A round-up of the most important local news currently affecting Chester's residents.  In this month's newsletter, you can find out more on what local Labour representatives have done to save Brook Street Post Office, news about the current Hoole Bridge closure and its consequences for both business and citizens as more incompetence from local Tories is uncovered and good news from Westminster as strong employment growth is reported for the last quarter. 

Plus further updates on the progress the Odeon Action Group and Christine Russell MP are making to ensure Chester remains the vibrant city of culture it deserves to be.

 Odeon Action Group Update

The campaign for a city centre cinema in Chester continues. The developers, Brook Group recently submitted a planning application for the Odeon building that included a single-screen cinema within a mixed development of retail and entertainment use. No information was provided to indicate who would operate this cinema and, within a matter of days, the application was suddenly withdrawn.

Christine Russell MP, who is spearheading the campaign to bring cinema back to the city centre, said: “The Odeon Action Group is firmly of the opinion that Chester already has an abundance of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The city has lost its theatre, a concert hall remains a pipedream and the Conservative administration at the City Council state that the Performing Arts Centre is to be dropped from the Northgate Development. It is therefore absolutely paramount that Chester City Council throws its weight behind the campaign to re-open the Odeon as a multi-purpose arts venue that includes a minimum of two cinema screens.” To pledge your support to the campaign contact Christine’s office on 01244 400174.

 Brook Street Post Office Saved From Closure

The Post Office have announced that Brook Street Post Office will stay open to continue serving the residents of Brook Street, Francis Street, Newtown and its many customers from further afield.

Cllr Bob Rudd said: “I'm delighted that the strong representations to the Post Office made by myself, Labour Councillors Gwyn Cooper and Sue Atkinson and Christine Russell MP, have been listened to. Our local Post Office has easy access for people with mobility problems, and is easy to get to for the many elderly people who live in this area.

"If it had closed, they would have had a long journey into the city centre for the nearest Post Office - not easy if you haven’t got a car and have to rely on public transport.”

 Hoole Bridge Update

Hoole Bridge and Raymond Street - no thanks!

Despite promising that no major road works will take place in Chester while the city is putting up with massive disruption caused by the Hoole Bridge works, County Councillor Peter Byrne was alarmed to see that the Water Board was planning to close down Raymond Street in order to carry out work on the sewer system.

Peter said: “Having established that the work was not an emergency, I asked County engineers to have the work postponed until after the Hoole Bridge disruption is cleared. The Water Board has now agreed to postponement.”

Cyclists and pedestrians neglected in Hoole Road Bridge changes

A ‘golden opportunity’ to improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities on one of the busiest routes into Chester has been missed by Tory-controlled Cheshire County Council. Labour Councillors wanted safe footpath and cycle lanes to be incorporated into current work being undertaken on Hoole Road Bridge. Although the bridge is to be strengthened, no consideration has been given to those using the bridge on foot or bicycle.

Councillor Bob Rudd said: “Common sense dictates that if the County Council is going to put motorists through the inconvenience of closing such a major road, they should at least make the best of a bad situation by making improvements for other people using the bridge. The safety of cyclists and pedestrians has been completely ignored. The bridge has very narrow pavements and no cycle path and is dangerous when vehicles sweep past at speed. It is very short-sighted of the County Council to disregard people’s safety in this way.”

County Councillor Peter Byrne added: “The works on Hoole Bridge are disruptive but necessary, and have served to bring this issue into focus. I am hopeful that money can be found for a serious study of how to bring about a solution.”

Hoole Road Bridge will be closed for 12 weeks from February 11 until the end of April while strengthening work is carried out.

Much of Chester Station car park will be closed to accommodate construction facilities while work is in progress.

 More Soilback Surfacing Success For Labour Councillors

A campaign by Labour councillors to get soilback alleyways in College Ward surfaced has had more success. Councillors Janet Black and Sandra Rudd have already managed to get several of these Victorian alleyways surfaced, and the rear entrance to Garden Terrace is the latest to be brought into the 21st century. Cllr Sandra Rudd said: “Soilbacks have no place in modern residential areas. Both Cllr Janet Black and I will continue to campaign for the re-surfacing of every soilback in College Ward.”

 Chester Gets £1.25m To Improve Cycle Routes In Lottery Giveaway

Cycle routes and pathways in Chester are to be improved with the help of National Lottery money. The Sustrans’ Connect2 project was awarded £50 million from the People’s Lottery following a public vote, beating off competition from the Eden Project and Sherwood Forest. About £1.25 million of the grant will be spent in Chester, and some of the options being considered are improvements to the Greenway cycle route including extending it to Guilden Sutton & Mickle Trafford, providing a Greenway link to the canal and Sealand Road, improved access to the new Riverside Promenade and a new bridge over the River Dee linking Huntington to Handbridge.

 College Ward Planning Updates

A planning application for new student flats on derelict land between Whipcord Lane and Charlotte Street has been resubmitted by developers. The original plan for 61 units included basement flats but Cllrs Janet Black and Sandra Rudd met with the developers, their architect and management team after receiving objections from residents. Cllr Janet Black said: " the idea of building basement flats in this area appalled me, and the number of units was far too high. The developers agreed to amend their plans and will now use this space for much needed parking and build 46 units instead of 61. The new planning application 07/02155/FUL can be viewed on request during working hours at the Forum offices."

Developers have lodged an appeal against  the City Council's refusal for permission to build a giant supermarket on the Greyhound Park. Cllr Janet Black said:" I objected to this proposal in the first place because it meant that the Bowling Alley would close and it would mean losing an entertainment facility. My primary concern was the lack of parking provision  - 650 parking spaces were needed for the size of the store but only 354 spaces were shown on the plans, and these would be shared each day between cinemagoers and shoppers with trolleys.  I know that a large superstore would be welcomed by some, but the important thing is to ensure that adequate parking and road access is in place."

 New Drop-In Service For People Facing Homelessness

Homelessness charity Shelter has launched a new advice service in Chester for people facing homelessness. The twice-weekly drop-in sessions will offer free advice and legal help on issues including rent arrears, housing benefit problems and illegal eviction. The drop-in centre is at 3 York Terrace, Chester CH1 3LR (off Queen Street, near the rear of Tesco). The sessions are held every Tuesday 1pm-4pm and every Thursday 10am-1pm.

Alternatively you can telephone 0844 515 2315 for advice.

 News From Westminster - Record Employment Growth

Figures out this month show the highest quarterly growth in the number of people in work since 1997. In the last three months 175,000 more people found a job, swelling the total to a record 29.36 million people in work. At the same time, independent figures from the Office for National Statistics show the numbers claiming unemployment benefit fell for the 15th consecutive month to 807,700, the lowest it has been for over 30 years. Christine said: “With 60,000 more 16 to 24 year olds and 95,000 more people over 50 in work than the last quarter, and record numbers of vacancies in the economy, the opportunities exist for people to make the most of their skills and talents.”

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