NEED ACTION NOT WORDS

YOUR edition of Wednesday, February 3, had a column from the cabinet member and portfolio holder for regeneration of Macclesfield Town Centre

Three quarters or more of his missive was spent criticising the previous Conservative administration of

Cheshire East and Conservative central government This is just not good enough.

Does he not realise that he is not in opposition any more and instead of complaining he has actually to be seen to be doing something.

At the end of his column his good news was that he attended a meeting about the recovery of Macclesfield town centre.

Wow, well done.

I would like him to write to your newspaper explaining what he has achieved so far and what he is doing now. Samantha Lyons Chelford Road, Macclesfield

THE Covid vaccine programme continues as more centres open up across the area.

People, around the Macclesfield area, aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid and who would like to be are being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab. Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

Food and energy vouchers aimed at vulnerable children and families are also being made available through schools, colleges and early years settings, with in excess of 11,000 vouchers being distributed so far.

In addition to the vouchers, families in need are now also able to receive refurbished white goods such as cookers, fridges, washing machines and microwaves.

Cheshire East recognises that for some families if, for example, their cooker stops working, they may not be able to afford the repair it.

More than 9,000 vulnerable children and young people were identified by the council, including those eligible for income-related free school meals. These families received their first batch of vouchers mid-December to cover the Christmas school holidays.

Children eligible for free school meals during term time have continued to be supported by schools, by healthy food parcels or supermarket vouchers.

Since November, a total 14,000 business grants have been made with about £26m paid out in total.

Of this, around 1,400 Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG) have been paid to a total of £2.82m.

The team have processed 561 applications in the last week. By the end of March, the council anticipate having paid out more than £4.5m in ARG. The funding the council holds for Covid business support is in place until March 2022 and Cheshire East Council is now planning how those resources can be used in business recovery.