Archive News
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 1. St Ann's Hospice's 40th Anniversary
St Ann's Hospicerecently celebrated 40 years of caring for the people of Greater Manchester and their families. It is only through the generosity of local people that they`are able to provide the highest standard of care, free of charge, to their patients.
For details please visit www.sah.org.uk/40th |
2. Helping to keep Woodford tidy
Many thanks to the residents who joined WCC members on Saturday, 2nd April 2011 to pick up litter and help improve our environment.
Some 16 volunteers covered all the roads and pavements in Woodford and also worked hard clearing ditches and footpaths, where rubbish such as bottles and cans had obviously accumulated over a long period. In all, 38 bags of waste were collected.
Thanks are also due to Jamie Luck, Area Conditions Officer with Stockport MBC, for providing the equipment and arranging for the waste bags to be collected.
We'll be holding another 'tidy up' day about the same time next year.
3. New Chairman for Woodford Community Council
Mr Paul Rodman was elected Chairman at the WCC meeting held on 11th January 2011, following the retirement of Mr Ken Coxey, who completed his three-year term of office at the end of 2010. Paul has lived in Woodford for most of his life and has been a member of the Community Council for over 10 years. |
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4. Stockport Council Shows 'True Grit'
Stockport Council has rolled out a full-scale gritting programme across Stockport to keep the borough moving during the recent cold snap.
Since the gritting season began, the Council has gritted in excess of 3,000 miles of roads and footpaths spreading over 600 tonnes of rocksalt. This includes hand gritting on well used footpaths, schools and hospital sites and district centres.
Last year, the Council dealt with the worst conditions experienced for over 30 years spreading more than 3,500 tonnes of rocksalt. Due to this the Council has increased the locally stored stockpile of rocksalt by 50%, enough to provide an additional 10 days of continual snow gritting during exceptional conditions.
Cllr David White, Executive Member for Transportation at Stockport Council said: "We are working hard during the current cold snap to ensure it is business as usual in Stockport by launching a full-scale gritting operation across the borough.
"In increasing our stock pile of grit, we can ensure that the priority and feeder roads, including bus routes, within Stockport will be adequately gritted for pedestrians and motorists to use."
Plans are in place to deal with the range of conditions anticipated over winter. This will deal with localised 'wetspots' in hilly and higher areas on mild evenings and extreme conditions during snow events across the borough. Stockport Council also reviewed its designated gritting routes and made amendments based upon last year’s severe winter.
The main priority routes are unchanged so during periods of freezing temperatures and heavy snow the principal roads and footways are treated continuously to ensure that people can still go about the daily routines. More information on gritting routes can be found at www.stockport.gov.uk/transportpolicy
Stockport Council will also be updating its home page during periods of cold weather, so for information on school closures and service disruptions visit www.stockport.gov.uk
5. Update on Recycling within Stockport Metropolitan Borough
In October 2010 Stockport Council will be providing all suitable households with a black wheelie bin for waste that cannot be recycled. These bins will replace the blue bin bags, which in future will only be provided for households where a wheelie bin is inappropriate. Over the same period the Council will also be delivering an indoor food waste caddy and a roll of compostable liners to assist with a new weekly food waste recycling collection. Food waste can then be placed in the green garden waste wheelie bin, which will be emptied once a week. Households that do not have a green wheelie bin will be given a smaller (23 litre) outside bin in which to store their food waste. The mixed food and garden waste will be turned into compost in a recycling facility in Bredbury.
Residents will receive new calendars giving details of the new collection dates in due course.
For more information, visit the Council website www.stockport.gov.uk/waste.
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6. Woodford Airshow 2012?
Woodford Farewell 2012 was a campaign for one last airshow as a tribute to the aviation history of the Woodford site.
7. Road Chaos in Bramhall
United Utilities will be undertaking water mains rehabilitation work in the highway in Bramhall village centre mainly over the school summer holidays.
Phase 1: Ack Lane East started on 17 July for two weeks working away from the Moss Lane junction under temporary two-way traffic signal control
Phase 2: Ack Lane East/Moss Lane/Woodford Road/Bramhall Lane South junction starting on 1 August for two weeks under temporary four-way traffic control.
Phase 3: Woodford Road starting on 16 August for the remainder of the holiday period working away from the junction with Syddall Road towards the A555 under temporary two-way traffic signal control.
It is likely that further work may have to be undertaken in Moss Lane and possibly Woodford Road. This will be coordinated to run either in September or during forthcoming school holiday periods.
United Utilities will be placing advance warning signs to alert motorists to these disruptions.
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8. Woodford War Memorial Community Centre
A Special General Meeting (SGM) was held at the Community Centre on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 when the revised Constitution was discussed and adopted.
9. Woodford Community Players Diamond Anniversary Presentation
The Players presented 'When The Lights Go On Again' at the Woodford Centre from the 4th to 8th May to packed audiences. The musical production tells the story of family life in England during the war years, through very difficult situations and fun times, culminating in a VE/VJ day party.
10. Stockport Council Backs Recycling Campaign
Stockport Council has been backing a campaign by a leading recycling website - www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com. The aim of the campaign is to encourage residents to recycle even more products and reduce the amount of waste sent to scarce landfill sites, thus reducing the impact on the environment.
Borough residents can now recycle aluminium foil as part of the Council’s improved recycling service. Aluminium foil can be recycled in the brown wheelie bins or black recycling boxes or at any of the local recycling sites in the container for recycling food tins and drink cans.
All foil can be recycled, such as foil trays, pie cases, dairy lids, household wrapping foil and the foil from some chocolate bars. Metallised plastic film such as crisp packets cannot. To check if your foil is recyclable do this simple test, scrunch it up in your hand if it doesn’t spring back it can be recycled.
There are over 115 recycling sites in Stockport, for more information on recycling, visit the Council website www.stockport.gov.uk/waste or phone 0161 217 6111 or email stockportdirect@stockport.gov.uk
11. Public Meeting - Woodford BAE Systems Site - 15th October 2009
Following the announced closure of operations at BAE Systems Woodford in 2012, Stockport Council held a public meeting with residents to discuss options for the site and for the borough as a whole. Representatives from the Council were there to provide information, answer questions and to listen to residents’ views. Feedback from the group discussions has been circulated to attendees at the meeting and can be seem by clicking here.
Obviously the closure of the site will have a significant effect on the residents of Woodford. The redevelopment of the site is included in Stockport MBC’s Core Strategy Development Plan Document - Preferred Options Document. The consultation stage has now closed but all comments received may be seen by accessing this document via the Stockport MBC website – www.stockport.gov.uk/ldf .
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12. Woodford Litter Day - 28th November 2009
Many thanks to all those who turned out to pick up litter and help keep Woodford tidy and particular thanks to Jamie Luck, Area Conditions Officer for Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South, Ian Clayton, Deputy Chief Executive for Keep Britain Tidy and Carolyn Turner, Team Leader for the Community Recycling Team, who joined us on a cold but fortunately dry November morning.
They are pictured above, together with members of the WCC and other residents.
Everyone can do their bit to improve the local environment by picking up litter in front of their houses - annoying though it is to have to clear up after the thoughtless people who drop it as they walk past or throw it from their cars.
13. BAE Systems announces 630 job losses at the Woodford site
BAE Press Release extract - 15th September 2009.
Following a detailed review of its current and future business levels, BAE Systems has announced it has started consultation regarding the potential closure of one of its UK sites and job cuts at another three, with the loss of 1116 jobs.
Under this programme:
- The Woodford site in Cheshire will close at the end of 2012, on completion of the Nimrod MRA4 production contract and with the loss of 630 jobs.
- 205 jobs will be lost at Samlesbury in Lancashire.
- 170 jobs will be lost at Warton in Lancashire.
- 111 jobs will be lost at Farnborough in Hampshire.
It has been clear since 2003 that the Woodford site had little future beyond the end of Nimrod MRA4 production, and the workforce has been kept informed since that time. Despite strenuous efforts to achieve further Nimrod production work there has been none forthcoming. It is intended that there will be a phased run-down of the site in line with the production programme.
You can read the full press release from BAE by clicking
here (word doc) or
here (PDF version) and get more on the story and reaction on BBC Online – click
here.
You can also
Have Your Say on the announcement here on the website.
14. Crime on the rise
Over the past few months we have seen a significant increase in crime within our local community. This is alarming and of major concern to all Woodford residents and businesses. Woodford Community Council has taken steps to seek reassurance and support from the police, who responded positively in offering practical advice to reduce crime. In particular, they recommended setting up new Neighbourhood Watch schemes, which could be of considerable support to the more vulnerable members of our community. Information has been posted on the WCC Notice board. Click here for details and see our useful links page for more relevant contacts.
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15. WCC Website - Welcome from the Chairman of the Woodford Community Council
Welcome to our new Website, which we hope you will find informative, interesting and user friendly. It has been developed to address local issues of interest and concern to residents and to provide general information about the area we live in and effective and easy links to other useful sites. It will also provide transparency with respect to the discussions and actions taken by the Woodford Community Council on your behalf by facilitating two-way communication and making copies of the Constitution and Minutes readily available. By sharing and resolving local issues we hope that the community will be brought closer together.
As you will appreciate, the site is in its infancy and as time progresses it will be refined as we gain experience of what our community needs. We therefore welcome and encourage feedback and ideas. Please help us to develop this site for your benefit.
16. Woodford Bus Shelters - Planning Application
Our attention has been drawn to the following planning applications relating to the erection of double-sided internally illuminated advertising panels to two bus shelters on Chester Road, Woodford.
REF: DC/042385 – shelter opposite 463 Chester Road (consultation period ended on 11 August 2009).
REF: DC/042425 – shelter adjacent to 535 Chester Road (consultation period ended on 13 August 2009).
For further details click here to access the Stockport Council Planning Database and then enter the above application numbers.
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17. Renowned Woodford restaurant re-opens
Olivers Restaurant in Woodford, Cheshire, has re-opened after the completion of a major redevelopment scheme.
The ambitious plans and an investment of hundreds of thousands of pounds by restaurateur James O’Neill have transformed this popular independent restaurant, creating a new and contemporary bar and dining area with luxurious bronze-mirrored surfaces, antique solid oak flooring, soft leather furnishings and elegant décor.
James explains "Over decades Olivers has built up a reputation for fantastic British contemporary food. But our décor had become a little tired and so it was important to take the decision to make this investment."
"The independent restaurant is now a rare breed, which makes me even more determined to create something special and unique. The investment I am making reflects my confidence and commitment to Woodford and the surrounding area – not to mention the wonderful produce Cheshire has to offer."
James and head chef Mark Adley have worked closely together to create an exciting menu – pairing some outstanding wines with some of Cheshire’s best produce.
www.oliversrestaurant.co.uk
18. Queensgate Primary School, Bramhall
Queensgate PTA Summer Fair was held on 4th July 2009. Over 450 people attended and nearly £3,000 was raised by the PTA, who have pledged their support over the next three years towards the building of a new classroom. This will house Year 6 and will replace the dilapidated temporary mobile classrooms that were installed over 15 years ago!
The major event for the PTA so far this year was the 'Posh Do' at the refurbished Hallmark Hotel, Stanley Road, Handforth (previously the Belfry House Hotel) in October.
19. Children Encouraged to Walk to School to Cut Carbon
Stockport Council is encouraging schools in the borough to take part in International Walk to School Month, which is being held this month.
The Council has joined the Month as part of its CarbON-CarbOFF initiative and has celebrated itby re-launching the successful Green Miles initiative which, as well as encouraging children to walk and cycle to school, educates children about geography and history. As part of the CarbON-CarbOFF information programme, the Council is committed to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% and has partnered with the Energy Saving Trust to encourage businesses and residents to do the same. Last year over 60 schools within Stockport signed up to Walk to School Month and Stockport Council would like even more to take part this year.
Cllr Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for the Environment, said “By encouraging children to walk to school from a young age we can show them what a vital part they have to play in reducing carbon emissions.”
Cllr David White, Executive Member for Transportation, said “This international event teaches children about active modes of transportation, like walking or cycling. I would encourage as many schools in Stockport to take part in this initiative as it improves health and reduces air pollution by cutting the amount of cars on our roads.”
For more information on how to reduce carbon emissions, become more energy efficient, save money and reduce your carbon footprint, visit www.stockport.gov.uk/carboff (free internet access is available at all Stockport libraries).
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