Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Cheshire East Council has taken this decision to ensure that party-goers can concentrate on enjoying themselves for the whole celebration, rather than worrying about if their ticket has expired. We want people to enjoy themselves as much as possible during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Cal Cruthlow at the 2011 Thundersprint

Thundersprint roars back into Northwich next weekend with high hopes that it could overtake the record-breaking success of last year’s event.

The biking extravaganza, which is sponsored by Cheshire West and Chester Council, promises an action-packed two days of family-friendly entertainment over Saturday and Sunday (May 12-13).

Now in its 16th year, Thundersprint continues to deliver Northwich and West Cheshire a huge economic boost which has grown year on year since the authority began supporting it in 2009.

Last year’s event – described by organisers as the ‘biggest and best ever’ – pumped a record £7.3m into the local economy, according to an independent report by Marketing Cheshire.

The figure, which represents spending by visitors, traders and participants, compares with £6.4m in 2010 and £4.37m the previous year.

Although Northwich reaps the greatest economic benefits from Thundersprint, visitors also fill hotels throughout Cheshire.

Almost one fifth of the visitors interviewed at the 2011 event indicated that they were staying overnight, 84 percent of whom were staying in Cheshire. The average stay was 2.6 days.

Of last year’s 145,000 visitors, almost half travelled from outside Cheshire and approximately 1,500 were international visitors.

Councillor Stuart Parker, Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, said: “We are extremely proud to support Thundersprint, which is a true success story both in terms of the revenue it generates and the way it brings so many people together.

Thundersprint in Northwich, Cheshire.

This year, motorcycling personalities such as current British superbike champion Tommy Hill, Grand Prix stars Scott Redding, Danny Webb and Danny Kent and six-times world champion Jim Redman will be taking part.

Saturday will see a superb display of more than 200 classic, custom and race bikes in the Thundersprint Bike Show outside the Memorial Hall.

On Sunday, the action moves to Barons Quay car park, where spectators can watch the practice runs before the Thundersprint race itself gets underway.

Also on Sunday, the cavalcade – always an event highlight – will cover three laps of Northwich town centre, starting immediately adjacent to the paddock in Cumberland Street car park.

Throughout the weekend there will be a range of entertainment and attractions including a vast trade area, a funfair, music, a fine food area featuring gourmet traders from across the UK, and an aerobatic display by an RAF Spitfire.

For more information visit the Thundersprint website or contact the event hotline on 01928 740498 from 9am-7pm.

at Knutsford Leisure Centre
on Saturday 2nd June 2012 between 3pm – 4.30pm

In support of Knutsford ‘Royal’ May Day

For further details download the application form

The children are to assemble in Marshall’s Yard (opposite St John’s Church) at 1.30pm.

The procession will be formed to proceed at 2pm on to Toft Road where it will be joined by the May Queen’s Court at the Old sessions House.  The complete procession will proceed down Adams Hill, King Street, past the Knutsford entrance to Tatton Park, along Tatton street, Princess Street, King Edward Road, Manchester Road and on to the Heath.

Admittance to the ground and all seating apart from the Grandstand is FREE.

Public conveniences at the Fairground entrance to Heath on Northwich Road.

Disabled & Official Parking on the Large Heath.  All other parking on the small Heath and Knutsford Football Club.  Public car parking is organised by Knutsford District Scout Council and Knutsford FC.

Named Laureen’s Ride, the route runs through the heart of Cheshire East and is ideal for horse riders with friends or family on bikes.

The route is located to the South East of Knutsford, around the parishes of Over Peover, Chelford and Ollerton.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Cheshire East Council is delighted to have been part of this project to improve the environment for people who are eager to get outside and enjoy the Cheshire countryside.

“As part of the project, Cheshire East Council has ensured the route is safe and well sign-posted, so that visitors can enjoy a relaxed trek through the beautiful countryside.”

The Cheshire Cheese Loop passes through pretty countryside with green hedged fields and shady trees created for Cheshire dairy cattle.

There are also magnificent country estates to see, such as 16th century Peover Hall, Colshaw Hall and New Hall, which was used by General George S. Patton during the Second World War.

The route is signposted on roads and way-marked on bridleways and byways.  There are also maps and a talk-around service to guide the rider around the 27km (17-mile route).  A leaflet is also available, which lists horse-friendly pub stops, accommodation and equestrian services close-by.

Here is what some riders have to say about the route:

* “Lovely country lanes and plenty of canter opportunities”

* “Very enjoyable, easy to follow ride, through pretty countryside over a variety of terrain providing interest for both horse and rider”.

Laureen’s Ride was developed by North Cheshire Riders in partnership with Cheshire East Council, with funding from the British Equestrian Federation, British Horse Society and local riding groups.

The Cheshire Cheese Loop is one of two loops of Laureen’s Ride.  The second, Heritage Loop, is currently being developed.

To find out more about the various horse riding, walking and cycling opportunities, log on to: www.discovercheshire.co.uk.

Waste Recycling Group Ltd, through their landfill communities funds distributed by WREN, Connexions Youth Capital Fund and Knutsford Town Council, have all agreed to stump up the cash after the young people of Longridge spent months campaigning for the opportunity to improve the town’s facilities.

After organising their own petition, Manchester-based Great Places Housing Group helped them to create a DVD and submit a funding application. It also supported local residents and partners group Community Spirit to bid for £50,000 from WREN, an organisation which provides grants to projects which enhance the environment.

The money comes at a time when residents were beginning to give up hope on creating a safe place for youngsters to play football and other games. Despite supervised play sessions organised by Great Places and Cheshire East Sports and Play Development, the community has had to make do with hired venues rather than a dedicated play facility that they could take ownership of.

Great Places has been working alongside Cheshire East Council for a number of years, consulting with residents to ensure the play facilities fitted exactly with the needs of the community. With Cheshire East Council offering the land and site for the pitch, Great Places was instrumental in helping to raise money. Support from the Children’s Centre, the local police, fire service, Manchester Airport and local youth clubs, have all helped the community achieve their goal.

Stephen Porter, chief executive of Great Places Housing Group, said:”This is a great achievement for the Longridge and Shaw Heath community who have been waiting for this facility for some time and have been instrumental in the success of the bid. Great Places are pleased to have been a part of the consultation and funding process and know the real difference this will make to so many peoples’
lives. A big thank you must go to all partners involved.”

The Mayor of Knutsford Town Council, said: “I am really pleased that the monies for this project have been secured and that the Town Council in partnership with Great Places and WREN are able to join forces to finance and provide a much need facility for this area of Town. I truly hope that the new pitch will be an asset to the local community, and who knows, it might even inspire the career of a future Premier League star.”

Marianne Hogdkinson, parks management officer at Cheshire East Council said: “We are delighted to have worked with Great Places and Community Spirit to enable the provision of much needed additional recreational opportunities for the local community and visitors to the Longridge area.

Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “We are delighted to have helped out on this important project and I am sure that the local community will make the most of the new football pitch and games area. Anything that encourages young people to exercise and enjoy themselves is to be encouraged.”

“After extensive local consultations and successful funding bids we are looking forward to the project starting on site soon to create the new football pitch area, hard standing year round football court and an access path, complimented by bench seating, bins and a sign. Cheshire East Council would like to thank all of those involved who have worked so very hard to provide this for everyone to enjoy.”

Cllr Olivia Hunter, chair of Community Spirit, the residents’ and partners’ group for Knutsford Over Ward, said: “I’m so proud to be Chairman of such a prolific group. The community have pulled together to get this project off the ground and give the kids what they’ve wanted for so long.”

Richard Smith, Grant Manager for WREN, said: “The Longridge recreation ground is an excellent example of a dedicated group of young people getting together to make a positive difference to their community. We are delighted to be involved in this project and hope to see the area completed soon and being enjoyed.”

Work on the facilities, which form phase three in Cheshire East Council’s play development scheme, is set to start in the summer.

It will ultimately see every business in the Borough that sells food to the public rated on a scale from zero to five. The ratings will be available to view on the following website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings

The ratings of just under 1,600 businesses will go live on the website on April 30.  This first group includes food businesses, where you would expect to buy and consume food on the premises, including pubs, cafes and restaurants.  The remaining food businesses in Cheshire East will join the scheme on a rolling programme over the next few months.

Star ratings are calculated from inspections, with the frequency of inspection linked to the risk and complexity of food handling activities. This ranges from a frequency of once every six months to once every three years.

The three scoring areas used for the rating scheme are:

* How hygienically the food is handled – how it’s prepared, cooked, cooled and stored;
* The condition of the structure of the building – the cleanliness, lighting, layout and ventilation;
* How the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.

All of the businesses are being written to, informing them of their rating, and they have also been sent a certificate and a window sticker, which they can display. They have 14 days to query the rating.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “This new food hygiene system will let Cheshire East residents make an informed choice about where they go to eat out or shop for food. A high rating will also act as a good advertisement for the business and reassure customers.  The scheme will also help our officers in their work of improving food hygiene standards. It will highlight which premises need our attention and assistance moving forward.

“The initial inspections show that nearly 70 per cent of our businesses achieved the top two ratings and we will seek to build on these impressive figures over the coming months.”

For more information on the scheme go to www.food.gov.uk/ratings

The work in Knutsford began last week and will take twelve months to complete. Engineers will be replacing 38km of old metal pipes with new durable plastic ones which will last for at least 80 years and deliver gas on demand for generations to come.

The roads mainly affected will be: Northwich Road, Manchester Road, Canute Place, Princess Street, Toft Road, Brooks Lane, Hollow Lane and Mobberley Road. There will also be works on some residential streets.

Four gangs of engineers will be working for a year on this project, they are currently working on Ladies Mile, Glebelands Road, Longridge and Mobberley Road.

For more information on the project ring Customer Services on 0161 703 1000 02 1010 or visit their website at http://wwwbbusl.com/nwga.

Delta Blues Live at Brook Street Club

Admission: £5 in advance (£6 on the door).
Location: Brook Street Club, Brook Street.
Date: 14th April 2012.

From Alabama USA the ever touring delta blues maestro stops off in Knutsford with a 2 hour show of traditional soul wrenching blues and tales of the great delta bluesmen and women that he has played with.

Expect a night of authentic blues, great stories and audience participation.

For advance tickets you can get in touch with us by calling Paul Langley (Monkey) on 07810 756054 Kevin Jardine 07825511683.

Bring a picnic and relax in the grounds before being taken back in time to dance along to some of the biggest hits ever! Grounds are open from 5pm and there will be a variety of catering outlets available on site, including a licensed bar.

Gordon Hendricks as Elvis will kick off the evening at 7.20pm, followed by the world’s leading Robbie Williams tribute, JK, at 8.40pm. Finally, Dave Finnegan’s Commitments will take to the stage, by which time everyone should be up and dancing the night away!

At 10.50pm the evening will be brought to a close in spectacular fashion with an amazing firework display, before you can make your way home with some wonderful new memories.

Dave Finnegans’s Commitments “are really looking forward to playing Arley Hall in July,  it’s fantastic to be back there again and even more exciting playing for a wonderful cause and charity, The Neuromuscular Centre”.

All of the profits from this event will go to The NeuroMuscular Centre (reg charity 1023606) in Winsford, which helps people with muscular dystrophy.

Tickets are flying out the door, so put on those blue suede shoes, shimmy on over to Arley and let us entertain you!

Early Bird tickets available until 31^st April £19.50 (Children up to 16yrs £14.50)

Tickets bought 1^st May onwards £24.50 (Children £17.50)

V.I.P. Package £50: Package includes: VIP car park pass, pre-concert Champagne Reception and delicious Canapés and Strawberries in our VIP Marquee, hosted by Viscount and Viscountess Ashbrook; Entry ticket to the concert. Numbers are limited.

There are a limited number of sites, 3m x 3m, available for your garden gazebos which have to be booked in advance – fee £50. Camping also available for £7.50 Tel Arley Hall: 01565 777353.

Call the ticket hotline 08444 771 000

Or book online at ticketweb.co.uk

Tickets also available from:

Arley Hall, NMC (Winsford) 01606 861733