A Keppel-Green | Knutsford Town Council

5Apr2023

One ward contested for Town Council Election

Nominations for the Town Council elections closed yesterday with 16 Knutsford residents putting themselves forward for election to the council.

Only one ward is contested, meaning there will be a poll for Cross Town on Thursday 4^th May with four candidates seeking election to the three seats.

In Bexton and Town Centre, Norbury Booths, St John’s Wood and Nether wards there was no contest, with three candidates being elected unopposed in each ward.

Bexton and Town Centre Ward

Uncontested – those listed below will be elected unopposed.

Candidate	Description	Address	Proposer
GARDINER, Stewart	Conservative	23 Queen Street	Jacqui Elliott
JOHNSON, April	Independent	25 Mobberley Road	Lewis Baron
WATSON, Gus	Independent	Address in Cheshire East	Poppy Higham

Cross Town Ward

Contested – poll to be held on 4^th May.

Candidate	Description	Address	Proposer
COAN, Peter	Conservative	Mereside, 2 Birch Grove	Keith Hamilton
DALZELL, Lesley	Independent	Address in Cheshire East	Deborah Jamison
MEARS, Rex	Independent	25 Mobberley Road	Barry Wardle
REGAN, Tim	Conservative	22 Legh House, Hollow Lane	Paul Grimbaldeston

Nether Ward

Uncontested – those listed below will be elected unopposed.

Candidate	Description	Address	Proposer
HARTLEY, Bryan	Independent	Besom Hill Cottage, Tabley Road	Anthony Hewitt
LOWE, Scott	Independent	Address in Cheshire East	James Pulham
WOOD, Matthew	Independent	Address in Cheshire East	Bennett Wilkinson

Norbury Booths Ward

Uncontested – those listed below will be elected unopposed.

Candidate	Description	Address	Proposer
GRAY, Christopher	Conservative	8 Glebelands Road	Christine Gray
ROBERTSON, Matthew	Conservative	17 Beggarmans Lane	Peter Raynes
RUSSELL, Su	Independent	Address in Cheshire East	Sebastian Russell

St John’s Wood Ward

Uncontested – those listed below will be elected unopposed.

Candidate	Description	Address	Proposer
BANKS, Colin	Independent	77 Boothfields	Madeleine Knowles
FORREST, Jennifer	Conservative	Address in Cheshire East	Clive Rustage
MCCULLOCH, James		10 Gaskell Rise	David Larenzo-Law

Seven of the current town councillors are not seeking a further term, Neil Forbes is retiring after 16 years alongside Andrew Malloy (12 years), James Power (8 years), Liz Beswick (6 years), Quentin Abel (4 years), Mike Houghton (4 years) and Millie Morris (2 years).

Residents of Cross Town ward have until 17th April to register to vote if they are not already on the electoral roll (www.gov.uk/register-to-vote), until 18th April to request a postal vote and until 25th April to apply for a voter authority certificate if they do not have ID (www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate).

All councillors remain in office until Tuesday 9th May, when all existing councillors retire and the new councillors come into office.

20Mar2023

Town Celebrates its 2023 Community Heroes

The Knutsford community celebrated its heroes last week at the 10^th Annual Knutsford Town Awards.

The award ceremony took place at Knutsford Little Theatre, with Town Mayor Cllr Mike Houghton and Ian Cass, Managing Director of the Forum of Private Business, announcing the winners of the 2023 awards.

First up was the Youth Award, with a joint award being made to twin sisters Liv and Jess Johnson, who received the award for their voluntary work with 7^th Knutsford Brownies as part of their bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Community Award shield was presented to the Knutsford and District Talking Newspaper who for over 45 years have been supporting the visually impaired community by providing a free audio recording of the Knutsford Guardian to ensure they are kept informed of community news. The Talking Newspaper has only ever missed four editions (due to Covid) over the past four decades!

Three recipients were presented with a Civic Award; this award goes to individuals or groups of individuals who work to make Knutsford a better place.

The first award went to Rob Lyons for over a decade of leadership at 1st Knutsford Scouts and volunteering his skills as a joiner and plumber to undertake much of the fit out of the new 1st Knutsford Scout Hut.

The second Civic Award was for Judy Clifford who was described in a nomination as being a “mother figure and friend to many” at the Welcome. Judy, who has also taught many people to knit and supported neighbours through challenging times, was unable to attend the award ceremony.

The final Civic Award of 2023 was presented to Gemma Jackson, founder and leader of the Wrap Up Knutsford group. Gemma’s many nominations praised her dedication in supporting local families and ensuring good coats are recycled for those who need them

The 2023 Business Award was presented to Tatton Perk. Proprietor Mark Lee-Kilgariff has ensured Tatton Perk is a central part of the local community, using their Moor Park site as a warmth bank over winter, introducing free bike checks for visitors and supporting a number of community organisations with prizes.

Before the Business Award was presented a Mayor’s Special Award was announced for Dan Belcher of Guy’s Barbers. Dan received the award in recognition of delivering outstanding customer service whilst battling challenging personal circumstances.

Tatton Perk was called back onto stage for the Knutsford School’s for Sustainability Award, and was presented this award by Alison Hooper, head of Egerton School, on behalf of the local schools. This award recognises sustainable business practices.

The final award was the Extra Mile Award which goes to someone who, in their paid employment, has gone above and beyond for the benefit of the local community with the 2023 award going to Jack Street of Johnsons the Cleaners. Jack was singled out for his kind and patient support to customers which has enabled the older members of the community who may struggle with some of the technology they are asked to use to access the various services on offer.

Speaking at the awards, Town Mayor Cllr Mike Houghton said “I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to submit a nomination this year. These awards would not happen without you. I know previous Mayor’s have said this too but it really is true – those who were shortlisted should be so incredibly proud.”

16Mar2023

Election Process Commences

Potential candidates for this year’s Knutsford Town Council elections have 19 days to complete their nomination papers and submit them to Cheshire East Council as the election process commences.

The formal notice of election for the five town council wards has been published today by Cheshire East Council and candidates have until 4pm on 4^th April to get their papers in. All 15 seats on the council are up for election with candidates able to stand in any one of the five electoral wards (Cross Town, Norbury Booths, St John’s Wood, Nether or Bexton and Town Centre). Each ward will elect three councillors.

Nomination papers can be obtained from the Electoral Commission website, or the Town Council offices. Candidates will need a proposer and seconder from the ward they are standing in and all nomination papers must be hand delivered to Cheshire East’s Sandbach office to the election staff.

On 5^th April Cheshire East Council will publish the list of nominated candidates, where wards are contested (more than three people standing for election) a poll will then take place on 4^th May.

Qualification to stand for election

To be eligible to stand for election, candidates need to:

be a registered elector in Knutsford OR
have lived in the town or within 4.8km for the last 12 months OR
have had Knutsford as their primary place of work OR
have occupied premises in Knutsford for the last 12 months.

There are also criteria which disqualify candidates from standing, such as being subject to bankruptcy restrictions, having been convicted of a criminal offence with a sentence of three or more months imprisonment within the last five years and having been convicted of certain sexual offences.

Full guidance on standing for election is available on the Electoral Commission website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council-elections-england

2Mar2023

2023 Town Awards Shortlist Announced

The spotlight is being shone on Knutsford’s community heroes this month with the shortlist being announced for the 10^th annual Knutsford Town Awards.

The awards, which are sponsored by the Forum of Private Business, recognise the work individuals, community groups and businesses undertake for the Knutsford community.

A special award ceremony is being hosted at Knutsford Little Theatre on Wednesday 15^th March from 7pm as part of the Annual Town Meeting. The event starts with a short talk from Knutsford and District Talking Newspaper about the work the group does to bring the Knutsford Guardian to the visually impaired of Knutsford and surrounding villages before featuring an open forum for residents to raise any issues they want to see discussed in the community.

Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Houghton and Ian Cass, Managing Director of the Forum of Private Business then have the honour of celebrating the shortlisted nominees and announcing the winners of the 2023 awards.

This year’s shortlist is as follows:

Civic Award (3 awards)

Three Civic Awards are presented to individuals who give their time voluntarily to undertake work in the community there are 7 shortlisted for the awards this year:

Judy Clifford
Joe Godden
Gemma Jackson
Rob Lyons
Ken and Louise Rhodes
Claire Sawyer

Business Award

One business will be recognised with the Business Award, which goes to a business or business leader who has supported or worked with the community, four businesses are in the running for the 2023 award:

Detaljer
Dan Belcher, Guys Barbers Knutsford
Morgan Edwards
Tatton Perk

Community Award

The Community Award goes to a community organisation, this year three worthy groups have been shortlisted:

Knutsford and District Talking Newspaper
The Welcome
Wrap up Knutsford

Extra Mile Award

The Extra Mile Award is presented to someone who as part of their paid job is going above and beyond to the benefit of the community. This year sees three shortlisted nominees:

Alison Hooper, Egerton Primary School
Jack Street, Johnsons the Cleaners
Miriam Wilson, Knutsford Medical Partnership

On announcing the shortlist, Cllr Mike Houghton said: “I know we say this every year but everyone on the shortlist should be incredibly proud that someone has taken the time to put their name forward for recognition for what they do for Knutsford and I am really looking forward to celebrating their achievements with them at the awards ceremony later this month”

1Mar2023

Changes to Town Council wards

New community governance arrangements affecting Knutsford come into effect this April, following conclusion of a community governance review across Cheshire East.

The review, which looked at governance arrangements for town and parish councils across the borough, addresses the concerns first raised by Knutsford Town Council in 2017 when it pushed for a review to be commenced.

The boundary of Knutsford is being expanded to the west to include the Tabley Park development, part of which is currently in Tabley parish. The new boundary follows Northwich Road to the M6 and back along Tabley Hill Lane. The town’s eastern boundary was also changed to include part of the Longridge Business Park which was technically within Mobberley parish.

The other major change is redrawing the internal ward boundaries – Knutsford’s 15 town councillors will now be elected across five three-member wards rather than the current four. This addresses issues which will be created by new developments which would have affected the ratio of electors to councillors in existing wards and seen some estates split between different wards. The changes split the existing Over ward, which elected six councillors, into two three-member wards, providing a stronger link between councillors and residents.

All ward boundaries have been affected. The new wards are:

Nether
Bexton and Town Centre
Crosstown
St John’s Wood
Norbury Booths

A map of Knutsford showing the five town wards — A map showing the new boundary of Knutsford (edged red) and the five wards

Nether ward has moved north to include the Tabley Park development as well as the Bluebell Village and smaller development planned for the site west of Manchester Road. The town centre has moved into the new Bexton and Town Centre ward whilst Norbury Booths ward has expanded west to include all houses along Bexton Lane. Over ward has been split in two, creating a new Cross Town ward, centred around Thorneyholme Drive, and St John’s Wood, which contains the ancient woodland, Longridge and Shaw Heath areas as well as the new development on Parkgate Lane and potential development on Longridge.

The new governance arrangements will be used in the May elections. No changes have been made to the Cheshire East Council wards.

In surrounding parishes, the area of Tatton Park which is not in Knutsford parish moves into a newly merged parish of Millington and Rostherne whilst there have been no changes at Mere; Plumley with Toft and Bexton; or Ollerton with Marthall and the only change at Tabley is the transfer of land to Knutsford.

This year’s elections will also see some changes to polling stations and residents will have recently received letters from Cheshire East Council; polling cards will be issued for elections detailing the polling station for each polling district in Knutsford. Voting in elections from May 2023 requires photo ID for the first time. If you do not have photographic ID, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate from Cheshire East Council at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

13Feb2023

Community meeting on new council plan

Residents are invited to find out more about the Town Council’s draft strategic plan at a community meeting next week.

The council is currently consulting on its new strategy which will guide its work over the next ten years. The plan sets out five core aims of supporting the town centre, promoting active travel and public transport, improving open spaces and the environment, leading a strong community and ensuring access to services and facilities.

The public meeting takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 22nd February in Knutsford Methodist Church, where attendees will hear how the plan was developed and find out more about the council’s objectives for the next decade. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to question the council on the plan and provide feedback on the specific actions people would like to see the council deliver by 2032.

“We’re setting out a strategy to guide what we do over the next 10 years and provide a marker for the community to assess how well we are doing. We’re keen to hear from as many local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to ensure we are setting the right objectives for the town” said Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Green.

Those who cannot attend the meeting can read the plan online at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/strategic plan or in Knutsford Library, The Welcome and the Market Hall.

30Jan2023

Council urges Stanley Centre closure to be abandoned

Knutsford Town Council is calling on Cheshire East Council to abandon plans to decommission the Stanley Centre in Knutsford.

The proposal to close the building which provides services for people who have a learning disability, people with physical disabilities and older people was included as part of the Cheshire East Council budget consultation and has drawn criticism from the borough council’s own Adults and Health Committee.

The Town Council has today issued a letter to the leadership at Cheshire East Council requesting the proposed cut is removed from the budget. The Town Council has further requested that if the borough council wishes to explore the building’s closure a thorough consultation must be undertaken before a decision to cut the funding is made.

“With the continually growing need for local social care provision, we are bemused by this ill thought out proposal to cut access to the vital services provided at the Stanley Centre.” said Town Mayor Cllr Mike Houghton

“We are especially concerned that the proposal has been presented through a budget consultation as a cost saving measure rather than a properly formulated proposal that enables a detailed assessment of the impact of the closure of the building on the local community”

28Jan2023

Consultation launched on council’s strategic plan

A consultation has been launched on Knutsford Town Council’s draft strategy for the next ten years.

The strategic plan was developed following community consultation in Summer 2022, when the Town Council held a series of workshops and an online survey to hear from residents what they wanted to see the council address in the coming years.

The plan is an overarching strategy and intentionally doesn’t detail the solutions. It details the council’s core aims and objectives – how the council delivers on this will be set out as it progresses through the next decade.

The five strategic aims set out by the council are:

Supporting a thriving Town Centre
Promoting Active Travel
Leading a Strong Community
Improving Open Spaces and the Environment
Ensuring access to services and facilities

The aims are what the council will work towards in the long term and each is supported by a series of objectives which sets out how they will make these aims a reality. Each year the council will produce specific action plans detailing what it will be doing to meet our objectives.

“This plan was built on the back of what we were told in our community engagement sessions last year and aims to ensure the council is addressing the needs and ambitions of the community” said Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Houghton.

“Before the plan is adopted, we want to ensure it has your support. We want to hear from you again to tell us if you agree with our aims and objectives and to suggest what specific actions you believe the council should be undertaking to deliver them.”

The consultation runs until Friday 3^rd March. The Town Council will then review all feedback and present a revised plan for adoption to the new council following the May 2023 elections.

The plan can be read online at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/strategicplan and feedback provided by the accompanying feedback form. Comments can also be submitted by email to strategicplan@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk. Paper copies of the plan and questionnaire can be found in Knutsford Library, The Welcome and Knutsford Market Hall.

The council is also hosting an open forum on the strategy at 7pm on Wednesday 22^nd February in Knutsford Methodist Church. At the meeting the council will talk through the development of the plan and answer any questions from the community.

25Jan2023

Town Mayor invites town to dinner

Mayor of Knutsford Cllr Mike Houghton is inviting the town to dinner with his next fundraising event – an evening of tapas and paella.

The latest ‘Dine with the Mayor’ will take place on the evening of Thursday 9^th February and is hosted by Evuna. Tickets are just £31 per person and all profits from the evening will go to the Mayor’s chosen Charities: Knutsford Scouts and UK Men’s Shed.

Opening sales for the event, Mike said ‘I do hope you will be able to join me for this fundraising event. There will be delicious food, great company, and a chance to win prizes in the fundraising raffle!”

The dinner follows the Mayor’s Annual Pub Quiz which is taking place at The Angel on the 2^nd February which is now sold out. If you’ve missed out on the quiz, get in early for the Town Mayor’s Music quiz on Friday 10^th March.

Tickets for these events can be booked by emailing laura.phillipson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or calling 01565 653 929.

5Dec2022

From the archives: A Coronation Bonfire

The Town Council holds an archive of documents containing a wealth of local history and, thanks to the work of two dedicated volunteers, the archives are being sorted and catalogued for the first time.

Jenny and Mary attend the council offices each week to sift and sort the various files and we are keen to share the information they unearth. This article was prepared by them for the Friends of Knutsford Heritage Centre newsletter when they found an old photo showing men on a stack of hay?

When King Edward VII ascended to the throne after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 towns and villages began planning extravagant celebrations for his coronation, which was planned for June 1902.

Many towns, including Knutsford, built large bonfires. This photo (which has been skilfully enhanced by Peter Spooner) shows the bonfire on the heath. The men standing on each tier are allegedly the town councillors of the time. You can clearly see a small silver crown near the top and the initials ER.

A black and white photo of the Edward VII Coronation bonfire in Knutsford

Knutsford’s bonfire and celebrations are mentioned in George Payne’s ‘A History of Knutsford’, published in 1904:

“On June 26, 1902, the loyal people of Knutsford, besides having a bonfire which measured 52 yards in circumference and was 44 feet high to the floor of the cabin placed on the top, which was itself 10 feet high, had what was quite appropriate, a sanding competition, in which twenty three cottages and tradespeople entered. Most beautiful and artistic designs adorned the street and pavements in front if the houses, and a number of prizes were awarded, the judges touring the ancient streets in a motor car.”

It was also mentioned in other publications, including the Dundee Evening Post, July 1902, which described different bonfires around the realm, accompanied by this illustration and description: “Of quite a different shape was the bonfire at Knutsford, containing 100 loads of stuff. At the base it was 16 yards in diameter, and the blazing properties were heightened by the addition of many barrels of tar.”

The coronation day was set for 26th June 1902 and guests were invited from all over the world. However, the King suffered appendicitis a few days beforehand and developed peritonitis: unless he postponed the
coronation and had an operation immediately he would die. The King, though hugely reluctant, finally relented, and 9th August was chosen as the new date. By then he was much recovered and the service proceeded as planned.

The society magazine “The Queen’ reported at length on regional coronation festivities and in the issue
published a week before the delayed coronation in August, Knutsford gets a special mention:

“There will, no doubt, be many places which will repeat the note of joyousness sounded for June 26 last, when Aug. 9 brings, as we all devoutly hope it may bring, the ceremony that was then postponed. Flags are a possession that can be hung at any moment, and bonfires can be reconstructed, but they will not be either the flags or the bonfires that were prepared when the nation was at the height of loyal expectation.

The little Cheshire town of Knutsford was no whit behind others in its demonstrations of joy; all the customary preparations had been made to honour the King, and another form of decoration, which unfortunately does not show in the photographs, was employed to adorn the pavements of the street. This is the old custom of “sanding”; all the shopkeepers ornament the stone pavement in front of their shops with arabesques, crowns, mottoes, etc. in sand. It is done by putting the sand into a funnel and letting it out in a fine stream, rather in the manner in which a cook ices a cake. The skill that some of them attain is wonderful.

I do not know if the gentle ladies [of Cranford] ever went to any such exciting thing as a bonfire; I imagine they would have thought it slightly improper, but if ever there had been a festivity of that description in their days, certainly Peter, the wicked Peter, who owned to having shot a Cherubim, would have assisted at its making. The photograph somewhat spoilt by the iron railings shows how the bonfire looked the day before the expected Coronation; afterwards, when we lit our bonfires in gratitude that the King was out of danger, this one burnt beautifully, though it canted over in a wonderful way before it was finished, immaculate as it looks here in its resemblance to a gigantic cake.”

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