wilmslow.co.uk Comments

John White on Not famous or rich, just jobless

2010-03-10T13:32:45+00:00

This programme covered most aspects of being unemployed the only omissions were in that in most jobs they will not give you an instant answer of whether or not you have been successful in the interview. The other thing I want to highlight is a massive failing with the Government and jobcentres where they will not simply “freeze” jobseekers allowance for those who want to take short-term temporary work. As the rules stand if you accept a temporary job you have to sign off benefits and when that ends and you are unemployed again you have to go through the red tape procedure of applying for jobseekers allowance all over again as if you were a brand new applicant. This really puts benefit claimants including Myself off accepting any temporary work because of all the beaurocracy. If you can just “freeze” your current on-going claim for the period of the temporary work and immediately re-commence on it’s cessation with no detailed form-filling or fresh jobcentre interview this would save the Government millions by getting jobless to accept such work which they now often turn down for that very reason.

Mark Shields on Not famous or rich, just jobless

2010-03-09T16:35:20+00:00

Programme airs tonight and tomorrow, already thanks to Lisa and all at wilmslow.co.uk I have today been invited to a job interview with Virgin Media, this was purely on the strength of the recent feature. I found it has really helped to get the media on board, I have an interview with Heather Stott, on BBC Radio Manchester tomorrow at 11.10 am, so once again thank you so much.

Lisa Reeves on Council Tax increases

2010-03-05T19:47:10+00:00

The total Council Tax rates were agreed at last week�s council meeting where the contributions to Cheshire Police Authority, Cheshire Fire Authority and the Parish or Town Councils were finalised and added to the Council Tax rates previously set by the Cabinet, and detailed above. The precept demand issued by Cheshire Police Authority was �20,981,627 which produced a Band D Council Tax of �144.53. This represents an increase of �3.83 (2.72%). The precept demand issued by Cheshire Fire Authority was �9,643,713 which produced a Band D Council Tax of �66.43. This represents an increase of �1.90 (2.94%). Each Parish Council and the Charter Trustees of Crewe and Macclesfield notified the Council of its precept requirement for the year. The total amount of these special items was �3,039,857 which produced an average Band D Council Tax of �20.94. The council tax levied is made up of these for elements therefore the total Council Tax charges for 2010/11 in Wilmslow are: Band A - �951.53 Band B - �1110.12 Band C - �1268.71 Band D - �1427.30 Band E - �1744.48 Band F - �2061.66 Band G - �2378.83 Band H - �2854.60 The total council tax base for Wilmslow is 14,058.08, this represents the number of properties from which the Council is able to collect Council Tax for 2010/11.

Marilyn Connolly on Local people lose weight with Wii Watchers

2010-03-03T16:26:38+00:00

What a lovely picture - well done to June for organising the event and to Heidi for winning. Thanks also to June for all the guidance and support she shows to her members and for the “fun” elements of the meetings as well as the “serious"side. Thank you June.

Marc Asquith on Hardly calming

2010-02-26T08:16:51+00:00

I love pseudo science. The stats show that humps are the only way of permanently slowing traffic. Hawthorn Lane has been a rat run since I lived in Pownall Park in the 1970s. The traffic calming scheme was widely consulted upon with local residents. It is effective. In the consultation we did provide to all residents info about the cost. The scheme was supported by the majority of residents. I agree we should have fewer signs but ram raiding bollards are usually on private land and not subject to the dictat of the Council.

Alice Hewitt on Growth of "A" board pavement advertising

2010-02-22T09:33:39+00:00

As someone who works in the retail sector, I would like to present the opposing view to this. Surely you can’t fail to notice that more and more small businesses are going under due to a lack of trade. If advertising with the use of an A-board helps to get them more business and help save the jobs of their workers in the process, how is this a bad thing? I work at Oddbins Wine Merchant on Water Lane. We use two large A-boards outside of the store. However, we always ensure that they are safely positioned against the side of the shop, so that they are no obstruction to the pavement. Maybe the suggestion should be that other retailers do similar and change the positioning of their boards rather than banning them altogether.

Sarah Fox on Hardly calming

2010-02-16T19:09:12+00:00

As a resident of Hawthorn Lane, which has very narrow pavements, I do want the speed bumps. But they come at a price and one not mentioned in this article - at least once a week I see a car mount and drive along the pavement, rather than wait at a narrow section. With 3 children under 10, this terrifies me. If more people used the main routes, instead of residential streets, and everyone acted with courtesy whether in a car, on a bike, scooter or on foot, then we could dispense with these so-called “traffic-calming” measures.

Lisa Reeves on Report local potholes

2010-02-09T12:05:00+00:00

Cheshire East have said that their recent request to report the locations of potholes, following the adverse period of winter weather, has proven a success, for which they are thanking local residents. The Authority has now received thousands of reports of potholes across the area and due to the large number of potholes additional resources have been brought in to help with the repairs. From January there has been a 100% increase in pothole reports for the same period last year. As a result of this, there are many potholes which have yet to be repaired and resources are being diverted to deal with the most serious defects. The majority of the potholes have formed following the severe weather conditions experienced across Cheshire East in December and January which has left roads exposed to �freeze-thaw� damage. Cheshire East Council Head of Environmental Services, Phil Sherratt, said “I would like to thank all those local residents who have taken the time to report potholes. There is no doubt the weather over the past two months has caused significant damage which will take many months and considerable resources to rectify.” �I would urge local residents to remain vigilant and continue to report potholes.� Local residents can report potholes to Cheshire East Council on 0845 002 0666 or online by going to cheshireeast.gov.uk Cheshire East Council has a specific budget set aside to deal with highways defects which includes the repair of potholes.

Cecilia Delahaye on Community Grants awarded

2010-02-07T10:32:55+00:00

This was an excellent concert and Wilmslow is very fortunate to have an orchestra of this standard. People should support them as we do not have a lot of music groups here and you would not know they were amateur players.

Lisa Reeves on Cases of swine flu falling but jabs are still vital

2010-02-01T14:06:57+00:00

Due to the fact that swine flu cases are now on the decline, the National Flu Service will cease both online and telephone at 1am on the 11th February 2010. Anyone who thinks they have symptoms of swine flu after this date should contact their GP practice. Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust have announced today that they will also be reducing from the 11th February 2010 the number of antiviral collection points across the area. There will now be three collection points in Central and Eastern Cheshire at Macclesfield Crewe and Northwich.