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Congleton Senior Forum meeting minutes 25.08.2015

The latest meeting of Congleton Senior Forum took place recently on 28.08.2015, download the full meeting mintues HERE.

Highlights include:

The meeting began with a talk by Peter Broome (New Life Community Partnership) about the formation of this joint project with New Life Church, Mattroe Ltd and Plus Dane. He outlined the operating procedures for supplying families who are in financial, social ,physical and mental need. He explained the ethics and link up with The LOL Foundation and how training and involvement helped in the rehabilitation of the ex-servicemen. A tour of the facility followed.

Forget me not service – Karen Mellor & Chris Birch Plus Dane

 

Karen and Chris took us through a presentation on the Forget-Me- Not- Scheme that Plus Dane run for both their residents and the wider public alike. The scheme offers a wide range of applications / alarm systems from Pendants, Wrist Straps, Movement Detectors, Panic Buttons, Bed/Chair Sensors etc. A price and product brochure is available on request (MS has sent a copy out although the file is quite large and some mailboxes will not be able to take it) If you wish more information please contact Karen or Chris at:- support@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

 

Louise will blog this out in The Chronicle once the Format and agreement with The Chronicle is agreed.

Senior Health Fayre 1.10.15

 

The event which will celebrate Older People’s Day on 1st October will be held at New Life Church from 1 to 4pm. The event is being organised by Cheshire East with support from AgeUK CE / Plus Dane.  There will be a main hall exhibition with breakout rooms to facilitate various activities (Tai Chi, Massages, Music etc).

 

If any of our organisation would like to be there please contact Victoria on 01625 612958 as soon as possible.

 

Usman is putting together an advert to support the event, MS to circulate once received. Please get this out to all your clients/ members, also display wherever you can.

Excess Apples? Congleton Sustainability Group needs them!

Excess apples?

Don’t worry, Congleton Sustainability Group are going to turn them into Congleton’s very own apple juice with the help of  Dunham Massey.

Excess apples congleton

All you have to do is collect your excess apples – desert or cooking – and we’ll turn them into one litre bottles of Congleton Apple Juice.

 

Bag up your apples with your name & contact details (tel no./ email), please take them to:

Astbury Mere Visitor Centre by 8 November

(open from 9am to 5pm every day of the week)

 

Bottles of Congleton Apple Juice will be available from October and we’ll give a free bottle to everyone who contributes apples.

apples

 

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting minutes 03.08.15

Congleton Sustainability Group latest meeting took place recently, please view the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights included:

Partnership Project suggestions. A number of project suggestions were received, the following were accepted:-

Community Orchard Accessibility.

Pathway, Signage, Improve accessibility. Partnership working with In Bloom / Astbury Mere Trust /CEBC rangers.

Cycle Shelters.

This is being picked up by Phil Mason CEBC Environmental. 1 shelter to be sited at or near the Library, other sites to be considered. No action required currently by The Partnership.

Heritage / Bear / Town Walk Trails.

N.Hood plan suggests that this would be a good idea to encourage healthy living and visitors to the town. Need to put a team together involving:- Museum, Jo Money, P.Aston, Matt Axford. Could well tie into the next project (Town Centre destination maps/signage). Long term may also consider trail leaflets. This could also become a 5 Towns Partnership project similar to the Cycle Map project. Map for each town and then a linkage between them all.

 

In Bloom / RHS Tatton.

 

  1. In Bloom.

Town looked fantastic on judging day. A lot of hard work went into weeding and litter picking by a great number of people including painting of some of the street furniture. Judges commented on improvements they noted from previous visit, and appreciated new sites brought in (Moody St, Antrobus St ,Bath House etc)

PP advised the group that the Schools ‘Space Garden’ display in the Polytunnel is now open to the public (Sat / Sun 2 to 4.00pm throughout August and hopefully into September)and receiving some great comments.

 

  1. RHS Tatton.

High winds resulted in the tremendous trees having to be removed from our display, therefore our entry was not eligible for judging. We did however get some good comments generally about the site.

 

The Trench Garden created by LOL not only drew many favourable comments and gained a Merit Award for ‘Interpretation of a World Event, but also resulted in many good contacts being made with other allotment holders and a potential sponsorship opportunity generated.

 

For all the news download the minutes at the top of the post!

Projects & Finance Committee meeting minutes 27.07.15

Projects & Finance Committee meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

Project  Update.

Cycleway Improvement. Whilst there is still some snagging still to be carried out on the towpath the project is close to completion. New signage has been sited, MS to check clarity of signage and report back to J.Mills if issues. Consultation to be carried out on improving access from Lawton St to Park Lane.

Antrobus St Gardens. Good progress, Gym Equipment, Apple Core, New Seating and Pathways complete. Some snagging and soft planting still to be done. We will then need signage to encourage community usage and a story board around its development.

River Dane Walkway .Town Bridge to Scout Hut. Neil Farnsworth has confirmed that the work orders have been signed and he is planning the work schedule to complete the pathway resurfacing, painting of the railings, steps and handrail in the next few weeks.

Community Orchard Accessibility.

Pathway, Signage, Improve accessibility. Partnership working with In Bloom / Astbury Mere Trust /CEBC rangers.

Contact Vince Cutler, this was started as a memorial to his wife.

Cycle Shelters.

This is being picked up by Phil Mason CEBC Environmental. 1 shelter to be sited at or near the Library, other sites to be considered. No action required currently by The Partnership.

Heritage / Bear / Town Walk Trails.

N.Hood plan suggests that this would be a good idea to encourage healthy living and visitors to the town. Need to put a team together involving:- Museum, Jo Money, P.Aston, Matt Axford. Could well tie into the next project (Town Centre destination maps/signage). Long term may also consider trail leaflets. This could also become a 5 Towns Partnership project similar to the Cycle Map project. Map for each town and then a linkage between them all.

Car Park Destination Maps / Signage. Jackie MacArthur raised the idea for this joint project with Cheshire East Car Park Team, Congleton Town Council and The Partnership. Could be double sided boards that have the destination map on one side and the trails on the other.

Get Involved Booklet.

Joint project with Community Projects to reprint and update the booklet during 2016.

Moody Street Green Area.

Once Antrobus St Gardens is completed there should be some S106 money left to refurbish the Moody St ‘green area’ up to Antrobus St Gardens standard. Partnership to work with CEBC (Julie Byrne) on this.

Mountbatten Way – Green Boulevard.

BE suggested this project to remove the railings and create a green boulevard. BH to discuss the idea with David Brown.

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting minutes 06.07.15

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE

Highlights from the meeting includes:

Neighbourhood Plan.

A meeting has been arranged with Tom Evans next week (w/c 13/7) to find out want transport evidence is available, and what else is required. Also need to draw up more specific questions for the next questionnaire. This may also need to tie up with what CEBC are doing on the subject.

Sustainable / Environmental Group. Matt and Jack Swan have come up with 5 important areas of open space:-  River Dane Corridor , Biddulph Valley Way, Canal, Uplands (Timbersbook) and Lamberts Lane. We may want to add Westlowe Mere to the list.

Carbon Reduction

Blackfirs School now has new reception building in use, complete with sedum roof, low energy facilities along with solar PV panels on main School roof.

– Carbon Reduction meeting at AMVC on Tuesday 14/7 at 1000hrs. Agenda issued. Amongst other things need to develop poster/ info to promote low carbon living for CSG meeting on 7/9 at Electric Picture House.

– Advertising next SLIC/Green Living 7 week course on U3A website, which has been upgraded to allow people to register securely online for first time.7

 

SECCG / Cycling Campaign – Report June 2015

The cycling campaign had a successful day at the Food and Drink Festival.

We had a secure bike park which was used by up to 30 people. More riders from the Sustrans rides from Crewe, Sandbach and Stoke used the park rather than Congleton riders.

We did see a number of bikes parked throughout the town but had no way of recording how many cyclists rode in from the Congleton suburbs.

We found that a lot of people did not know where the Bike event was as we were stuck in the Community Garden, out of sight. We will push to have more accessible site next year: Market Square perhaps?

Next Meeting:- Monday 3rd August 2015, 10.00am, Astbury Mere Visitor Centre.

Congleton Senior Forum meeting No 6 23.06.15

Congleton Senior Forum meeting took place recently, download the full minutes HERE. Highlights from the meeting included:

Community Transport

Current situation

Currently have one minibus which caters for 8 passengers plus wheelchair and is about 8-9 years old. We have also had notification that we will be receiving a brand new minibus via a Government scheme. This will be a 16 seater community mini-bus. A Community Mini Bus is Not a public service bus and is NOT providing community transport like Dial a Ride. It can be used by groups connected to the Partnership to enable their group to get around. Can drive on a current licence if held licence for over 20 years. New licences may require extra training. Drivers must be over 30 years old and under 70 years with no more than three points on their licence.

If you wish to use the current Mini Bus please contact Andy Holland (NLC 01260 297961 ext 210) for booking and hiring administration documentation.

 

Senior Health Fayre 1.10.15

 

The event which will celebrate Older People’s Day on 1st October will be held at New Life Church from 1 to 4pm. The event is being organised by Cheshire East with support from AgeUK CE / Plus Dane.  MS to request more information from Donna Peddie (CE Engagement Officer) and to circulate to forum members.

The Senior Forum will be taking a stand at the vent, invitations are being sent out by Donna to local organisations.

 

Content will be discussed at the next Senior Forum.

Congleton Partnership Executive Meeting Minutes 9.6.15

Congleton Partnership Executive meeting took place recently, download the full minutes HERE. Some of the meeting highlights are below:

 

Tribute to Margaret Williamson.

Steve gave everyone the opportunity to say their piece about Margaret and their relationship with her. Margaret was the founder of The Partnership , one of the towns greatest ever servant and very sadly missed.

There has been a rush of various organisations / individuals wanting to arrange tributes / memorials to mark her life / contribution.

It was felt that there needed to be some control /order around what is done and what her family would like to see done in her name.

To this end a memorial meeting has been called for Monday 15th June, around 15 people /20 organisations who had expressed a desire to do something have been invited, S.Foster will chair the meeting, MS to keep the family informed of suggestions / ideas taken up so that they can give their view on what is appropriate.

 

£1 million public realm

Cheshire East Highways has started developing some initial ideas for the public realm improvements. It’s clear the £1 million is not going to stretch as far as the Partnership and Town Council would like. Currently the highway engineers are relooking at the costings. There was a suggestion that pedestrian area could be transformed but leaving the two ends (so from WH Smiths as far as Birth Jewellers, but there was concerns that this would contract the pedestrian area and not address the key gateways that need addressing. There should be another meeting soon.

In Bloom

North West Judges will be in Congleton on the 20th July. Lots of great things happening this year – Antrobus Street Gardens, Moody Street Garden, record number of baskets, schools and youth groups Space to Bloom displays in the Polytunnels. There will be a town-wide toothcomb tidy the night before the judging – meeting in the Community Garden on Sunday 19th July at 6pm – please try and come along and encourage friends, family and neighbours join. If the weather is good we may also need volunteers to help at Astbury Mere from 8am on the morning of the judging.

 

The next meeting is Tuesday 15th September 2015, Bridestone Suite 5.30pm.

This is a joint AGM (open to the public) and an Executive Meeting.

Congleton Uth Festival 11th July #looklistenlaugh

Get ready for Congleton’s Uth Festival taking place on Saturday 11th July on Hankinsons field (next to Congleton Leisure Centre).  A celebration event to highlight all the talents, achievements and skills the young people of Congleton have to offer.

Keep up with all the latest news #looklistenlaugh

Uth Festival Congleton July 15

Uth Festival Congleton July

Click to enlarge

The Electric Picture House thanks Congleton Partnership

Electric Picture House Congleton

The Electric Picture House in conjunction with Congleton Community Projects would like to thank the Congleton Partnership for its generous support of £500 to make the event Hidden Places, a day of promenade theatre, a great success.

Without your support the event would not have attracted such a large audience so once again many thanks.

 

Petra Lea                                                                                       Jo Money

The Electric Picture House Cooperative Ltd                          Congleton Community Projects

The Electric Picture House                                                        The Electric Picture House

Cross Street                                                                                 Cross Street

Congleton                                                                                    Congleton

CW12 1HQ                                                                                   CW12 1HQ

ALSO:

The Electric Picture House would like to thank the Congleton Partnership for its generous support of £400, which ensured that the Space workshops could take place.

Once again the Congleton Partnership has enabled through their generous funding the successful completion of community workshops which will enhance Congleton’s bid for In Bloom.