Alsager Lights Switch-on
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
Don't forget the lights switch-on on Sunday 28 November. There will be a number of market stalls (fewer than before to enable more social distancing) and fairground rides, and a charities market in the Civic. The fun starts at 4 pm with the lights switched on at 6 pm.
Alsager Community Theatre
With thanks to Alsager in Focus
ACT will be performing A Christmas Carol at the Golf Club, as follows:
8, 9, 10 December – 7.45
12 December – 2.30
Tickets (£12 adult, £8 under-21) from 07562 845756
Scouts Christmas tree recycling scheme
With thanks to Alsager in Focus
Alsager Scouts are reinstating their Christmas tree recycling scheme. They will collect trees on Sunday 9 January, for a minimum donation of £5. To book a collection, visit here or call 01270 884461 / 07936 373587.
Food bank
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
Please do not forget Alsager food bank at this time of year. The reduction of £20 in Universal Credit has created more demand. In the last week 25 households have been fed (36 adults, 35 children).
Green spaces
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
As previously reported, Cheshire East Council is currently consulting on parks and green spaces with a view to encouraging greater biodiversity and protecting wildlife. Plans to improve biodiversity were recently considered by Alsager Town Council with councillors in favour of the proposals, including leaving grass verges to grow longer before being cut.
Targeting litter
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
Alsager's new Community Clean Team presented proposals to Alsager Town Council to reduce litter in the town. One idea was to temporarily close roads to traffic so that trash could be picked from verges, and it might deter drivers from throwing litter out of their car windows. Lodge Road and Heathwood Drive are particularly bad for litter. There are also plans to work with the takeaways to encourage better packaging and to ask them to encourage customers to dispose of rubbish correctly.
As reported last week, the first litter pick will be on Saturday 4 December, 10-12, meeting outside Alsager Community Support Centre.
20 mph speed restrictions
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
Many of you will be aware of the Alsager public realm proposals, which include changing speed limits in the town centre to 20 mph. Cheshire East Council had now debated a new draft Speed Management Strategy for the whole borough, and have approved the draft to go out for consultation, though some councillors complained that the draft read as if there were 50 reasons why the speed restrictions should not be implemented. Last year they approved a policy of introducing 20 mph speed restrictions "where appropriate" and not as a blanket policy across all residential areas. The consultation document does not appear to be available yet, but watch out for it.
Drop in anti-social behaviour
With thanks to Alsager Chronicle
Data from Cheshire East Council's CCTV control room has revealed that anti-social behaviour in Alsager has fallen, with only 6 counts detected between July and September compared with 37 incidents between April and June. Although CCTV can help detect incidents, the CCTV manager stresses that the deterrent effect is more important.
Local News – the end
Thank you to all U3A members who responded to my email about whether this Local News service should continue. Out of 850 or so members, about 40 responded, of whom three quarters were aware of and read it and others not aware of it.
Local News was initiated when we had a new website and during lockdown. At that time it was intended to be a way of members being kept in touch with what was going on in Alsager. Now I don't think it is needed for this purpose. Most members just want to belong to their groups and take part in activities.
So this is the last Local News. I hope that it has been useful for some members. If you are still interested in receiving local news you can sign up here for Alsager Nub News which will deliver a newsletter to your inbox each Friday.
Can I therefore take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a more normal 2022.
Covid 19 – Alsager cases up
For the 7 days to 20 November (previous week in brackets):
Alsager East – 32 new cases, up 20, rolling rate 491 (was 184)
Alsager West – 15 new cases, up 1, rolling rate 252 (was 236)
Cheshire East rolling rate is 426 (was 392), England is 428 (was 385)
See map here.
Sarah Anderson