BUILDING workers are facing strict new tax rules. Changes being introduced by the Government are designed to make sure contractors and sub-contractors pay the same tax as people in other professions. Kevin Dickens, a partner in Northwich chartered accountancy
LOCAL farmers and constituents gathered in force to air their views over current countryside crises. More than 100 people attended the debate at which Tim Yeo, shadow minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Eddisbury MP Alastair Goodlad were
IT might have made waves in The City, but the Euro has failed to completely capture the imagination of Mid Cheshire's business community. Stuart Wigley, from North and Mid Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, said few firms had expressed any kind of opinion
THE millennium bug crisis was foretold in the start, according to Cheshire-based astrologer Annabel Burton. She claims that astrological predictions and planetary alignments support Government warnings of a potential disaster caused by the failure of
MAY I look in a cynical way towards the road planners of Winsford? I am not aware of the intricacies of council decision making. I don't know if a committee or a single person makes the decisions as to road projects. If the latter is correct, then the
WITH reference to the letter from Tony Hooton in the Winsford and Middlewich Guardian last week. So at long last, a member of the Council has surfaced to comment on the gypsy problem in Winsford, if only to decry the efforts of a caring resident to address
I KNOW that people have strong views about gypsies and travellers but I would like to make a plea on their behalf. They are members of an ethnic minority and I would urge people to treat them as such. Their lifestyle and attitudes may not be the same
VALE Royal Borough Council unveiled its revised £200,000 development plans for Winsford Marina at a meeting with Winsford Town Council on Monday. Borough architect Rod Willet and Bob Floyd, director of community services for Vale Royal, gave a half hour
WHATEVER Tracey Bateman's hopes and ambitions were for the New Year, she'll do well to better 1998's weighty achievements. The Winsford town centre promotions manager has been recognised as one of Weight Watchers' greatest successes for smashing her target
THE Winsford and Middlewich Guardian has teamed up with Winsford Library to celebrate the National Year of Reading. Each month Winsford librarian Ian Anstice will talk about a special theme to do with reading. For January, this is "Screen Reads" dealing
Winsford Utd 1 Lancaster City 0 UniBond Premier Division By Nick Smith LANCASTER sported a unique glow-in-the-dark strip for this encounter but it was Winsford who shone through to take their first three points at Barton Stadium since September. All three
WINSFORD Cricket Club begin their indoor winter nets this week with a new committee and two new captains in tow. Andy Cooper will be the first team captain in 1999, with Chris Barraclough taking charge of the seconds. The club also have a new secretary
WINSFORD United are gradually getting the help they need to make sure they have a squad of 14 players available for their matches. Steve Aspinall, due to have a hernia operation this week, could be out for the rest of the season and a similar injury to
A TARPORLEY man's business is in ruins after thieves stole almost £15,000 of photographic equipment from his car. Chris Wilde, aged 31, of Park Road, Tarporley, is now appealing for information that will lead to the return of two cameras, a lap top computer
POLICE have been conducting speed checks on Birch Lane, Stanthorne, after complaints from residents that the road is used as a rat-run. Officers from the Congleton and Vale Royal Division, which covers Middlewich, observed drivers on the road for around
HORRIFIED shopkeepers and workers fear Winsford could soon be swarming with rats if action is not taken to terminate the vermin in the town centre. At first, rats were spotted in the multi-storey car park and service areas but this week, there have been
PLANS to build two detached houses on overgrown land in Middlewich have been granted permission by Congleton Borough Council, despite objections from neighbours. The homes are set to be built by Curbishley Development Ltd at land in St Annes Road. Members
POWER company Manweb is supporting a scheme which will enable Winsford and Middlewich customers to buy an energy efficient fridge for just £25. It has already provided more than 3,000 fridges to customers under the scheme and in the coming months plans
A LOCAL historian has labelled one of Vale Royal's oldest and most popular legends as foolish fiction. Two Winsford residents recently claimed to have captured the ghost of Ida Goodman in a photograph of Vale Royal Abbey which was published in the Guardian
WINSFORD and Middlewich residents are being offered handy hints to beat the winter chills. British Gas North West claim there are simple ways to keep warm and comfortable, without spending more on fuel, during the winter months. And they are offering
A CHILD from a creche at the Verdin Centre in Winsford has made a full recovery from meningitis. The 20-month-year-old boy was being treated in hospital for suspected meningococcal disease last week. But staff at Mid-Cheshire College's Verdin Centre in
GYPSIES have finally abandoned land at Town Bridge in Winsford after a three month stay. The travellers departed last Tuesday night but left mounds of rubbish on the car park outside American Fried Chicken. Debris discarded includes broken bottles, food
This is one area which attracts a lot of visitors - especially families. They can enjoy a lovely day out at no expense. It would be such a shame to slap a charge on these families, who may only be there for a few hours at a time. Yet more car parking
Like most of these "we know what's best for you" councillors, he lives on the other side of the River Weaver from us. Hence he experiences none of the inconveniences we do in travelling to Northwich. Why doesn't he try balancing a week's provisions on
Written in memory of the late George Moss, it became an immediate best-seller locally, and despite an additional reprint, copies are no longer available. Our next major publication is to be a Millennium History of Northwich, which is to be researched
Since our Cheshire county councillors have decided to introduce these charges because of "concern about the amount of traffic in the area," it follows that the charges are intended to reduce this traffic, that is to cut the numbers of people using the
While the Vision plan includes multi-million pound schemes to bring its town centre banks to life, the River Weaver Navigation Society is trying to promote the waterway as a whole. "It is an exciting time," said society chairman Stuart Gardiner. With
But they are among a host of celebrities who have contributed to a cook book produced by students from The Grange School in Hartford. "We were throwing ideas around and voted on the best idea," said 16-year-old Emily Dick. "We found the addresses of 130
Fleetwood 3 AFTER two victories in friendly fixtures and a narrow defeat against league-leaders Stockport Northwich had built up Saturday's game as the start of their revival. What followed was a scrappy affair in bitterly cold, muddy conditions. But,
Having been released by his home town club Burnley last season Webster sees the move from Rhyl in the Welsh League to Northwich as one which could re-ignite his professional aspirations. "It's always been my ultimate ambition to be a professional footballer
Because Vics' £6,000 signing from Winsford United was well aware of Gardiner's managerial potential having played alongside him at Macclesfield. "Sammy McIlroy always used to ask Mark's opinion at Macclesfield, whether he was in the side or not," said
The quartet, who train at SK8 Madness on Old Warrington Road, qualified for the finals in Birmingham on Saturday. Anthony Mackie, 18, Danny Heath, 17, and Nicky Hubert, 17, have qualified for the Over 16 street final, while Tim Erlam has qualified in
It is a challenge manager Mark Gardiner is relishing. He said: "For the cup I don't care about the performance, provided we win. It is all about 100 per cent commitment. As for Cheltenham away and Rushden at home, I'm looking forward to it. You have to
The plan was to have been put to the vote at last week's Annual Meeting of the British Crown Green Bowling Association. But any plans for a vote were cancelled following a less than positive response from the county delegates. John Crowther, the newly
The report, which compares Vale Royal's performance with other Cheshire authorities, says the council takes too long to answer letters, process benefit claims and deal with planning applications. Policy manager, David Owen, said: "These reports give an
The final decision was taken by councillors on Tuesday afternoon last week. It will cost £1 a day to park at four car parks, Hatchmere, Linmere, Linmere Visitors' Centre and Blakemere Lane. Lay-bys, which have proved popular as parking points, will be
Janine Grimsley and her partner Paul Lucas were chosen by Granada Television's 'Granada Tonight' news show out of hundreds of applicants to feature on the programme. The couple's baby is expected at the end of February and TV cameras will follow the last
Richard and Vera Thursby, of St John's Way, say their road has been clogged with site traffic - and a footpath has been blocked off. "Trucks and contractors' cars were all parking on our street," said Mr Thursby. "It was causing quite a problem because
PERHAPS Mr Hooton would search more thoroughly for the vehicles driving over the hillocks, footpath and grass beside Glebe Green if he has experienced the two near misses I have had recently with a Land Rover type vehicle and with a cream coloured car
DAVE Twite is not intendig on adding any more players to his squad before the end of the season. The Middlewich Town maanger has had as many as 20 players to choose from since Christmas, during which time his team have eased their way up the Mid-Cheshire
Green Contract Mid Cheshire League Middlewich Town 3 Zeneca 2 MIDDLEWICH were looking for their third league win in a row, and started this match in very positive mood. Alan Woan and Gareth Langley linked up well to set up a chance for Steve Rowlands,
MORE than 100 musicians hit a high note at Middlewich Civic Hall when they raised £300 for the National Blind Children's Society. The concert was held last Friday when pianists, keyboard players, guitarists, clarinetists, trumpeters and many other musicians
TAXI fare prices could rocket by as much as 12 per cent in Middlewich under new proposals put forward by Congleton Borough Council. This would bring the cost of hackney carriage fares in the town in line with other parts of Cheshire. Congleton borough
A FEASIBILITY study into proposals for a pool in Middlewich has revealed the borough is over subscribed in swimming provision - although there could be a case for a small pool. The results were announced at a meeting of Middlewich Town Council on Monday
VALE Royal Pensioners' Association is celebrating record attendance figures with 150 people signing up to join the organisation this year. At the association's annual meeting at Wharton Conservative Club, chairman Harry Mooney announced that membership
A DUKE of Edinburgh Drop-in Centre has opened at the Community Arts Centre in Dene Drive, Winsford. It has been set up for young people aged 13 to 25 who are already working for the award or who are interested in taking part The drop-in centre, launched
It has been closed since the accident in November when three young lads drove through the railings into the canal and all died. Although this was a tragedy it seems unfair that all other regular users of this road should suffer its closure. This road
Cheshire County Council's case for closure is that traffic there is not compatible with the environment; the lane is not safe with traffic on it; and Cheshire County Council (CCC) will not meet the cost of bringing it to public highway standards for adoption
Now the mother of five has taken up lessons at Vale Royal Abbey Golf Club, where she also happens to work, in a bid to keep up with her golf-mad young family. Carol, Vale Royal Abbey's clubhouse manager, has conceded defeat to the golfing bug when it
Brian Yardley and Phil Hulse were best friends throughout their days at Winnington Park Primary School and Hartford High School. Phil was even the best-man at Brian's first wedding in 1973. But when Brian joined the army shortly after and moved overseas
Having been replaced as first team coach by Mike Redmond shortly before Christmas, Sonerson contacted Guardian Sport to voice regret about the tone of some of the comments made by members of the club regarding his departure. He has written a letter in
It is a diversity which could come in handy in Mark Gardiner's small Vics squad. But Devlin isn't so sure. He said: "Some times being able to play in more than one position can work against you. It means when someone is injured you are asked to slot in
Director of football, John Bond, had been chasing the forward for three weeks. Lloyd was expected to be in the squad for last night's League Cup clash with Stalybridge Celtic, which marked Phil Wilson's return to Northwich two months after his departure
But for Northwich manager Mark Gardiner, it wasn't too much of a let down. He said: "To be honest, I didn't want the game to be played if the pitch was going to be heavy. We certainly didn't want another Droylsden." He added: "Instead we had a really
An application to develop the land for housing was lodged with Vale Royal Borough Council in December. A decision is expected on February 25. Should approval be granted the sale of the land to housing developers will clear the club's debts. If not, Witton
The existing wooden building, built in the 1930s, was pulled down to make way for a new kitchen, toilets and multi-purpose room. Funding for the £95,000 project came from a partnership with The Rural Development Commission. And villagers and village groups
Mike Farmer, a council joiner, arrived to do some work on a house on Cotebrook Road when he found the distressed black and white tabby. "I saw the cat's head sticking out," said Mike. "I supported its back end and rang the RSPCA who told me to call the
They cut reeds which they used to build a 30ft long boat, ready for trials on the Weaver Navigation in the summer. Marshall's Arm chairman Virginia Hunt said: "It was a wonderful opportunity to show what we can create from the natural resources at Marshall's
Campaigners should hear this week if Martin Bell has been successful in his bid to quieten freight trains travelling to Brunner Mond. "I held a meeting with Railtrack and the freight company EWS just before Christmas," said Mr Bell. "I'm expecting them
The cash boost is the largest part of a successfully-secured £165,000 bid from the Raphael programme, also going to boat lifts in France and Belgium. Regional director for British Waterways, Derek Cochrane, said: "We are delighted to secure these vital
The four pure white Shetland ponies have rubbed shoulders with an all-star cast - entertaining thousands - in Cinderella. The awesome foursome were enjoying a well-earned rest at Bostock Green Farm this week, before launching into the panto's final week
A 10-strong team of firefighters from Northwich undertook a tricky rescue operation near Willowgreen Lane in Little Leigh at 3.30am. Chris Jordan, believed to be in his 40s, managed to escape from his 30ft boat. But the fire had burnt through the mooring
Charlie, 42, of Parkfield Road, was walking home alone after a night out with friends when he was attacked just yards from his house - on January 25, 12 months ago on Monday. He later died from his injuries. But despite the police launching a full-scale
"I know we can't take the law into our own hands, but we can start a petition and try to jog people's memories. "I'll get the backing of the people of Northwich. Everyone knows the Jones' - we've lived here for 32 years." Detective Chief Inspector Phil
