LORD Mayor John Ebo and the Duke of Westminster took the salute when the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards marched through Chester city centre.
Near the saluting dais was 23-year-old Lance Corporal Phil Meadows from Upton who lost a leg when his vehicle hit an explosive device in Afghanistan eight months ago.
The march began at the Castle Street car park with the salute taken near the Cathedral in St Werburgh Street. Cllr Ebo said: “There are many links between the city and the Dragoon Guards.”
Leading the march was the Prince of Wales Band and among the people who were also there were Lt Col Alan Richmond, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, William Fergusson; the Sheriff of Chester, Cllr Hilarie McNae and Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Neil Ritchie.
The Queen’s Dragoon Guards lineage stretches back more than 300 years and has seen active service all over the world and most recently, the tour in Afghanistan.
On Friday the Duke of Westminster received a cheque for more than £1,200 from Queen’s Dragoon soldiers for the British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association (BLESMA)L/Cpl Meadows’ fellow soldiers in C Squadron raised the money by taking part in a cycle ride on static machines in Afghanistan, cycling 6,000 miles which is the equivalent from Garmsir to Chester.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Chester hotel evacuated in fire scare
HOTEL guests had their mornings cut short after their building was evacuated in a fire scare in Chester.
However, residents staying at the Best Western Queen Hotel, City Road, were allowed back into their rooms shortly after the source of the alarm was found to be an electrical fault.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service sent two appliances to the scene after receiving a call at about 10.30am on Friday.
White Watch manager Chris Rodaway said upon arrival firefighters found a strong smell of smoke coming from the basement staircase of the hotel.
He said: “Firefighters conducted a search of the area and using the thermal image camera, identified that a light fitting was overheating.
The electrician for the building was notified and electrics isolated until repair.“There were no injuries.”
He added: “We recognise the good work by the staff at the hotel for a full and orderly evacuation at the premises in response to the alarm.”
Smokers are being asked to be careful when discarding their cigarettes after a blaze in Chester over the weekend.
Emergency crews responded to a call after a pile of rubbish became engulfed in flames behind The Terrace Bar, Cheyney Road.
City firefighter Anthony McCarthy said the fire was caused after a lit cigarette was thrown on bags of waste that were stored against the back of the building at 2.30am yesterday.
He said: “There are two things immediately wrong with this.
The rubbish should not have been stored against the building and it was a careless throwing of a lit cigarette. There were no injuries.”
Campaigners call for more public toilets for Chester's disabled
DETERMINED campaigners are pushing for more public toilets to be built for disabled residents in Chester.
They say visitors who are handicapped often need extra space for changing and other tasks and are urging council leaders to take a serious look at the issue.
Last year Chester became one of the first areas in the country to launch a Community Toilet Scheme, which aimed to provide improved access to clean and safe public toilets through a partnership between the local authority and businesses.
The scheme, which came after pressure groups campaigned on behalf of the millions of visitors to Chester every year, involved a network of shops, pubs and restaurants which allowed full use of their toilet facilities without the need to purchase goods.
It also worked to increase awareness of the availability of such amenities.Business which signed up to the scheme included Burger King, Foregate Street, Tesco, Frodsham Street, Little Roodee Café, The Groves Bar and Bistro and the Slug and Lettuce, Bridge Street.
Public toilet facilities can also be found in Frodsham Street, Princes Street, The Groves, Union Street and Grosvenor Park.
However, some residents now say many of these toilets are not equipped deal with visitors with severe disabilities and their carers.
Colin Pinches, of Ullswater Crescent, Plas Newton, is involved in a national campaign called Changing Places which is pushing to increase the number of facilities for disabled people throughout the country.
He said: “I think it is a disgrace Cheshire West and Chester Council do not provide enough public toilets that meet the needs of local people with severe disabilities.“Whilst we have one in the area this is far from enough.”
Colin said people with profound and multiple learning disabilities need Changing Places toilets, with a hoist, changing bench and plenty of space.
“Without them, carers are often forced to change their disabled loved-ones on dirty toilet floors,” he said.
“I urge the council to install more Changing Places toilets. People with profound multiple learning disabilities should have the same opportunities as everyone else.“And carers have enough to contend with. Let’s not make their lives harder by denying them the right to basic public facilities.”
CWaC spokesman Mike McGivern said: “There are a number of shops which have a sticker in the window which says these toilets are available for public use as part of the campaign from last year.“The Chester City Centre Access Guide contains details of the Council-owned toilets that are wheelchair accessible.“Also, many have been spruced up in the last year so. The guide is available in DIAL House, Shopmobility, TIC, The Forum, Quaker Meeting House.”
To find out more about public toilets in Chester go to www.chester.gov.uk/communitytoilets. For details about the Changing Places campaign go to www.mencap.org.uk/changelives.
They say visitors who are handicapped often need extra space for changing and other tasks and are urging council leaders to take a serious look at the issue.
Last year Chester became one of the first areas in the country to launch a Community Toilet Scheme, which aimed to provide improved access to clean and safe public toilets through a partnership between the local authority and businesses.
The scheme, which came after pressure groups campaigned on behalf of the millions of visitors to Chester every year, involved a network of shops, pubs and restaurants which allowed full use of their toilet facilities without the need to purchase goods.
It also worked to increase awareness of the availability of such amenities.Business which signed up to the scheme included Burger King, Foregate Street, Tesco, Frodsham Street, Little Roodee Café, The Groves Bar and Bistro and the Slug and Lettuce, Bridge Street.
Public toilet facilities can also be found in Frodsham Street, Princes Street, The Groves, Union Street and Grosvenor Park.
However, some residents now say many of these toilets are not equipped deal with visitors with severe disabilities and their carers.
Colin Pinches, of Ullswater Crescent, Plas Newton, is involved in a national campaign called Changing Places which is pushing to increase the number of facilities for disabled people throughout the country.
He said: “I think it is a disgrace Cheshire West and Chester Council do not provide enough public toilets that meet the needs of local people with severe disabilities.“Whilst we have one in the area this is far from enough.”
Colin said people with profound and multiple learning disabilities need Changing Places toilets, with a hoist, changing bench and plenty of space.
“Without them, carers are often forced to change their disabled loved-ones on dirty toilet floors,” he said.
“I urge the council to install more Changing Places toilets. People with profound multiple learning disabilities should have the same opportunities as everyone else.“And carers have enough to contend with. Let’s not make their lives harder by denying them the right to basic public facilities.”
CWaC spokesman Mike McGivern said: “There are a number of shops which have a sticker in the window which says these toilets are available for public use as part of the campaign from last year.“The Chester City Centre Access Guide contains details of the Council-owned toilets that are wheelchair accessible.“Also, many have been spruced up in the last year so. The guide is available in DIAL House, Shopmobility, TIC, The Forum, Quaker Meeting House.”
To find out more about public toilets in Chester go to www.chester.gov.uk/communitytoilets. For details about the Changing Places campaign go to www.mencap.org.uk/changelives.
'Half of all Chester's waste is being recycled'
THE amount of waste Chester area residents recycle has doubled under the new waste collection service.
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) is now collecting waste in blue, green and brown wheelie bins from eight out of 10 households in and around Chester.
In the other areas bags continue to be used. There have been many teething problems and a limited number of households have not yet had a single waste collection since the new system was introduced.
But overall council leaders are delighted with the way the introduction has gone and since its introduction last month, a staggering 55 per cent of all household waste collected has been sent for recycling or composting.
The amount of waste sent for disposal has also tumbled by more than a quarter, helping to reduce the council’s reliance on landfill, a significant contributor to climate change.
Chester was previously recycling only a third of its household waste, lagging behind the two other parts of the new CWaC territory, Ellesmere Port and Neston and Vale Royal, which were both recycling 40 per cent plus of its waste.
In a message of congratulation, council leader Mike Jones said: “Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting this new service.
“This has been a mammoth task and to achieved such a high level of recycling so far is a testament to the good will and community spirit of people in this area.”
Cllr Jones added: “Due to the exceptional performance of the new service additional pressure has been placed on the recycling collection operatives who are out from 7am to 8pm.
“For those households that have suffered problems with their collections, I apologise and offer my assurance that we are working with our collection partner Focsa to provide additional resources and overcome these issues as fast as we can.”
A new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) has been installed at Bumpers Lane, off Sealand Road. specifically for the area’s new waste collection service.
The cutting-edge facility costing £900,000 operated by Fosca processes waste on behalf of the local authority.
Flintshire firms come to churchyard's aid
A CHURCHYARD which had fallen into a state of disrepair has been given a new lease of life thanks to local businesses.
When the pathways at St John the Baptist Church, Penymynydd, churchyard became impassable the church struggled to find funding to restore the hazardous paths.
Church warden Andrew Bronnert said: “It is rare for there to be a churchyard still open for burials but the old pathways have made access difficult for people visiting and tending graves.
“The ground has also caused damp in the church building itself.”
Nearby Hanson Cement, formerly Castle Cement, stepped in and donated cash for materials to get the project up and running.
Work started in the grounds of the grade two listed church to replace the paths, improve the drainage and alter the ground to prevent further damage.
As word spread, Marshall Paving, Travis Perkins, Read Construction, AH Plant Hire, Scarfo & Sons and DP Williams all came forward to offer their help.
Vicar, the Rev Paulette Gower held a special service recently to thank the local businesses for their generosity.
When the pathways at St John the Baptist Church, Penymynydd, churchyard became impassable the church struggled to find funding to restore the hazardous paths.
Church warden Andrew Bronnert said: “It is rare for there to be a churchyard still open for burials but the old pathways have made access difficult for people visiting and tending graves.
“The ground has also caused damp in the church building itself.”
Nearby Hanson Cement, formerly Castle Cement, stepped in and donated cash for materials to get the project up and running.
Work started in the grounds of the grade two listed church to replace the paths, improve the drainage and alter the ground to prevent further damage.
As word spread, Marshall Paving, Travis Perkins, Read Construction, AH Plant Hire, Scarfo & Sons and DP Williams all came forward to offer their help.
Vicar, the Rev Paulette Gower held a special service recently to thank the local businesses for their generosity.
UK's firefighters in Chester for charity kickabout
FIREFIGHTERS from all over the UK travelled to Chester to compete in a football tournament in aid of a good cause.
The seven-a-side team tournament featured 20 teams, including some of “the best teams from the North West”, to compete for the Burning Issue Trophy in aid of the UK Firefighters Charity.
Winners were Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue with Chester side Hoole Rangers runners-up.
The event, which will take place at the Cheshire County Sports Club at the weekend, aimed to raise about £5,000 to help the rehabilitation of injured firefighters.
Editor of The Burning Issue magazine, Brett Tudor, said: “Fire service teams from the North East to the south coast will descend on Chester for what promises to be a great day out for all the family.”
Entertainment on the day also included a bouncy castle, a rowing competition, face painting and raffles.
Football-themed entertainment included a Soccer AM-style ‘Beat The Goalie’ competition’ and ‘Keepy Uppie’ which should keep spectators amused between games.
Brett added there was a prize for the winning teams as well as for the top goalscorer.
There will also be trophies and raffle prizes for spectators to win on the day.
The seven-a-side team tournament featured 20 teams, including some of “the best teams from the North West”, to compete for the Burning Issue Trophy in aid of the UK Firefighters Charity.
Winners were Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue with Chester side Hoole Rangers runners-up.
The event, which will take place at the Cheshire County Sports Club at the weekend, aimed to raise about £5,000 to help the rehabilitation of injured firefighters.
Editor of The Burning Issue magazine, Brett Tudor, said: “Fire service teams from the North East to the south coast will descend on Chester for what promises to be a great day out for all the family.”
Entertainment on the day also included a bouncy castle, a rowing competition, face painting and raffles.
Football-themed entertainment included a Soccer AM-style ‘Beat The Goalie’ competition’ and ‘Keepy Uppie’ which should keep spectators amused between games.
Brett added there was a prize for the winning teams as well as for the top goalscorer.
There will also be trophies and raffle prizes for spectators to win on the day.
Campaigners’ anger over plan to scrap Chester town twinning
DETERMINED campaigners are gearing up for a fight as council leaders prepare to end twinning with foreign towns by next year.
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) says it will scrap the “wasteful” scheme in the face of budget cuts and staff redundancies.But enthusiasts claim town twinning, which has been in place since the end of the Second World War, has led to cultural enrichment and economic benefits for the region.
The CWaC executive took the decision after stating there should be a “new way of managing the council’s policy on international co-operation”.
However, the council will allow each former twinning association to continue through to 2010, granting them each £2,000 to do so.
Chester is twinned with Sens in France, Lorrach in Germany and Seneghalia in Italy. Vale Royal is linked with Rychnov-nad-Kneznou District in the Czech Republic and Ellesmere Port with Reutlingen in Germany.
Chester International Links Association (CILA), which manages the twinning scheme, receives a large chunk of its funding from CWaC.
Former city council leader and president of the Walled Town Friendship Circle, John Price, said it would be very difficult for the new authority to push Chester as a must-see European destination by 2015 if it abruptly ended its relationships with its twin towns.
He said: “This takes no account of what the people actually want.
This brings in social, cultural and economic benefits. For example, last year there were youth games in all four towns.”
He added there were various partnerships set up, like international police conferences and art exhibitions.
“How are people around the world going to regard CWaC after they have discarded their partners without so much as a consultation?” he said.
Chester and Palestine Exchanges (CAPE) chairman Rod Cox said most of the concerns seemed to be over European partners in the twinning agenda, but residents should be reminded there were also cities in other regions linked up with West Cheshire.
Chester has a “friendship agreement” set up with Jericho, Palestine.Rod, who has helped traumatised war victims in Palestine, said: “There are lots of practical and real benefits that come out of twinning partnerships.
“Members are now involved in a project called ‘Portico’, which is about the preservation of historic buildings and from which Chester stands to benefit.
CILA won’t give up.”A CWaC spokesman said there would be a new “international framework” drawn up in October to concentrate on research, manufacturing, finance and knowledge-based businesses such as chemical and life sciences, rural and waterway development, food and drink, tourism and regeneration.
Cllr Herbert Manley, who will chair the International Framework Group, said: “The traditional twinning links that the former district council established did good work in the area of cultural and civic exchanges.
“However, we now have one large strategic authority which needs to compete and promote CWaC’s interests on a larger stage and to that end we should focus our attention on the trade, investment and local economic benefits of international networking, not just in Europe, but also with the emerging economies of the Far East.”
Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) says it will scrap the “wasteful” scheme in the face of budget cuts and staff redundancies.But enthusiasts claim town twinning, which has been in place since the end of the Second World War, has led to cultural enrichment and economic benefits for the region.
The CWaC executive took the decision after stating there should be a “new way of managing the council’s policy on international co-operation”.
However, the council will allow each former twinning association to continue through to 2010, granting them each £2,000 to do so.
Chester is twinned with Sens in France, Lorrach in Germany and Seneghalia in Italy. Vale Royal is linked with Rychnov-nad-Kneznou District in the Czech Republic and Ellesmere Port with Reutlingen in Germany.
Chester International Links Association (CILA), which manages the twinning scheme, receives a large chunk of its funding from CWaC.
Former city council leader and president of the Walled Town Friendship Circle, John Price, said it would be very difficult for the new authority to push Chester as a must-see European destination by 2015 if it abruptly ended its relationships with its twin towns.
He said: “This takes no account of what the people actually want.
This brings in social, cultural and economic benefits. For example, last year there were youth games in all four towns.”
He added there were various partnerships set up, like international police conferences and art exhibitions.
“How are people around the world going to regard CWaC after they have discarded their partners without so much as a consultation?” he said.
Chester and Palestine Exchanges (CAPE) chairman Rod Cox said most of the concerns seemed to be over European partners in the twinning agenda, but residents should be reminded there were also cities in other regions linked up with West Cheshire.
Chester has a “friendship agreement” set up with Jericho, Palestine.Rod, who has helped traumatised war victims in Palestine, said: “There are lots of practical and real benefits that come out of twinning partnerships.
“Members are now involved in a project called ‘Portico’, which is about the preservation of historic buildings and from which Chester stands to benefit.
CILA won’t give up.”A CWaC spokesman said there would be a new “international framework” drawn up in October to concentrate on research, manufacturing, finance and knowledge-based businesses such as chemical and life sciences, rural and waterway development, food and drink, tourism and regeneration.
Cllr Herbert Manley, who will chair the International Framework Group, said: “The traditional twinning links that the former district council established did good work in the area of cultural and civic exchanges.
“However, we now have one large strategic authority which needs to compete and promote CWaC’s interests on a larger stage and to that end we should focus our attention on the trade, investment and local economic benefits of international networking, not just in Europe, but also with the emerging economies of the Far East.”
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