Newsroom

Heritage Building Project Update - the Ramp Appeal

Why this? Why now?

You may have already seen the news that we’re raising money for a permanent ramp at the front of church – so that EVERYONE can get in.  At a time when our welcome should be open to all, too many people are struggling to even get through our front door.  By its nature, this problem can be invisible – people who can’t get into the building will simply not turn up to our services or events in most cases.  But in the last few months alone, we have seen multiple funerals and baptisms where people have had difficulty getting over the steps.

Accessibility is something we’ve been trying to tackle for years.  You may remember earlier attempts such as our portable ramps for each individual step – these helped some, but were too light for motorised wheelchairs and quickly became slippery. We have also tried to put in a (cheaper) semi-permanent ramp, similar to the one at the church hall, but this has been denied at planning permission stage, and our appeals have been unsuccessful. We are now in a position where we have been told that, given our John Douglas building and heritage status, we will only be given planning permission and Diocesan agreement for a ramp which is “in keeping” with the current building. This means something designed by an architect, permanent, and faced with sandstone to match our church. Unfortunately equality in this case comes with a hefty price tag.

We recognise that for many, this appeal comes at a bad time – in the middle of a difficult winter. Some people cannot afford to support this ramp appeal, and others have limited funds for giving: if you have to choose between donating to the ramp appeal and the Food Bank, please choose the Food Bank! But if you are in the fortunate position of having enough to donate to the ramp appeal without affecting your other charitable giving, please consider donating and helping us to right this wrong permanently.

Progress so far

We launched our appeal in November through the council website. Thanks to everyone’s generous support, we managed to get over 50 backers registered in just 2 weeks – an incredible show of support which helped convince Cheshire West and Chester Council to pledge £4,500 to us.

We would like to thank all of the individuals who have supported the appeal so far, and also the businesses & organisations who have donated. By mid January, these included: Alter Studio, Cuddington Cattery, Four Paws Cuddington, St John’s Choir, JIMS, the Mothers Union, Toolerstone, the Vale Royal Recorder Consort, The Nutty Knitters, The Hair Company, Bollywood Dance for Fun, Redwalls Nursing Home, and Jacqueline Wilson Funeral Directors.

We now have over £35,000 of £56,000 already pledged – over 60% – and are incredibly grateful to everyone that has helped us reach this amount. However, the nature of the council-backed appeal site is that we need to reach 100% of our target by February 28th, or all donations made on the site will be returned to the givers.

What next?

That means we have just a month left to raise £21,000. We are holding a series of events in February for the Heritage Building Appeal, which means all money raised will go to support the project:

• Mini Market & Brunch on Saturday 4 Feb
• Monday Lunchtime Concert on 6 Feb
• Valentine Singalong on Tuesday 14 Feb
• Parisian Evening on Saturday 18 Feb.
  
  

In addition, if you are able to give any amount – THANK YOU so much! - to give by card, please go to www.spacehive.com/a-ramp-for-st-johns-sandiway and make (or increase) your pledge; to give by cash or cheque, please hand your donations to the welcomers at any service (Gift Aid forms are also available).

If you have any questions, please ask John Goulden or Ali Fletcher, who would be happy to talk about the project.

The Village Hall will be opening its doors from 2-4pm on Tuesday afternoons in February to offer a Warm Space for anyone who would like to drop in. 

Hot drinks and biscuits will be on offer and the opportunity to meet up and chat.  WiFi is available if people wish to work in a warm room.

Note also that "Warm Spaces" are offered at Sandiway Library (when open), St John's church (Saturdays 10am-noon), White Barn ('Friendly Thursdays' 2-4pm) and Redwalls Nursing Home (any time 10:30-4pm - call first on 889339).

Our local policing team covers the Weaver and Cuddington Community Area which also includes Acton Bridge and Weaverham as well as Sandiway and Cuddington.  Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Michelle Gillett and Constable Daniel Grimshaw are dedicated to this Community Area.  PRESS HERE to see an overview of this Community Area on the Cheshire Constabulary website.

So, Michelle Gillett is our PCSO for the Weaver and Cuddington area.  She believes that communication is key to a happy community whether that’s over the telephone, social media or emails. Once a week she will send a report of her community engagement which has enabled her to reach out to many elderly/vulnerable persons that don’t access social media - these are displayed on this website under 'Police Matters' on the Home page. Please feel free to have your say and call her (by phone, 07812 781 911, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you feel there is something which you feel she needs to address.

PCSO surgeries are held now in a physical location (dates and contact locations for February shown below [please check on Facebook page before attending since it may have changed at the last minute]):

• Friday 3rd February 1700-1800 hours, TESCO STORES, WEAVERHAM
• Monday 6th February 1500-1600 hours, WEAVERHAM community centre carpark
• Thursday 9th February 1500-1600 hours, ACTON BRIDGE parish room CW83RA
• Friday 24th February 1800-1900 hours, SANDIWAY LIBRARY carpark CW82NS
• Saturday 25th February 1400-1500 hours, CUDDINGTON VILLAGE HALL NORLEY ROAD
• (Date to follow) 1200-1300 hours, DELAMERE PARK leisure centre carpark CW82UJ
• Tuesday 28th February 1500-1600 hours, DAVENPORTS TEA ROOM, BARTINGTON CW84QU
  
  

Michelle encourages you to go along to discuss your community issues/concerns.  Alternatively register your concern(s) on the following link: www.cheshire.police.uk/residentsvoicenorthwich.  PCSO Michelle may also be available on her email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For general police enquiries, please visit www.cheshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/

To report a crime please ring 101 or in case of an emergency ring 999.

For daily updates regarding whats going on in our ward please follow your local community policing on Facebook/Twitter
     Weaver and Cuddington police Facebook 
     @weaverCudPol - Twitter

PRESS HERE for the new train timetable which applies until 20 May.

Warning:
In the new timetable, trains may arrive from both directions at the same time.  Let them depart before crossing the line!
Some 4-coach trains have doors on an end coach locked because they are too long for some platforms.
There is a Monday to Friday 1708 Stockport to Chester calling at nearly all stations but beware it does not call at Cuddington nor Delamere.

Saturday 4 February:
There will be a 2-hourly service between Chester and Altrincham only, with connecting buses to and from Stockport and trains Stockport - Manchester.  At the time of writing, arrangements for using the Metrolink tram are not known.  Departures from Cuddington are, to Chester, at 08.16 and 2-hourly until 22.17, then 00.26; to Altrincham at 06.18, 08.28 and 2-hourly to 20.28 (exceptions are 14.18 and 22.18),  and 23.43 which is a bus through to Manchester.

Sunday 5 February:
All trains are replaced by buses, departing Cuddington at 09.54,11.46,13.49,15.53,17.53,19.56 and 21.49 to Manchester, and 11.06,13.03,15.10,17.09,19.09, 21.09 and 23.04 back to Chester.

Monday 13 to Thursday 16 February: 23.13.from Manchester Piccadilly will depart at 23.11. Other times are unchanged.

Monday 27 February to Thursday 2 March:
The 22.52 from Chester to Manchester (due Cuddington 23.13) will be a bus, calling at Cuddington at 23.42. The 22.10 and 23.13 from Manchester Piccadilly to Chester (due Cuddington 23.16 and 00.20 respectively) will be buses calling at Cuddington to set down only at 00.05 and 01.08 respectively. Additional buses to Chester will depart Knutsford at 22.52 and 23.56, calling at Cuddington at 23.35 and 00.39.

Strikes:
The train drivers' union ASLEF have announced the following strike dates:

• Wednesday February 1st + Friday February 3rd (advice is not to travel on these dates)
  
  

Also expect some potential disruption before and after these dates.

Northern Rail can keep you updated with any news of potential future strikes, if announced - press on www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/strikes for the latest information.

Always check before you travel, alterations can happen at short notice: www.northernrailway.co.uk, or 0800 200 6060.

• Single storey rear extension for sun room 

  The Cottage Blakemere Hall Farm 637 Chester Road Cuddington Northwich CW8 2EB

  Ref. No: 22/04726/FUL | Received: Wed 21 Dec 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Re-siting of 12 no. mobile camping pods, erection of substation, siting of oil tank and car parking provision - Retrospective (Revision to planning permission ref: 19/04137/FUL) 

  Blakemere Touring Park Blakemere Village Chester Road Cuddington Northwich CW8 2EB

  Ref. No: 22/04458/FUL | Received: Wed 30 Nov 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Variation of condition 5 (cessation of use) of planning permission 11/05618/MIN to allow retention of sand bagging plant and three storage bays until 11th May 2021 or within 12 months of the completion of mineral extraction at the adjoining mineral site permitted under the terms of planning permission 13/03715/MIN or as subsequently amended - Variation of Condition 5 of 15/04076/S73 (to amend the wording of condition 5 to read: The development hereby approved shall cease use, all plant, structures, and hardstandings shall be removed and the site shall be restored in accordance with the restoration scheme submitted and approved in accordance with condition 4 above by the 9 January 2028, or within 12 months from the date of completion of mineral extraction in the adjoining mineral site under the terms of planning permission 19/02452/MIN, or as subsequently amended) 

  Forest Hill Quarry Chester Road Cuddington Northwich Cheshire West And Chester CW8 2DL

  Ref. No: 23/00110/S73 | Received: Fri 13 Jan 2023 | Validated: Fri 13 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Two storey and single storey side extension, single storey front and rear extensions 

  6 Kensington Crescent Cuddington Northwich Cheshire West And Chester CW8 2FH

  Ref. No: 23/00137/FUL | Received: Tue 17 Jan 2023 | Validated: Thu 26 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Oak tree - pruning to sides and crown to last points and remove ivy 

  4 West Lane Cuddington Northwich Cheshire CW8 2QG

  Ref. No: 23/00181/TPO | Received: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

Northwich Library will be opening in its temporary location at Weaver Hall Museum on Monday 30 January, while the library building on Witton Street is being renovated (PRESS HERE for more).  One result of this change is that the temporary extended opening hours at Sandiway library will end on Saturday 28 January and it will return to their standard opening times - to remind you, these are:

• Monday  9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
• Tuesday  9.30am-1pm & 2pm-7pm
• Wednesday  Closed
• Thursday 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
• Friday     9.30am-1pm & 2pm-7pm
• Saturday 9.30am-1pm
  
  

One further innovation is the upcoming iPad lending scheme.  This will allow residents to boost their digital skills by borrowing a device from their local library.  It will also make it easier for residents without their own technology to access a full range of Council Services.  LiBS (the Library iPad Borrowing Scheme) will provide devices for residents to borrow for a six-week period from any Cheshire West and Chester Library.

PRESS HERE to learn more, or call the library on 01606-271767.

It was announced on 19 January that "Winnington Bridge Corridor has not received funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' Levelling Up Fund".  This means that the congestion over the existing single-track swing bridge connecting Winnington to Barnton will continue into the future, especially with all the new housing springing up in Winnington.

PRESS HERE for more information from the council.

The following three initiatives will start this month at the Library:

Waste Recycling Centres

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are closed on New Year's Day.

On the other days during the holiday period, HWRCs in Winsford and Northwich will be open at their usual times (note Northwich HWRC is closed Wednesdays & Thursdays).  Site opening times during the Winter are 8am-4pm.

Christmas tree recycling

Real Christmas trees can be taken for reuse to the following sites any time in January 2023:

• Marbury Park, Marbury Lane, CW9 6AP
• Castle Park Fountain Lane, Frodsham, WA6 6SA
• Knights Grange Sports Complex Winsford, CW7 2PT.
  
  

Signage will advise where to place the trees, which will be chipped and used as mulch on existing shrub-beds in the borough.

Alternatively you can make use of the Charity collections.  Just Helping raise money for local hospices by collecting and recycling real trees - residents can use the link below to register with St Luke's Hospice for their Tree Collection service:

  St Luke's: Christmas tree collection

Collections will be from Thursday, 12 January 2023 - Sunday, 15 January 2023 (registration for this service closes on Sunday 8th January 2023).

Garden waste collections

Garden waste collections ended on 5 December and will resume on or after 27 February 2023.  Subscriptions can now be made for 2023 garden waste collections.

PRESS HERE for the full details from the Council.

A message from Steve Chivers, Chair of Youth Club - Sandiway and Cuddington:

"I am thrilled to say we have been successful in our bid to John Dwyer, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire’s Community Action Fund.  The funding has been awarded to employ a Youth Worker for the Youth Club and allow the club to open on a more regular basis.

We are committed to doing all we can to prevent anti-social behaviour in the village and this project will encourage even more young people to get involved. With an increase in youth club sessions and a wider range of activities we hope to attract young people not currently engaged in positive activities from the community, diverting them away from trouble. Our sessions will be tailored to the needs of the young people attending to ensure they are engaging and give us the best opportunity to develop positive relationships."

PRESS HERE for the full Press Release from the Youth Club team.

We are pleased to hear that the Youth Club team have been able to hire a Youth Worker and so they plan now to open every Friday in 2023.  The next Youth Club meeting will be Friday 6th January and they plan to open every Friday from then on.

The Youth Club still need volunteers and if you are interested, please contact their Secretary Steve Chivers on 07775733333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Erection of single storey rear extension. 

  511 Chester Road Cuddington Northwich Cheshire CW8 2DR

  Ref. No: 22/04702/LDC | Received: Fri 23 Dec 2022 | Status at mid Jan: Awaiting decision

• Request to fell one large beech along roadside due to safety concerns 

  Sandiway Manor Norley Road Cuddington Northwich CW8 2JW

  Ref. No: 22/04593/CAT | Received: Tue 13 Dec 2022 | Status at mid Jan: Awaiting decision

• Two-storey rear extension (new lower ground floor) and renovation of the existing house including the rendering of the existing external facade. 

  15 The Coppice Cuddington Northwich Cheshire CW8 2XF

  Ref. No: 22/04715/FUL | Received: Wed 28 Dec 2022 | Status at mid Jan: Awaiting decision

Kerbside Collections

Kerbside waste and recycling collections will take place on the usual days this Christmas season for most residents in west Cheshire.  Residents who usually expect a collection on Monday 26 December should put their bins out two days earlier by 7am on Saturday 24 December as there are no collections on Boxing Day.

Waste Recycling Centres

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

On the other days during the holiday period, HWRCs in Winsford and Northwich will be open at their usual times (note Northwich HWRC is closed Wednesdays & Thursdays).  Site opening times during the Winter are 8am-4pm.

Christmas tree recycling

Real Christmas trees can be taken for reuse to the following sites any time in January 2023:

• Marbury Park, Marbury Lane, CW9 6AP
• Castle Park Fountain Lane, Frodsham, WA6 6SA
• Knights Grange Sports Complex Winsford, CW7 2PT.
  
  

Signage will advise where to place the trees, which will be chipped and used as mulch on existing shrub-beds in the borough.

Alternatively you can make use of the Charity collections.  Just Helping raise money for local hospices by collecting and recycling real trees - residents can use the link below to register with St Luke's Hospice for their Tree Collection service:

  St Luke's: Christmas tree collection

Collections will be from Thursday, 12 January 2023 - Sunday, 15 January 2023 (registration for this service closes on Sunday 8th January 2023).

Garden waste collections

Garden waste collections ended on 5 December and will resume on or after 27 February 2023.  Subscriptions can now be made for 2023 garden waste collections.

PRESS HERE for the full details from the Council.

Unusually this year, Sandiway Library will be opening its doors from Wednesday 28th to Saturday 31st (@1pm).  Please do visit, and enjoy the warmth!

Note that the Library will be open as normal up to Christmas eve (Saturday until 1pm) and will open again in the New Year from Tuesday 3rd January.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is reviewing the borough's Playing Pitch Strategy and pitch provision.  The review will consider all outdoor sport facilities, including those for football, rugby, cricket, hockey and artificial pitch provision (3G), and will provide up to date information on existing and future needs in terms of quality, quantity and location.  The review is being carried out by the Council and partners from key national governing bodies for sport including Sport England, Active Cheshire, and Brio Leisure.

The review aims to capture the views of residents, clubs and any other individuals or organisations using a questionnaire.  Any individual, organisation, sports group or team can complete the online or postal questionnaire.

PRESS HERE to learn more.  The formal consultation period runs until 9 March 2023.

Residents, businesses and charities are being asked to sign up to play their part in tackling rough sleeping and homelessness in a new initiative being launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council.  The Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Pledge aims to improve the way organisations and individuals work together to tackle homelessness in the borough.  Signatories to the Pledge will agree to make a tangible contribution to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping through offering their support and undertaking a number of straightforward actions.

For individuals, this includes committing to contact the forfutures Outreach Support Team if they believe that someone is sleeping on the streets and supporting the many local organisations working to provide assistance on the ground.

Meanwhile, businesses are encouraged to provide training and employment for people recovering from homelessness, and to make preventing homelessness part of their corporate social responsibility.

PRESS HERE to learn more.

The Council is urging all Cheshire West and Chester residents to help the environment by choosing to reduce, reuse and recycle their food this Christmas.  Global food waste produces more emissions than all commercial flights put together.  In the UK, food waste contributes to 5 per cent of our emissions, the same as one third of all our cars.  At Christmas, the Council collects and recycles more food waste than at any other time of the year, and this season we are ready to collect food waste which has been separated from other recyclables and general waste.

The borough's kerbside recycling service enables almost every household in Cheshire West and Chester to conveniently recycle their food waste separate from their other recycled waste, and tens of thousands of Cheshire households make use of this weekly service.  Food waste is turned into green electricity to power peoples' homes and a fertilizer that puts vital, natural nutrients back into our farmers' fields.

PRESS HERE to view the full messaging from the Council

To-date the Household Support Fund has helped support many vulnerable residents within west Cheshire pay for energy bills, food, clothing, and wider essentials, including vouchers during school holidays.  In this latest round, £2,290,047 has been allocated to the Council and is available until 31 March 2023. The Fund is intended to support a wide range of low-income households in need including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people.

An online application along with proactive allocation of financial support is planned, to ensure help reaches those people experiencing financial hardship as quickly as possible.  Working collaboratively with the Poverty Truth Advisory Board, partner organisations and schools, the Council has set out clear eligibility criteria.  This information together with a list of partners supporting the scheme can be found on the Council's website.  A simple application form is also available for anyone not applying through one of the partner organisations.

PRESS HERE for more information on how to apply, or visit the library for support in accessing the information (and application form) online.

Update on 2 December:

National Energy Action, a national charity aiming to end fuel poverty, estimates 6.7 million households are currently in the grip of fuel poverty following a 130 per cent increase to gas prices over the last 18 months.  The Borough Council is working alongside a number of partners across the borough to provide support to residents this winter.  These also include:

Home Upgrade Grant

Funding has been secured from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide Home Upgrade Grants to households in properties that do not use gas as their main source of heating.  These could include homes that use electric, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), oil or solid fuel to heat their homes. The grants will provide eligible households with funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping them to reduce their energy bills.

Warm, Welcoming Spaces

A network of Warm, Welcoming Spaces have been set up in various venues across the borough, providing people with a place where they can go, for free, to stay warm, feel safe and connect with others in their community.  Libraries, some Brio Leisure Centres, Chester Grosvenor Museum and the Lion Salt Works in Northwich are part of the scheme.  Many (local) churches and community venues have also opened their doors as part of the initiative and more venues are joining regularly.

PRESS HERE to find out more on these initiatives.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer is encouraging local community groups, businesses and members of the police family across Cheshire to apply to the Community Cashback Fund over the Christmas period.

Taken from money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), each of Cheshire’s nine Local Policing Units (LPUs) has been allocated £10,000 from the fund. The aim is for local residents and businesses to work with their neighbourhood policing teams on projects to improve their community.

‘Not for profit’ organisations such as charities, ‘friends of’ groups, neighbourhood groups, social enterprises and community groups are encouraged to apply. Local businesses and Parish Councils can also apply to the fund, as well as local policing teams themselves.

All applications must meet the criteria and support one of the six aims of the Police and Crime Plan - these are:

• Prevent and tackle crime
• Make Cheshire’s roads safer
• Deliver justice for victims of crime
• Protect vulnerable and at-risk people
• Improve public confidence in policing
• Modernise our police service
  
  

The fund is open now and will close at 9am on Friday 27 January 2023.

For information about the criteria, frequently asked questions and how to apply, visit Cashback fund open county-wide for Christmas (cheshire-pcc.gov.uk)

A message from Steve Chivers, Chair of Youth Club - Sandiway and Cuddington:

"I am thrilled to say we have been successful in our bid to John Dwyer, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire’s Community Action Fund.  The funding has been awarded to employ a Youth Worker for the Youth Club and allow the club to open on a more regular basis.

We are committed to doing all we can to prevent anti-social behaviour in the village and this project will encourage even more young people to get involved. With an increase in youth club sessions and a wider range of activities we hope to attract young people not currently engaged in positive activities from the community, diverting them away from trouble. Our sessions will be tailored to the needs of the young people attending to ensure they are engaging and give us the best opportunity to develop positive relationships.

We will be advertising for a part time Youth Worker position shortly and hope to open on a weekly basis, starting in the New Year."

PRESS HERE for the full Press Release from the Youth Club team.

In fact there is now a Job Application for this Youth Worker on Indeed with the following link:
     https://uk.indeed.com/job/session-lead-youth-worker-b0a7f4820acd7ef5

Congratulations go to Steve and all the dedicated supporters and helpers with the Youth Club.  May it go from strength to strength!

Update on 22 December:

We are pleased to hear that the Youth Club team have been able to hire a Youth Worker and so they plan now to open every Friday in 2023.  The next Youth Club meeting will be Friday 6th January and they plan to open every Friday from then on.

The Youth Club still need volunteers and if you are interested, please contact their Secretary Steve Chivers on 07775733333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Northwich Work Zone offer courses which are free to many and aimed at retraining and upskilling local residents for local job opportunities.  Many different courses are available and maybe you could find one which suits your employment aspirations.

PRESS HERE to view the schedule of courses for January to April 2023.