Latest information from your Parish Council with the right to comment. The Council is launching this blog to highlight topical issues.

If you have any queries contact guildensuttonpc@aol.com

30 January

A55 resurfacing

The Highways Agency is intending to undertake resurfacing works on the Northbound and Southbound carriageways of the A55 from Junction 12 of the M53 Motorway with the A56 in Hoole Village through to the A55 Junction 37 with the A51 at Tarvin Road.
The works will comprise repairing carriageway pot holes, upgrading the worn road markings and the replacement of the road surfacing with quieter material.
Works will start on 7 February until 12 February. Full closures are required to complete the works.
In order to minimise disruption to road users, the full closure of the main carriageway will be restricted to night works between 10pm and 5am when traffic flows are the lightest.
Suitable diversion routes have been identified and will be fully signed when the closures are in place.
Stephen Mosley MP said:“Residents living close to the M53 and A55 have complained for years about the noise of the motorway and I am pleased that the Highways Agency are gradually replacing the surface with a quieter material.”

27 January 2012

There have been several reports from Cheshire residents of ex-offenders selling products and services door-to-door. They claim to be working on a Probation Service-approved doorstep selling scheme. Cheshire Probation Service has confirmed that it does not involve offenders in any type of doorstep scheme.  

Trading Standards would advise residents not to buy from any person claiming to be part of this project. If you are targeted by someone saying they are part of this scheme politely refuse their business and contact the Police by telephoning the non-emergency number 101.

Residents should remain vigilant at all times and please remember, do not to allow unexpected callers claiming to be officials into your home without first checking that they are genuine.  

You can check the validity of the caller by contacting the organisation they claim to be from but remember, never use the number provided by an unsolicited caller to check authenticity. If you have any doubts whatsoever do not allow access.

Please share this advice with friends, relatives and neighbours and anyone you know who may be vulnerable.

22 January 2012

PC Rob Boulton

Residents may be aware there was the possibility we were to lose our local officer PC Rob Boulton. That has been rescinded at this time and the Rural Inspector's advice to an occupier who raised the issue is beneath.

Further to your letter dated 18th January 2012 and our subsequent telephone conversation, I would like to take the opportunity to confirm that PC Boulton is remaining as the Local Officer for Guilden Sutton at this time.

By way of some background information, I have recently reviewed the Western Rural Neighbourhood Unit as a whole and in an effort to provide visibility to all communities as to whom their Local Officer is, allocated ‘beats’ to all the relevant officers, cognisant of demand and geographical area of responsibility. In some cases to follow this need for equitable distribution of workload coupled with the necessity for clear visibility of officer responsibilities some change was experienced within the directive to my staff.

The responsibility for Local Officer for Guilden Sutton was originally one such area of proposed change but after consultation with PC Boulton this has been rescinded and he remains as your Local Officer.

Whilst the issue has obviously caused some concern for Guilden Sutton it is credible to note that PC Boulton has clearly got a strong link with the community and good lines of communication, which in return are recognised and replicated by members of the community and evidenced by your letter.

I would be grateful if you could share this information with interested parties as appropriate.

Thursday 8 December

Parish Council budget

How should the parish council spend your money (at present around £25 a year for an average band D property). What would you like to see included or changed for 2012/13?

Have your say at an informal drop in from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in the committee room of the Village Hall on Tuesday 13 December.   

4 December

Home Watch has advised that as part of a national programme the Cheshire Police non-emergency number of 0845 458 0000 has been replaced with 101.

This number will provide a single non-emergency number across England and Wales and should be used to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
eg   If your car has been stolen 
       Damage or vandalism to your property
       Suspected drug use or dealing
       To provide information about a crime.

Calls to 101 will be charged at a flat rate of 15 pence. no matter how long the duration of the call is, what time of day it is or whether the call is from a landline or mobile phone.

Where there is a threat to life or a crime in progress or other genuinely emergency continue to call the 999 number.

If you have any questions or comments about using the 101 number please email western.watch@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

4 December

Advice from Home Watch.

There is an email phishing scam currently circulating which affects users of Paypal and/or Skype.  

Typically people have been emailed saying that they are due to be billed a renewal fee with Skype of around £80. (There are other variations of the email.) The user is then given the option of stopping this through their paypal account and is given a link to click. This link looks very genuine and encourages you to log into your paypal  account to stop the payment.

There is no such payment.  This is simply a phishing exercise to get the access details for your account and then transfer money out of your paypal account and any linked bank accounts usually within minutes of  the password being entered.

NB  We recommend that you always type the access details for any of your financial dealings yourself, never click on links from other websites or emails

2 December 2011

Parliamentary constituency boundary review

Last call - comments on the proposal that Guilden Sutton should move from the City of Chester constituency to a new Winsford constituency are due with the Boundary Commission by Monday 5 December.

Councillors' surgery

Councillors will hold a surgery at 10am tomorrow (Saturday 3 December) ahead of the Council meeting on Monday 5 December at 7.30pm which also includes public speaking time.     

17 October 2011

Superfast broadband

Delivering superfast broadband is a priority for Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington Borough Councils.
There are significant benefits for organisations and businesses that operate in the parish.
The three councils have formed the Connecting Cheshire partnership aiming to deliver superfast broadband to every resident and business by 2015.
The partnership has recently secured £3.24m to start the process and needs local communities such as Guilden Sutton to help it demonstrate;
 
How much the community needs the technology?
What we will use it for?
What we can do to ensure everyone benefits?

Guilden Sutton's input will help the partnership attract the match funding needed to achieve its aim of providing superfast broadband access to every household in the sub-region by 2015.
The Cheshire Association of Local Councils and Cheshire Community Action are committed to this opportunity for local people and parishes to help shape the delivery of superfast broadband in our communities.
If you can respond to the questions above please do so to guildensuttonpc@aol.com.
If you are able to reply by 24 October, the information you provide will be able to be used by the parish council's representative at a workshop the following day about the initiative.

15 October 2011
Boundary Commission
The Council appeared before the assistant commissioner on Thursday October 13 to present the case for Guilden Sutton to remain in the City of Chester Constituency. The case appears elsewhere in this web site.  Anyone can comment to the commission until 5 December, 2011. The outcome will not be known until 2013.   

  
15 October 2011
Roadworks
Notice has been given of roadworks in and near the parish.
Wicker Lane.
A length of Wicker Lane is due to be closed from Monday October 17 for five days to enable carriageway haunching works to be carried out by Cheshire West and Chester Council. The closure will involve a 450m length of the road towards Tarvin Road.
All vehicles must use an alternative route involving Wicker Lane, Tarvin Road, Hare Lane, Guilden Sutton Lane and Wicker Lane.

Hare Lane.
Part of Hare Lane has been closed to enable water and gas mains works to be carried out from the junction with the A51 Tarvin Road to outside the entrance to Manor Farm. Initially the works will be between 10pm and 5am but will need to be in place continuously from Saturday October 22. They are expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.
Diversions involve Tarvin Road, the A41 to Hoole Roundabout, the A41 to Guilden Sutton Lane and Hare Lane and Tarvin Road, Wicker Lane, School Lane, Guilden Sutton Lane and Hare Lane.
Access to properties and for emergency vehicles will be maintained at some times.

A51 Tarvin Road
Work is taking place for two months on Tarvin Road between Hare Lane and the Vicars Cross Road traffic lights between 10pm and 5am each night.

Details are given on the usual yellow boards approaching each location. 

4 August 2011

The Parish Council has become one of the few in Cheshire West and Chester to have achieved Quality Status. The background is in this press release from the Cheshire Association of Parish Councils.

Four parish councils in Cheshire West & Chester have achieved coveted Quality Council status.
The nationally recognised accolade of "Quality Status" was awarded to Antrobus - which was reaccrediting - Guilden Sutton, Hartford and Huntington due to their proven commitment to consistently delivering high standards of service within their communities.
"The performance of these parish councils, ranging from their business efficiency to their ongoing community involvement and transparency of operation, was rigorously examined against a set of searching tests and all four passed with flying colours," said Randal Hibbert, the independent chairman of the Cheshire Quality Accreditation Panel.
"Achieving accreditation at Quality level is no mean feat," said Cllr Stuart Hulse, chairman of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils. 
"Standards are high and councils must maintain them because they have to re-qualify for Quality Status every 4 years, just as Antrobus Parish Council have this month."
Cllr Hulse added "Any community can be rightly proud when its local council gains Quality Status and our principal authorities (Cheshire West & Chester, Halton, Warrington and Cheshire East) have renewed confidence they are working with competent, well-run organisations, ready to take on the challenges and opportunities in the government's Localism Bill".
"I believe that Quality Status can be within the grasp of our largest Town Council or smallest Parish Council," added Cllr Hulse. 
"The Cheshire Association has support and advice available to any member council dedicated to being the best."

3 August 2011 

The Council is sad to hear of the death of former councillor Mr Michael Gartland. Mr Gartland served on the council for a number of years.

3 August 2011

Chester Villages ward councillor Stuart Parker and officers from Cheshire West and Chester Council are to meet representatives of the parish council today to discuss the condition of a number of troublesome footpaths in the village together with litter picking issues.

19 July 2011

It's official - Guilden Sutton has a Quality Parish Council, one of only a handful in the borough to achieve this status. More later.

19 July 2011 

The Council has contacted the highways depot about the road closure at the top of Guilden Sutton Lane at the same time as Belle Vue Lane which is closed for much needed repairs for a week.

19 July 2011

Maintenance work was carried out this morning to the protected Sycamore in the war memorial garden at the foot of Porters Hill under the supervision of a tree officer from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

19 July 2011

The Council has agreed to link up with Mickle Trafford and District Parish Council to look into the possibility of a new neighbourhood plan for both parishes under the Localism agenda.  More later. 

17 July 2011

The Parish Council meets on Monday evening (18 July) at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. The meeting includes public speaking time.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Reisdents should note that Belle Vue Lane will be closed to through traffic during working hours from 18th July for a period of 5 days to allow resurfacing and other road improvements.

Sunday 10 July 2011

The July meeting of the Council will be held on Monday 18 July at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. As usual, the meeting will include public speaking time. 

Sunday 10 July 2011

Cheshire West and Chester Council notifies the Council of all planning applications in the parish, including applications to fell protected trees (but not to prune them). The Council consults the applicant and neighbours and reaches a view which is reported to the planning authority and taken into account when the decision is reached.  

Normally there are between two and three dozen applications a year.
  
Recent applications have included:

11/01732/FUL replacement canopy and porch to front at 48 Oaklands. No objection. Planning permission granted. .

11/01738/FUL, single storey side extension at 1 Arrowcroft Road. No objection. Planning permission granted.

11/01832/FUL single storey rear extension at Windy Nook, Belle Vue Lane. No objection.

11/01990/FUL Single-storey extension, Guilden Sutton CE Primary School Arrowcroft Road. Under consideration.

11/02237/TPO felling of willow at 5 Orchard Croft. Objection due to lack of justification by the agent.

11/02238/FUL Single-storey rear extension at 14 Fox Cover. No objection.

11/02046/FUL Single-storey side extension at Roughwoods, Belle Vue Lane. Under consideration.

11/02870/FUL Proposed detached dwelling, The Vicarage Wicker Lane. Plans awaited. 

For information on any application, including documents, go to the Cheshire West and Chester Council web site or contact guildensuttonpc@aol.com 

Tuesday 28 June

The Chairman's annual report for 2010/11, which summarises the Council's full annual report for the same year, will be distributed inside newsletter no 142 with the Chester Standard this Thursday. The full annual report is available on this web site. Please note that due to an error, the newsletter is incorrectly printed and is missing p2. The correct version also appears on this web site.

Tuesday 28 June

There will be a parish council surgery at 10am on Saturday 2 July at the Summerfield Road shops. No appointment needed, just turn up.

Monday June 27

Please note the July meeting of the Council moves from the first Monday to Monday 18 July to take account of no meeting being scheduled for August.  The monthly surgery will be held as usual on the first Saturday. Any matters will be reported to the Council as usual and urgent action if needed.      

Thursday 12 May

Council accounts. The Council will sign off its books for 2011/12 at its June meeting. A summary of the accounts for 2010/11 will appear in the annual report newsletter to be issued prior to 30 June 2011.

Tuesday 10 May  

Jane Hughes, Wicker Lane, is the new chairman of the council for 2011/12. This will be Jane's first stint as chairman and we all wish her well. She succeeds Trisha Paterson.

Danny Fisher takes over from Jane as vice chairman.

Friday 6 May 2011

The results of the parish and borough council elections are as follows. Our congratulations to those elected and commiserations and thanks to those councillors who are not returning.   

Brown, Imogen Sue 336
Davis, Alan Bruce 336
Fisher, Danny Michael 331
Hughes, Derek 333
Hughes, Jane 316
Lloyd-Kerfoot, Michelle 306
Moulton, Bill 265*
Paterson, Patricia Margaret 321
Roberts, Michael Stephen John (Indt) 462

* not elected

Borough Council election.

Bailey, Brian John (Indt) 812
Cornwell, Paul (Lab) 815
Davies, Steve (Lab) 781
Parker, Margaret Phyllis (Con) 1,880*
Parker, Stuart (Con) 1,941*
Roberts, Michael Stephen John (Indt) 595

* elected

Wednesday 4 May

April Parish Council meeting minutes published. Click here

Agenda published for May PC meeting. Click here

Monday 2 May

The annual meeting of the parish council will take place in the village hall on Monday 9 May at 7.30pm. The meeting includes public speaking time and is due to see the election of the chairman and vice chairman of the council for 2011/12.
  
Monday 2 May

The monthly parish council surgery will take place at the Summerfield Road shops at 10am on Saturday 7 May. Just turn up - no appointments needed.

Monday 2 May

Elections Thursday 5 May

The returning officer has published the official notice of an election on Thursday May 5 for the eight seats on the parish council. All eight sitting councillors are seeking re-election together with former councillor Mike Roberts.  

The candidates are:

Imogen Brown, Cathcart Green
Alan Davis, School Lane
Danny Fisher, The Dell
Derek Hughes, Oaklands
Jane Hughes, Wicker Lane
Michelle Kerfoot, School Lane
Bill Moulton, Moorcroft Crescent
Trisha Paterson, Oaklands
Mike Roberts, Oaklands.

Polling takes place in Guilden Sutton Village Hall from 7am to 10pm.

You cannot be issued with a ballot paper after 10pm, even if you are at the polling station before then.

The count takes place at the Northgate Arena the following afternoon.

The election of two councillors for the new Cheshire West and Chester Council "Chester Villages" ward will take place at the same time. For details, see the home page on this site.  
Don't forget, use your votes.     

24 April

The Council's annual report for 2010/11 has now been published.

The Chairman's report is included also.

23 April

School cup.

Did you attend the village school when it was in its original home on Guilden Sutton Lane? Do you recall - or did you even win - a cup thought to have been awarded to the best children in the school? Please get in touch if you can help