A Keppel-Green | Knutsford Town Council

9Nov2022

Residents invited to inform conservation area review

Residents are invited to have their say on a review of two of the town’s conservation arears.

Conservation areas are designated places of ‘special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance’ and five of the 77 conservation areas in Cheshire East are in Knutsford: Cross Town (designated in 2006), Heathfield Square (2006), Legh Road (1976), Town Centre (1989) and St John’s (1994). Following the commitment made in the Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan, Knutsford Town Council is leading a review of the five conservation areas in the town.

A key part of conserving a conservation area is having an up-to-date appraisal and management plan which ensures their special qualities are understood and their character and appearance are not compromised by development proposals and small-scale incremental change.

Work on the Legh Road conservation area appraisal and management plan was completed in 2021 and is awaiting formal public consultation from Cheshire East Council.

The Town Council is currently working with Donald Insall Associates to undertake a review of the four remaining conservation areas, starting with Heathfield Square and St John’s.

The Heathfield Square conservation area was last appraised in 2006 when it was created, this small area comprises Knutsford’s first council houses, built as ‘homes for heroes’ after the first world war. The St John’s conservation area covers the Victorian housing along St John’s Road, St John’s Avenue and County Terrace, as well as some of the houses on Bexton Road. There is currently no appraisal or management plan for this conservation area.

Residents interested in these conservation areas are invited to share their views at engagement sessions taking place on Saturday 19^th November at the Town Council Offices. Two drop-in sessions are running from 10:30-12:00 and 12:30-14:00.

Work on the Town Centre and Crosstown conservation areas will commence in early 2023.

10Oct2022

Three weeks until Pumpkin Path returns

Spooky season is upon us and it’s just a few weeks until Knutsford’s favourite Halloween event is back for three hours of spooktacular fun!

Knutsford Pumpkin Path returns this year on Halloween evening, Monday 31^st October, from 4pm to 7pm. The event will be held in Knutsford Town Centre, in a closure area of King Street, Minshull Street, Church Hill and Regent Street, which are closed to traffic to facilitate the event.

The event is very kindly sponsored by Redrow and The Mere Nature Kindergarten, whose generous support has helped to make this event possible!

Families can collect an entry form in advance of the event or on the night and follow the hints on the included map to find 11 pumpkins hidden around the closure area. All the pumpkins have a letter carved into them; find all the pumpkins and use the letters to spell the hidden phrase.

You’ll find lots of fun on your way, from themed character actors to live entertainment! Fuschia School of Dance will entertain you on King Steet near Giovannis at 5pm and 6pm, while Knutsford Beats will sing some songs at the bottom of Regent Street at 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

Don’t forget to visit Wallwood (the wooded area at the top of King Street, opposite Tatton Park) for some spooky fun. You can also enter our Pumpkin Carving competition and drop your pumpkin off here in Wallwood from 4pm to 5pm, and the Mayor of Knutsford will judge the best ones at 5.15pm (with prizes up for grabs for the top three!)

Remember to vote for your favourite Halloween window display on your entry form and drop off your completed entry form to one of the post boxes in Wallwood or at 60 King Street (the old Belle Epoque building).

The event is free to enter however an optional donation of £1 per child will be graciously accepted to help cover some of the event costs. Entry forms can be collected on the night from one of four desks on King Street and one on Minshull Street.

To find out more about the event, visit www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or email enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk, or alternatively you can call 01565 653 929.

6Oct2022

Big Bulb Plant returns for 2022

Knutsford residents are invited to help the town bloom in Spring 2023 as the Knutsford Big Bulb Plant returns for a second year.

This community-led bulb planting programme puts the bulbs in the hands of residents – inviting them to host a bulb planting event on their neighbourhood green spaces. A resident wanting to see bulbs spring up every year just needs to register the location, date and time of their planned event on the Town Council website.

The council will then prepare a selection of bulbs suitable for the space – from daffodils and tulips to bluebell, winter aconites and wild garlic. The council will also provide some pre-printed leaflets to deliver to neighbours to invite them to come along.

Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green said “The Big Bulb Plant aims to see our town bursting with colour every spring whilst brining neighbours together to make a little improvement to the green spaces and verges near them.”

“I’ll be leading a session my neighbours on Manor Park South and events are also already planned for Manor Crescent, Queensway and Green Lane.”

The Big Bulb Plant runs across the whole of October, and last year saw 24 verges and greens planted with bulbs by the local community. Residents are able to re-plant the same greens to add more colour and variety for 2023.

To find out more and register an event head to: www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/big-bulb-plant

The Big Bulb Plant is part of the council’s Nature Action Plan through which it aims to increase biodiversity across the town.

30Sep2022

Notice of Conclusion of External Audit

Annual Governance & Accountability Return for the year ended 31 March 2022
Sections 20(2) and 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

The audit of accounts for Knutsford Town Council for the year ended 31 March 2022 has been completed and the accounts have been published.
The Annual Governance & Accountability Return is available for inspection by any local government elector of the area of Knutsford Town Council on application to: Adam Keppel-Green, Town Clerk Council Offices, Toft Road, Knutsford, WA16 6TA between 0900-1700 Monday to Friday.
Copies will be provided to any person on payment of nil for each copy of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.

Announcement made by Adam Keppel-Green, Town Clerk and RFO. 30/09/2021

View the completed Annual Governance and Accountability Return.

21Sep2022

Great Big Green Week

Climate action coming to Knutsford as part of nationwide campaign. Taking place between 24^th September – 2^nd October, the climate action campaign known as the Great Big Green Week will see thousands of people across the UK organising local festivals and events. The campaign aims to draw attention to climate change, destruction of the natural world, while also making a connection with these issues in communities like Knutsford, at the same time as showcasing actions to tackle climate change. Creating a better world, for us now and for the next generation.

The main event of the week is a Community Climate Conversation where volunteers from Save our Shropshire are travelling to Knutsford to present on what we can all do to reduce our carbon footprint leading to a discussion on what Knutsford can do as a community to tackle Climate Change. The output of discussions from the event will help shape a community climate action plan which will aim to bring the council, business and wider community together for joint climate action.

The events taking place in Knutsford are:

25^th September – Crosstown Community Orchard is holding a work day on Sunday 25^th September from 10am to 12pm where they will be planting bulbs and undertaking general maintenance of the town’s orchard.
28^th September – Town Ranger Bob is leading a litterpick of Dog Wood from the Moor to Tatton Park. Meet Bob at the Moor entrance to Dog Wood at 1pm.
29^th September – Town Ranger Bob will be working with volunteers to create a shady wildflower meadow on Sparrow Lane. Join him at the green space by the path to Higher Downs / Delmar Road at 11am.
30th September – Cheshire Wildlife Trust will be leading volunteers to create Knutsford’s fourth native wildflower meadow along Ladies Mile, with thanks to Tatton Estate for permission.
1^st October – Join Joe Godden from Knutsford Allotment Society on a tour of the Warren Avenue allotment site to find out more about allotmenteering. Book your free space here.
1^st October – Friends of the Moor are raising the 2022 Green Flag at 2pm followed by a litterpick of the Moor and Barncroft.
2^ndOctober – Friends of the Heath are leading their autumn litterpick of the Heath at 11am
2^nd October – The Town Council is hosting a Community Climate Conversation at St John’s Church at 2pm. Led by community leaders from Save our Shropshire.
2^nd October – Friends of College Wood are holding a litterpick in the wood time TBC.

The Great Big Green Week also sees the launch of Knutsford’s Big Bulb Plant – a bulb planting programme lasting the whole of October where residents are encouraged to pick a space and lead their neighbours in planting spring flowering bulbs supplied by the Town Council.

The Great Big Green Week is coordinated by The Climate Coalition, the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change, whose members include the National Trust, WWF, Women’s Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB. Other organisations supporting the campaign included BT, British Mountaineering Council, and the Manchester United Foundation. Knutsford Town Council received a grant from The Great Big Green Week to bring green activity to Knutsford this year.

8Sep2022

Death of HM The Queen

Statement from the Mayor of Knutsford

It is with great sadness that the Town Council learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II today, Thursday 8th September 2022.

Speaking following the announcement, the Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Houghton gave the following statement: “I and members of Knutsford Town Council share the nation’s grief at the sad news of our monarch’s passing. Her Majesty the Queen set the standard for public service which we should all strive to achieve. She will be much missed.

God save the King.”

Book of Condolence and Floral Tributes

A book of condolence is open to sign at the Council Offices, the room will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Floral tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth II may be laid at the Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ tree at the front of the Council Offices, which was planted in HM The Queen’s honour as part of the celebrations for this year’s Platinum Jubilee.

We ask that flowers are laid without cellophane/plastic. After the funeral these flowers will be composted and used to plant a tree in memory of HM The Queen in due course.

Proclamation of the accession of HM King Charles III

The union flag at the Council Offices will be raised to full mast at 9am on Saturday 10th September to mark the proclamation of King Charles as King.

On Sunday 11th September, the Town Mayor will read the local proclamation at 4pm from the steps of the Council Offices following which the union flag will return to half mast until 20th September.

We invite the community to join us for the proclamation.

Civic Service of Remembrance

A civic service of remembrance will be held on Sunday 18th September at 2pm in St John’s Church.

The service will be led by Rev Nigel Atkinson and the Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Houghton.

8pm National Silence

The Town Mayor will lead a minute silence at 8pm on 18th September, the eve of the funeral, at the Council Offices.

2Sep2022

Town invited to get REFRESHED

As university students prepare to scout out their Freshers Fair, a community freshers fair is coming to Knutsford on Saturday 10^th September.

ReFresh Knutsford is organised by Knutsford Town Council and brings together a range of community organisations, charities, clubs and societies to help introduce (or refresh) the community on what it has on the doorstep.

Over 30 groups are coming together to meet potential new volunteers, service users and the wider community. Groups booked to attend cover a range of interests and topics including:

Knutsford Floral Design Club
Thai Chi Classes
Friends of the Moor
Knutsford Skatepark
Knutsford Community Transport Association
Jodrell District Girl guides
Canute Badminton Club

“This event is all about connecting our community” said Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green.

“Whether you are interested in trying out bellringing, want to get involved in the community orchard or learn what the Rotary and Lions do for the town this is a chance to make those connections – you never know what impact your interaction might have on the wider community or whether you’ll discover your new hobby.”

Refresh Knutsford takes place in Knutsford Methodist Church and St John’s Church from 1pm to 3pm.

5Aug2022

Knutsford Alfresco Dining Evenings August 2022

Following the success of the 2021 event, and as part of our ongoing plans to support the town centre, we are bringing back alfresco dining evenings on Friday 12^th and Saturday 13^th August. To facilitate this, there will be the following road closures which may affect you:

King Street – from Church Hill to Egerton Square (allowing access to and from the King Street car park) Closed Saturday 13th August
Princess Street – small section outside the Lost and Found (as well as some restricted parking bays) Closed Friday 12th August
Minshull Street – full closure. Closed Friday 12th August

The roads will be closed from 5.30pm to 11.00pm and our local hospitality businesses will use the outside space for dining. Only existing Knutsford hospitality venues are taking part although some shops may take advantage of the event and stay open later. We are contracting a traffic management company and are engaging with the emergency services to ensure the safety of the evenings. Roads will be reopened fully from 11pm. We are also looking to repeat this event on 9^th and 10^th September.

We are working extremely closely with the participating restaurants to ensure safety for those walking through the town centre and the evenings. We have also stressed the importance of ensuring the spaces used are routinely cleared up and that customers are reminded that a number of residents live in apartments above shops. We sincerely apologise for any disruption this causes but your cooperation is very much appreciated by the Town Council, and our hospitality industry as we continue to keep our town centre thriving. We welcome your feedback on the evenings and hope that you can take advantage of these opportunities too.

If you have any queries or questions regarding this, please contact me by email Alanah.mudie@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

26Jul2022

Knutsford Cemetery achieves Green Flag

Knutsford Town Council is celebrating as Knutsford Cemetery has received the prestigious Green Flag Award, an international quality mark for the management of parks and green spaces.

Responsibility for the cemetery transferred to Knutsford Town Council in January 2020 and since then it has worked to improve the quality of management of the cemetery and bereavement services, receiving numerous compliments from visitors who recognise the investment and attention the cemetery is now receiving.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

“Attaining the award is testament to the quality of management the Town Council has instigated, through our cemetery working group, since we took back its operation two years ago. The award particularly recognises the work of our Cemetery Groundskeeper, Fergal Owens, who has worked incredibly hard to improve the quality of grounds maintenance and our Planning and Facilities Officer Bob Allen who has put in place strong management practices” said Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Houghton.

The council will be continuing to improve the cemetery and deliver on its new five-year management plan. The council is currently creating a new cremation garden and later this year will be improving the entranceway to the cemetery, over the coming years it will create additional flowerbeds, install cycle parking and develop its customer engagement.

Knutsford Cemetery is the third green space in Knutsford to be awarded the Green Flag, joining Cheshire East managed areas The Moor and Tatton Park.

5Jul2022

Workshops held to inform Strategic Plan

Knutsford Town Council hosted five workshops last week as part of creating its new 10 year strategy.

Three sessions were held at Egerton Place in the town centre and one at the Welcome Café on Longridge. The Town Council also ensured it heard from the younger members of the community by delivering a session to a class of year 9 students at the Knutsford Academy and they were joined by a few year 12s too.

The Town Council is developing a new 10-year strategy to guide its work and until 5^th August is running an open consultation to hear from the community what it wants to see the council do to better serve Knutsford.

“We’re keen to understand what the community wants to see change over next ten years so we can work to help deliver that change for the town” said Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green.

The council’s next workshop is being held online via Zoom next Thursday (14^th July). Residents can register to join it via the council website at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/strategicplan.

The website also hosts a short survey which replicates the format of the workshops – including a short introductory video. The survey is open until 5^th August.

“Our aim is to hear from as many residents as possible over the next few weeks” Adam added.

All feedback from residents is encouraged and the council also invites residents to send their views in via letter or email to the Council Offices, Toft Road, Knutsford, WA16 6TA or townclerk@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

“The more people that come forward to tell us what is important to them, what they want to see more of or less of in the town – no matter how small or grand – will help us shape our pan in the knowledge we’re meeting our resident’s needs” Adam said.

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