The fair is being held to raise funds for Haslington Toddlers.

The organisers would very much appreciate donations of cakes if anyone is willing!!!! (please contact Samantha Green 583782)

Click here for details of this young singer’s remarkable achievements:

Elizabeth Watts

and here for a copy of the concert flier:

Concert Flier

Alternatively telephone: 01244 540511 or 01270 841727 or visit “Sandbach Voices Website”.

Inspector Paul Broadbent reported that there had been several burglaries in the area and urged people to keep their doors locked even when in the house and to park their car as close to the garage door as possible thus making illegal access difficult.

The Chairman expressed her appreciation at the attendance at both services on Remembrance Sunday; this attendance seems to grow year by year. She felt that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq brought home to all that war costs lives and that whatever personal feelings were about these wars the soldiers were “just doing their job” and deserved recognition.

It was suggested that a meeting be convened in January with interested Parish Councillors along with members of the Steering Group of the Village Plan to decide what new equipment was needed to enhance the Gutterscroft Playing Field.

There has been a suggestion from members of the Village Plan that names of councillors along with telephone numbers be posted on the noticeboards. As this information can be accessed via the internet it was decided that only the name of the Clerk and her telephone number be advertised on the noticeboards.

The Chairman and Councillors wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Mark Casey is helping Councillor Chris Betts to enhance the website www.haslington.org . Chris has reported to the Chairman that Mark is doing “a very good job”.

The Walking for Health seems to have taken off very well, walkers meet at the Waterloo Car Park on Tuesdays at 1.30pm. Anyone wishing to join the walkers can just turn up on the day.

The Carol Service will take place on the Village Green on Friday 21 December at 7pm when Father Christmas will visit at approx. 7.20pm. Complimentary tea, coffee and mince pies will be served in the Red Cross Hut afterwards.

The Christmas Tree had been ordered and with luck would be in situ before the December meeting. The Chairman reminded councillors that the Carol Singing would take place on 21 December and that notices would be put on notice boards etc to alert the public to this very delightful occasion.

Councillor Wood and Betts had attended the Annual General Meeting of CALC where reorganisation of local government was discussed.

Councillor David Brickhill stated no Appeal had been lodged re Clayhanger Application and councillors were of the opinion that the area of land concerned should be removed from the Waste Local Plan.

Councillor Hammond referred to the Blog site on Crewe which can be found at www.crewe.tv. Councillors asked why Haslington had not been included in the Alcohol Free Zones in the Crewe Chronicle and Councillor Hammond agreed to look into this. He also agreed to look into the Clay Lane Playing Field (Crewe and Nantwich BC agreement) and the length of the existing lease.

Although we did not win a prize in the North West in Bloom competition the remarks from the judges were complimentary and encouraging. The daffodil bulbs supplied by Crewe and Nantwich BC for Parish Council were to be collected and planted shortly.

A grant was made to Haslington Conservation Volunteers towards work to be carried out on land at Hall O’ the Heath farm.

Various matters were to be referred to Engineering Cheshire County Council Crewe on the state of pavements and roads in the parish. The Chairman along with Councillor Betts and Hammond will attend the annual Parish Highways walkabout with an officer from CCC to point out the more serious concerns regarding maintenance. The Clerk was also requested to write to CCC regarding the finishing of the roadway outside Brook Terrace. At a recent meeting with Simon Boone it was understood this matter along with others would be dealt with but no action had yet been taken.

Councillor Betts gave an update on the Parish Plan and referred to the conditions of Grant Application and the implications on Members of the Committee. Councillor Betts was advised to contact CALC and also Individual Insurance Broker re required cover. Haslington Parish Council are supportive of setting up of the Parish Plan and Steering Group.

Councillors referred to the traffic calming meeting and the promise of a mobile SID; complaints had been received re the new crossing outside the Primary School on Crewe Road – trees needed cutting back and more lighting needed in the interests of safety. The Clerk was requested to write to the appropriate Authorities.

PS: Councillor Hammond contacted the Chairman on the Tuesday to inform her that Haslington was definitely included in the Alcohol Free Zone.

All Councillors were delighted with the news about Clayhanger tip and the Chairman said thanks were owed to so many people but would like the appreciation of the help given by Gary Kwant, Sue Hughes to be minuted. They had contributed so much to allow the enquiry to take place and to Councillor Lee Alien and Councillor John Hammond for their attendance at and contribution to the enquiry.

The Chairman and Councillor Wood had attended the quarterly meeting of the Association of Town and Parish Councils. They were both disturbed to learn from other Parish Councillors that the support given to them from the Police regarding nuisance and speeding far outweighed that given to Haslington. The Clerk was asked to write to the relevant Inspector at Crewe Police and invite him/her to attend the next Parish Council meeting.

The Chairman reported on the Garden Awards evening and stated that it had been a success. She thanked Food for Thought on their excellent refreshments.

The Vice Chairman Councillor Bill Herriman said that he and his wife had enjoyed the Awards Evening very much but was dismayed that some people who had been awarded a certificate had not had the courtesy to ring and make apologies for non-attendance. He added that it had been a very good evening and all who did attend thoroughly enjoyed it.

The new play equipment for the playing fields was still ongoing and so Councillor Mrs Bloor and Councillor Hovey were to liaise on this matter. Councillor Mrs Bloor was involved in the Village Plan and the play equipment was something they had an interest in.

It was decided that the issue of the pavements in the centre of the village and from the Dingle along Clay Lane would be a monthly agenda item until some satisfaction was received from Cheshire County Council.

Purchasing a Christmas Tree for the Village Green was posing difficult and the Clerk was to contact the Borough Council to see if they could help.

It was decided to plant the Millennium Stone with pansies again this year. Unfortunately the begonias have not been their usual splendid show but of course the wet weather at the beginning of the planting season was to blame. The 2007 Revised Model Code of Conduct for members of Parish Councils contained in the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 was a adopted by Haslington Parish Council.

The vote for a new Parish Councillor by cooption was held and Mr Alan Casey was elected by a majority vote.

Councillor Mrs Bushill said that residents from Oakhanger were still complaining about the obnoxious smells coming from the fields which had been spread with waste from a yoghurt factory. She said that it was so bad that it was making people’s throats sore and affecting their breathing. The Clerk was asked to write to the MP for that area Mrs Dunwoody to ask if she could help. The farm was within the law allowing this waste to be spread but Councillors thought there had to be a limit to the smells emitted into the local community.