the application.

Kelsall's D of E Group continues to thrive: 2012 was a marvellous year for Kelsall's Duke of Edinburgh Group. 26 young people took part in expeditions round the north of England (4 Gold, 16 Silver, 6 Bronze), mostly in good weather.

2013 sees 16 young people taking part in expeditions (7 Silver, 9 Bronze), with a further 17 aiming to complete their awards (14 Silver, 3 Gold). Then there are various other young people who have until the age of 25 to complete their awards, so there are probably 40+ who are currently active!

Peter Moore, Kelsall D of E's enthusiastic co-ordinator, is forever grateful to all the leaders who help make it all happen, especially Elaine, Daniel and Sue. Peter hopes that the Group can continue to grow and become a sustainable part of Kelsall's youth activities.

Revised planning application from Rowland Homes: Following the refusal of their original planning application 11/05256/FUL on 7th June 2012, Rowland Homes has submitted a revised application (13/01003/FUL) to build 11 four and five bedroom detached houses on land off Willington Lane. The Green Lane 'affordable homes' element of the original proposal has been removed. At first glance the revised application looks very similar, if not identical, to the Willington Lane element of the original application. In particular, CWaC's Highways Engineer's "concerns about the direct access that the most southerly of the dwellings has onto Willington Lane" haven't been resolved (see Refusal Report, clause 6.40). The revised application includes no 'affordable homes' element.

Premises Licence would allow Plays, Live Music and Dance on Kelsall Green

Kelsall Parish Council has applied for an annual premises licence to allow Plays, Live Music and Dance to take place on Kelsall Green. More information can be found on CWaC's website. Representations relating to this application must be made no later than 16th April.

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More challenges for Alex Staniforth! Following his successful ascent of Mont Blanc last year (see photo on right), Alex Staniforth has new challenges in his sights. He is off to the Himalayas this October to climb Mera Peak (6476m) and Baruntse (7129m), aiming to become the youngest Briton to climb Baruntse, and then, next year, he is pursuing his dream to become the youngest Briton to climb the Southeast ridge of Everest (aged 18). He hopes to raise £29,035 (£1 per foot climbed) for REACT and CLIC Sargent. Alex is appealing for donations towards his Baruntse expedition, whilst pursuing corporate sponsorship for Everest. His new website gives more information. Please help this remarkable young man if you can.

Temporary start/finish for Kelsall's buses in Chester: Because of the revamp of Chester Bus Exchange, buses 82 and 84 will operate to and from Gorse Stacks (Stop 2) for the duration of the refurbishment. These buses still visit Foregate Street on outgoing journeys. More information here.

Holmes Pharmacy undergoing a makeover: Residents will have noticed that changes are taking place in Holmes Pharmacy. Kenny Ng, who took over Holmes Pharmacy last September, tells us what is going on:

All you need to know about 'boiler room' scams: The FSA has produced this useful guide to high pressure sales techniques, known as boiler room scams, that are used to sell investments that promise massive returns but are often worthless. Remember: if it sounds to good to be true,it probably is!

Children's playground vandalised - witnesses sought: Sadly the children's playground on Kelsall Green was badly vandalised during the evening/night of 19th March. The equipment has been made safe to use while quotations to repair the damage are obtained. The incident has been reported to the police who are appealing for witnesses. We appreciate that no one may have seen the damage taking place, but the police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious characters, probably youths, in the playground at that time. Any description may help them find those responsible.

Beer Festival 2013 being held on 15/16 November: Following the success of the 2012 Kelsall Beer Festival the committee members have now started the planning for the 2013 Festival to be held on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th November at Kelsall Community Centre. Entertainment will be the same as for 2012 with 'The Floating Heads' performing on the Friday and 'The Otherside' returning for the Saturday night.

Volunteers needed to help run community library: Kelsall's Community Library has extended its opening hours and is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2.30 to 4.00pm and on Friday mornings from 8.45 to 9.45am. More volunteers are required to help during these extended hours. Please contact the library (01829-751343) if you think you can help. At present most visitors are mums and children from Kelsall Primary School, but the library is trying to increase visitors from the wider community. The library has a a large selection of general fiction including large print books.

Taylor Wimpey's planning application refused: Taylor Wimpey's outline planning application to build up to 90 houses to the north of Flat Lane has been refused by Cheshire West & Chester Council, primarily because the "additional traffic cannot be accommodated safely and satisfactorily within the existing highway network". The refusal letter can be found here.

Kelsall's Neighbourhood Development Plan website now live!

There was a unanimous vote at an Open Meeting on 7th July 2012 in favour of a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) being developed for Kelsall. An NDP Group was subsequently set up, comprising the leaders of seven separate Work Groups. An NDP website has been produced to keep you informed about the NDP Group's activities. Please have a look at the website (www.kelsall.org.uk/NDP/) and please contact the NDP Group if you think you might be able to help. The NDP, when it is approved, will be a vital document in our quest to ensure that Kelsall is developed appropriately and sustainably.

How much do you know about Kelsall? Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has produced this rural community profile for Kelsall Parish. It covers a wide range of issues that have been identified as important for sustainable communities. Well worth a look, although some of the data is a bit dated and some relates to CWaC and not specifically to Kelsall.

Taylor Wimpey's planning application withdrawn from Planning Committee agenda on 5th March 

Taylor Wimpey's planning application 12/01880/OUT was withdrawn from the agenda of the Planning Committee meeting on 5th March. John Leather, Councillor for Tarvin and Kelsall Ward, withdrew his call-in request as a result of CWaC's planning officer's recommendation to refuse the application.

Get Together and reduce your energy bills! Cheshire East's new collective energy switching scheme will bring together thousands of people who want to switch energy providers into one 'auction'. Previous auctions around the country have seen households save up to £200 per year. You don't have to live in Cheshire East – any household in the UK can take part. Cheshire East's online energy auction with the energy companies will take place on 9th April 2013, so you'll have to register by 8th April if you're interested.

Warning over roadside scam: Cheshire Police has issued a warning about gangs of men who are targeting lone female motorists, flagging them down on isolated country lanes and demanding money. More than ten women have reportedly been conned, including two instances in Malpas and Farndon. More information here.

BT 'Unpaid Bill' scam is back! The BT 'Unpaid Bill' scam has been around for several years. A telephone call threatens to disconnect the line unless an unpaid bill is paid immediately. This website describes the scam and advises what to do if you receive such a call. It goes without saying that you shouldn't provide the caller with any personal or financial details.

Kelsall Parish Precept to decrease by 13 percent! It was reported at the Kelsall Parish Council meeting on 4th February that the precept for 2013/14 has been set at £24,483. This welcome reduction of £3815 will counter, to some extent, CWaC's recommendation for a 1.9% council tax increase and the PCC's proposal that the police element of council tax should increase by 1.99%.

Kelsall Primary School getting a new roof! Kelsall Primary School has been successful in its bid to the Department for Education for much needed improvements to the school's tiled roof. The work began on 5th February, and, in addition to providing a watertight roof, will also improve thermal efficiency. The new slates are being sourced from Wales. The old slates will be recycled off site.

The contractors will be based at the front of the school and the visitor car park. The children and parents have been informed and regular meetings will be held with the Site Supervisor to ensure that the works keep on track and that learning isn't impeded.

Chester Community Car Scheme needs volunteers: The Chester Community Car Scheme service is run by Cheshire Community Action and provides a lifeline for elderly, frail or disabled people who don't have a car and have difficulty accessing public transport. The service is relatively inexpensive, much less than a taxi fare, and is 'door to door'. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer driver or a passenger? Click here for more information for prospective volunteer drivers, and here to find out how to register for the scheme.

Gritting routes are on Interactive Mapping: Are you aware of the vast database of information that can be accessed through Cheshire's Interactive Mapping website? Have a look at all the layers that can be displayed on the map of Kelsall, including Parish Boundaries, Street Lights, Bus Stops and, particularly relevant during this cold snap, Gritting Routes. The Highway Faults tab of the website enables highway faults to be reported, including failed street lights, blocked drains, pot holes, overhanging hedges etc. Highways would love to hear from you!

Kelsall Community Centre gets a boost from TalkTalk: TalkTalk will be sponsoring Kelsall Community Centre for the next 12 months with a donation amounting to £600. Residents in Kelsall and the surrounding area will also benefit from a £50,000 investment by TalkTalk, which is expanding its network to provide residents with access to fast, reliable and more secure broadband. John Gray, Chairman of Kelsall Community Centre, said: "We are very pleased that TalkTalk has chosen to support Kelsall Community Centre over the next twelve months. The donation of £600 will be used towards on-going refurbishment, an early idea being to buy a wall mounted water boiler to replace the free standing ones we have at the moment. It will make a significant difference to everyone using the hall".

More information about Taylor Wimpey's planning application: Taylor Wimpey has produced this revised proposal to deal with concerns about the safety of pedestrians along the stretch of Flat Lane between the proposed development and Chester Road, and the safety of the junction between Flat Lane and Chester Road. Click here for a sketch of the proposed changes. Residents are encouraged to comment on these revised proposals.

Disappointing news for Kelsall - CWaC's Planning Committee approves Bloor Homes planning application

Bloor Homes planning application (12/03551/FUL) to build 33 houses off Hallows Drive was discussed at CWaC's Planning Committee on 15th January. CWaC's planning officer's report, published prior to the meeting, had recommended that permission should be granted. Four well-argued submissions against the application were made at the meeting by Jill Cox (representing local residents), Noel Dutton (representing Kelsall Parish Council), and by Ward Councillors Hugo Deynem and John Leather. Notwithstanding their strong arguments against the application the meeting narrowly voted in favour, the vote believed to be: 5 for, 4 against, 1 abstention.

Several aspects of the discussion at the meeting gave cause for concern. There was more than one comment that approval would help CWaC achieve its house building target, giving the impression that CWaC's target for the borough might have had an undue influence on the decision. It was noted at the meeting that the application contravenes the Kelsall Parish Landscape & Design Statement, a Statutary Planning Document, but this was totally ignored by the meeting. There were references at the meeting to Kelsall being a Key Service Centre (KSC), but the concept of KSCs is still being discussed in the context of CWaC's Local Plan, and is by no means a 'done deal'. Finally, there were references to the proposed development being sustainable, with no attempt made to define what is meant by sustainable. As far as the residents of Kelsall are concerned, the development is unsustainable on many counts, eg public transport, school capacity, medical centre capacity, flooding risk, road congestion. When will CWaC realise that creaking infrastructure should be dealt with before major building developments are countenanced?

Additional police officer allocated to Kelsall area! PC Graeme Morrison has been appointed as an additional officer for this area. Graeme will be working alongside PC Steve Trow in a crime investigation and neighbourhood support role. He has spent considerable time as a training officer for student constables and is looking forward to meeting you.

Local residents receive persuasive phishing email: Purportedly coming from PayPal, with their logo and layout, this phishing email says PayPal has, following your instructions, sent £39 to Skype, and gives you a link to their "Resolution Centre" if you want to dispute the payment. If you click the link to get a refund, you'll be asked to enter your email address and Paypal password, which could seriously damage your wealth! This isn't a new scam, but it appears to be doing the rounds again. If you check the transaction ID number with the official PayPal site, you will discover that it isn't a valid number, and no payment has been made. If you receive such an email, please don't be persuaded to respond to it.

Parish Council's response to 'Preferred Policy Directions' document is now on CWaC's website

CWaC intends to post all responses to its 'Local Plan Preferred Policy Directions' consultation document onto its website, but there has been a delay of a few weeks between submitting a response and seeing it appear on the web. There are two ways to access Kelsall Parish Council's response, which was posted on CWaC's website today (3rd December). Click here for the 'Preferred Policy Directions' page, click 'Who Said What?', check 'Comments', click 'Search', check 'Consultees who have commented on it', click 'List', then click the letter 'R'. Kelsall's response appears against the name of Kelsall's parish clerk, Natalie Read. Alternatively, rather than clicking 'List', put 'Kelsall' in the search box and click 'Search'. If you want to see the comments of other councils or organisations it's best to search on the organisation's name rather than use the alphabetical listing.

Unlicensed clothing collections still confusing Kelsall residents

All charitable clothing collections need a licence, either through inclusion in the Cabinet Office's Exemption List, or from CWaC. Commercial clothing collections seem to be unregulated, but what's the point in lining the pockets of a commercial company when there are plenty of genuine charity shops that would welcome your discarded clothing. CharityBags estimates that "Taking your unwanted clothes etc to a charity shop raises around 50 times more money for charity compared with giving your clothes to a typical house-to-house 'charity' collector"! At present there are only 6 valid CWaC licences, namely for Clothes Aid (collecting on behalf of Zoe's Place), East London Textiles (ELT, collecting on behalf of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research), North West Air Ambulance, Treating Children with Cancer, UK Recycling Assistance (collecting on behalf of Children's Trust), and Woodlands Cancer Care.

If in doubt, please contact CWaC's Licensing Team (01244-977962).

How to spot and report Ash Dieback: Would you know how to spot and report Ash Dieback (Chalara fraxinea)? The Forestry Commission's website has up to date information on the disease, including this pictorial guide to recognising the main symptoms.

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Wild Cherry trees planted on Kelsall Green

On 10th November Kelsall Gardening Club planted 6 Wild Cherry trees [prunus avium] along the path through Kelsall Green to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, each tree representing 10 years of her reign. The Women's Institute also planted a total of 1,000 crocus bulbs, arranged around the trees. Both the trees and crocuses will produce blossom in early spring (March/April), and will provide food for early awakening bumble bees when flowers are few and far between. The fruit (a little on the sour side for humans!) is appreciated by birds, particularly thrushes. As they mature the trees will be pruned to form an avenue.

Rural Community Services is a 'Highly Commended' charitable organisation!

Congratulations to Rural Community Services (RCS), a relatively new charity that runs OPAL (Older People at Leisure) Clubs in Kelsall, Tarporley, Tattenhall, Malpas and Helsby, for being awarded a Highly Commended certificate at the 2012 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards Event on 15th November. RCS was in a group of 5 finalists in the category 'Charity or Social Enterprise making Best Social Contribution', and was invited to apply again next year. RCS is presently trying to obtain £9,000 to fund 3 apprenticeships, two in Malpas and one in Kelsall, that would provide young people with the opportunity to work in RCS's day service and related private sector settings.

RCS is also starting a new service, called 'Breaktime', that is intended to provide respite and support to carers of older people in the rural areas it covers. Jean Toyn (07984-299140), RCS's newly appointed paid organiser, would love to hear from volunteers who might be able to help with this service.

Kelsall Opal Club is looking for more volunteer drivers to drive local members to Kelsall Methodist Hall on Monday mornings and return them to their homes in the afternoon. Please contact Zoe (07562-619275) if you think you might be able to help.

Parish Council responds to 'Local Plan Preferred Policy Directions' consultation document

CWaC's 140-page 'Local Plan Preferred Policy Directions' consultation document comprises 24 Preferred Policy Directions (PD01 - PD24), of which the first 6 (PD01 - PD06) relate to spatial strategy and the remainder relate to economic, social and environmental objectives. Kelsall Parish Council's impressively comprehensive 27-page response agrees with the need for sustainable development, but disagrees with most of the other Spatial Strategy Policy Directions, making the point that "many Policies are unsound, potentially illegal and not market focussed ". If you don't have the time to read the complete response, please try to read what Kelsall Parish Council has to say about Policy Direction PD04 Rural Area, in which, amidst a plethora of inaccuracies and opaque methodology, Kelsall is identified as a Key Service Centre (KSC) that warrants the construction of 300 houses over the next 20 years.

Another key document you may care to digest is the The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2010 - 2011, which lists sites for a potential 500+ houses in Kelsall (shown blue on this map). Kelsall Parish Council estimates that, of these sites, only "77 properties could be delivered, although many of these would actually be against the NPPF."

Steve Trow still targeting indiscriminate parking! Click here to see PC Steve Trow's latest newsletter. Steve notes that "Lazy people continue to park on the double yellows outside Kelsall Co-op, the Hair Salon and the Greedy Pig. I am sure a £30 fixed penalty ticket is not on your Christmas list ....". You have been warned! Steve's next drop-in surgery in the village is at 2:00pm in Community Centre on Wednesday 28th November.

Vacancy at Kelsall Pre-School and Klub: Kelsall Pre-School and Klub Ltd are looking to recruit Qualified Bank Staff to cover Pre-School and Klub in times of staff absences/holidays etc. All candidates must have at least a NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare & Education, or equivalent, and must be familiar with EYFS. More information here.

Kelsall Scottish Country Dancing Group's AGM: Rosie Humphreys, Ian Dingwall and Val Armstrong were elected as officers at the recent AGM. The group has had a successful season, including a Burns Night dance with music by the well known George Meikle from Dumfries. The group meets on Wednesdays 8pm-10pm in the Community Centre and organises a mix of simple and more advanced dances - you'll be able to join in, even on your first session. For more information ring Val Armstrong (01829-751867) or click here.

Community Forum reinforces potential implications for Kelsall of CWaC's proposed Local Plan

The recent Community Forum on Wednesday 31st October gave Kelsall residents the opportunity to revisit some of the possible implications of CWaC's proposed Local Plan. The following documents seem to be particularly relevant for Kelsall:

• The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2010 - 2011 (SHLAA) assesses land availability in the Borough by identifying buildings or areas of land that have development potential for housing. The assessment lists sites for a potential 500+ houses in Kelsall (listed under Gowy Ward), although it should be stressed that inclusion on this list does not imply that the council would necessarily grant planning permission. These sites are shown blue on this map.

• These assessment criteria have been used to identify Kelsall as one of 9 key service centres in the borough. This document concludes that "Some 300 dwellings are considered a reasonable level of growth over the Plan period" (20 years), and, somewhat bizarrely, that "No education capacity issues have been identified.".

Weekly wildlife walks now on Saturday mornings: Alex Staniforth's wildlife walks have switched to Saturday mornings at 10am, meeting at The Yeld car park and heading into Delamere Forest or Primrose Hill Wood. The aim of the walks is to enjoy, spot and learn about local wildlife and how to photograph them in an informal and friendly manner. Walkers should bring a camera and dark/camouflaged clothing. Dogs should be left at home! Please email Alex for more information.

Volunteers needed to help monitor and maintain Kelsall Green

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New 'Gold Award' beer celebrates D of E achievement!

This year's Kelsall Beer Festival featured a new beer, 'Gold Award', in celebration of Kelsall Youth Club's first ever Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award which was achieved recently by Katherine Ratcliffe, an enthusiastic and hugely motivated member of the club. We wholeheartedly congratulate Kat on her fantastic achievement.

Community Pride Successes for Kelsall!

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 in Middlewich Civic Hall on 4th October, and was attended by Noel Dutton, Parish Councillor, on behalf of the village. Noel is very pleased to report that Kelsall collected two awards for the fourth year running, one for the 'Best Community Website', and the other for 2nd place (to Tarporley) in the 'Best Kept Village' competition (2500-5000 population). Congratulations to our webmaster John Hammond, and to all those who contributed to these two awards.

Click here to see Kelsall's 9 awards over the last 5 years.

Time is running out - please register your demand for Superfast Broadband

Superfast Broadband is unlikely to reach much of rural Cheshire before 2015. Connecting Cheshire is actively lobbying on behalf of residents and businesses within Cheshire to meet or better this timing. Areas that highlight the greatest demand will be considered priority areas for early rollout for improved broadband services, so please register your demand for Superfast Broadband in Kelsall. There's much more information on the Connected Cheshire website.

Holmes Pharmacy under new ownership: Anthony Holmes, having run Holmes Pharmacy for 20 years, has sold the business to Mr Kenny Ng, an independent pharmacist, with effect from 29th September. Anthony would like to thank all the loyal customers who have supported his business and made working in Kelsall such a happy and rewarding experience for him. We wish Anthony all the best in the future, and look forward to welcoming Mr Ng to the village.

Tarvin Educational Trust seeks applicants for awards: The purpose of Tarvin Educational Trust is to assist the educational needs of students of secondary school age and older who live in the Ancient Parish of Tarvin, which includes Kelsall. This assistance may take the form of financial assistance for tuition fees, books, musical instruments, and travel on approved courses. Applications should be made no later than 26th November 2012 to the Clerk to the Governors, Mr DH Cotgreave, Brown Heath Farm, Tarvin, Chester CH3 8NE (01829-740231).

Kelsall Parish Council's response to Bloor's planning application

The consultation period for Bloor's planning application to build 34 houses and demolish 2 existing houses on Hallows Drive has now expired. Public comments, all of which are negative, can be found on CWaC's website. Kelsall Parish Council's comprehensive list of 15 well-argued objections is well worth reading. Many references are made to Bloor's proposed development being inconsistent with the Kelsall Parish Landscape and Design Statement (July 2007), a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that is a "comprehensive and totally up-to-date document that clearly expresses the needs of the Parish". This SPD contains a Sustainability Appraisal that clearly defines what 'sustainable development' means for Kelsall. Kelsall Parish Council believes that this appraisal should be "considered over and above the considerations of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework)".

Update on Kelsall's Neighbourhood Development Plan

More information on Kelsall's Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will be posted here shortly. In the meantime you may wish to have a look at and comment on CWaC's 140-page 'Local Plan Preferred Policy Directions' document. You may find this summary more digestible! The contents of this document will feed into CWaC's new Local Plan, which will define the development strategy for the borough, and, by implication, for Kelsall over the next 20 years.

Community Governance Review: Kelsall residents should have all received a short questionnaire from CWaC asking for their views about the activities and performance of Kelsall Parish Council. This questionnare forms part of a Community Governance Review of Kelsall, Delamere, Oakmere, Utkinton and Willington parishes, the objective being to ensure that community governance continues to be effective and convenient. Click here for more information about the review, here for a map of the the five parishes, and here for useful information about Kelsall Parish Council, including a list of the services it provides. Click here if you wish to complete the questionnaire online.

Planning application by Bloor Homes: Earlier this year Bloor Homes presented draft proposals to build 36 houses off Hallows Drive. Residents who attended Kelsall Parish Council's meeting on 14th May were unanimously opposed to the proposed housing estate. Bloor's proposal has now been revised slightly and planning application 12/03551/FUL has been submitted to build 34 houses and demolish 2 existing houses on Hallows Drive. Full details can be found here. Comments and objections can be made online or sent to: Planning Service, Cheshire West & Chester Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1AH.

Habitats and Hillforts Project is coming to an end: The Habitats and Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme will shortly close, bringing an end to four years of activity up and down Cheshire's sandstone ridge. In order to safeguard the legacy of the project, a new trust, the Sandstone Ridge Trust, will help to protect and enhance the wildlife habitats and historic heritage on and around Cheshire's Sandstone Ridge, stretching from Frodsham and Helsby in the north to Bickerton Village in the south. Trustees are keen to gather support for the project, attract a membership and create a mailing list. Please email them to join the mailing list, express your interest and have the opportunity to become a member. The Habitats and Hillforts website will shortly migrate to become the Sandstone Ridge Trust Website.

First impressions of new Chester Theatre: Many Kelsall residents will be interested to see the first artists' impressions of Chester's £40.5m theatre and cultural venue. Click here to see the proposed frontage of the new theatre, and here to see a cross-section of the theatre and cultural venue (with information key).

Parish Council adopts CWaC's code of conduct: At its monthly meeting on 13th August Kelsall Parish Council decided to adopt CWaC's new Code of Conduct and Register of Interests.

Kelsall residents have recently received HMRC phishing emails, possibly prompted by the imminent end-September self assessment deadline. It's worth bearing in mind that HMRC doesn't inform people of a tax rebate or demand via email, or invite people to complete an online form to receive or claim tax. These phishing emails are quite persuasive, but don't be fooled by offers that appear to be too good to be true. They probably are! Click here for a selection of common scams, and here for the OFT's Scambuster Guide.

Another planning application by Kelsall Co-op: Kelsall's Co-op has submitted a planning application to extend its opening hours on Sundays and bank holidays, namely from 08:00 to 22:00 to 07:00 to 22:00. To date only one resident has objected, on the grounds of "no perceived need" and the "associated noise and disturbance" on a Sunday morning. The lack of public response would appear to be due to CWaC's failure to inform neighbouring residents on Chester Road of the application. The consultation expiry date is 22nd August, so there's not much time left to object or comment!

Kelsall's parking problems being addressed! Residents are well aware of the indiscrimate parking that takes place every day outside the Co-op and outside Kelsall Primary School during drop-off and pick-up times. PC Steve Trow's latest newsletter describes how these problems are being addressed. Steve reports that his £30 fixed penalty book has been working overtime recently - you have been warned! He also notes that the Highways team are intending to make improvements outside the school before the new term starts.

Kelsall's Neighbourhod Development Plan needs you! The decision was taken at the 'Questionnaire Feedback Meeting' on 7th July for Kelsall Parish Council to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NPD) to help guide developments in the village. The Parish Council would like to hear the opinions of those who weren't at the meeting, and how residents might be able to help. The NPD needs to be formulated by a diverse cross-section of the community, so please complete this short questionnaire if you think you may be able to contribute. Completed forms can be 'posted' in boxes at the Kelsall Co-op and Holmes Pharmacy.

Kelsall Community Centre being refurbished: You may have noticed that Kelsall Community Centre has recently undergone several improvements. All the guttering, downspouts and light fittings have been renewed, including all the wall lights in the Main Room. The building was closed from 13th August for ten working days while the wooden floor in the Main Room was refurbished by sanding it down to the original wood and applying 3 coats of a polyurethane based sealer.

Update on Taylor Wimpey's Planning Application: Most of the documents, objections and stakeholder responses relating to Taylor Wimpey's outline planning application to build 90 houses behind Kelsall Primary School can be found on CWaC's website, including Kelsall Parish Council's comprehensive list of 19 well-argued objections. Taylor Wimpey reacted to these objections by sending this detailed response to CWaC on 13th June. Kelsall Parish Council reacted with this robust response. All these documents are fairly long, but they give a good overview of the issues involved. You might like to have a look at Kelsall Parish Council's "alternative community aspiration" for the site in question. It should be stressed that is no more than a pipedream at present, but there's no harm in dreaming!

Night of jazz to celebrate the life of Arthur Pedder: Earlier this year we were saddened to learn that Arthur Pedder, Kelsall's celebrated trombonist, had passed away. The Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra organisedg a special night of jazz to celebrate his life on Friday 7th September in Liverpool, the proceeds being donated to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd where Arthur spent his final days.

Alex attains his Mont Blanc dream!

Many congratulations to Alex Staniforth, Kelsall's wildlife enthusiast and Olympic torchbearer, who climbed Mont Blanc on 26th July and raised the impressive sum of £5700, to be split 50/50 between two charities, namely REACT and Cancer Research UK. Alex's next challenge will be a 800+ mile bike ride with 3 other torchbearers from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for Epilepsy Action.

We're not sure where Alex gets his energy from - it might be something to do with being a teenager!

Alex's blog tells more about his 'Mont Blanc dream'

Food hygiene ratings available for local businesses: Food hygiene standards are available on the Food Standards Agency's websitefor all Kelsall's pubs, shops and other establishments where food can be eaten or bought. Most have a top '5' rating (very good), with a couple rated at '4' (good). You may wish to check the inspection date as some premises were last inspected well over a year ago. Wally Duttons Butchers, for example, was rated '5' on 17th November 2010, whereas Kelsall's Co-op was inspected a couple of weeks ago, and also rated '5', on 13th July.

Don't forget Kelsall's Online Shop! The Youth Support Group, together with Kelsall Parish Council, are trying to raise about £8000 to finish off the MUGA on Kelsall Green. A relatively painless way for residents to contribute to this sum is to use Kelsall's Online Shop when shopping on the internet. Some retailers donate as much as 10% of the value of what's bought! Please shop this way if you can.

More scams: Several Kelsall residents have recently received scam emails from people they know who claim to have been robbed of all their possessions in a foreign country, and urgently need money to be transferred to their account to allow them to return home. Needless to say, it's a scam, but these emails are often sufficiently convincing to persuade a few recipients to transfer money. It's difficult to keep up with all the scams that are circulating - click here for a recent selection from the OFT, and here for the OFT's Scambuster Guide. This new 'Scams' website is the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre and should be used to report any scam you come across.

Residents support Kelsall Parish Council's proposal to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan 

About 60 residents attended Kelsall Community Centre on Saturday 7th July to hear the results of the recent 'Village Questionnaire'. The meeting was structured round the following agenda items. Click on the links for more information.

Winners of the prize draw were Malcolm Wards (Royal Oak £40 Food & Drink Voucher), Zoe Griffiths (Lord Binning Two Course Meal for Two), and Neil & Abbey Richardson (His and Hers Garden Chairs). Kelsall Parish Council would like to thank the Royal Oak and Lord Binning for their support and for providing the prizes.

There was unanimous support from those present for Kelsall Parish Council to go ahead with the production of a Neighbourhood Development Plan to help guide developments in the village.

Community Policing Newsletter available: Click here to see PC Steve Trow's latest newsletter for Kelsall and neighbouring villages. Steve will be holding 'drop-in surgeries' in Kelsall Community Centre's car park at 2:00pm on 18th July and 1st, 8th and 15th August.

Successful 100km MTB charity challenge: Kelsall resident Jack Wood and a group of colleagues from M&S Money Chester took part in a 100km MTB challenge on 6th July, and raised over £5000 for the Katie Piper Foundation. A big thank you for the support they received from Tracs Delamere, One Planet Adventure, family, friends, colleagues and many others. The ride started with 50km of trails at Coed Llandegla in pouring rain, then headed for Delamere to complete another 50km. They encoutered pinch flats, snapped gears, snapped chain, brake failures, ripped tyres and a lot of mud and rain. Luckily they all avoided A&E! Donations are still coming in and can be made through JustGiving. Click here for a photo of the muddy group of riders - Jack is wearing a blue top, 3rd from the right.

Increase in the number of distraction burglaries: Cheshire Police reports an increase in the number of distraction burglaries throughout Cheshire where the offenders have said they are from the Water Board in order to gain access to houses, using stories such as 'the water is poisoned' or 'there has been an explosion nearby'. Please remember there is NO SUCH BODY AS THE WATER BOARD. Please be wary of any unusual or unexpected caller and don't be afraid to ask for identification. If you have any concerns please ring the police on 101 giving as much information as you can about the caller and his vehicle.

Successful fundraising night at the Lord Binning: Many of you will already be aware of Alex Staniforth's plan to raise £4810 by climbing Mont Blanc later this month, the money raised being split 50/50 between two charities, namely REACT and Cancer Research UK. A hugely successful fundraising evening at the Lord Binning on 29th June raised a total of £3000, of which an impressive £1300 was raised by the charity auction. Alex's Mont Blanc total now stands at £5310, £500 above his original target! Alex's climb is scheduled to take place from 22nd to 27th July.