NOT GOING OFF THE RAILS...
I WAS shocked to discover that Hollins View might well be closed. I am not sure why exactly as it provides a marvellous service to many local people, both residents and carers.
I worked at Hollins View as a volunteer for a couple of years and never ceased to be impressed by the dedication and care of the staff.
I have read in the Macclesfield Express that the council seems to think that Hollins View is a dementia unit. This is not correct. Hollins View does have the odd person staying there that has dementia but the majority of its clientele are people who are in need of accommodation while their carers take a break, or people who require further care having been discharged from hospital before returning to their homes.
Not all the people who spend time at Hollins View are elderly. There are quite a few younger adults with learning difficulties who have periods of respite there.
Hollins View has 40 beds; 30 are financed by Social Services and 10 by Intermediate Care. These beds are always full, which demonstrates the demand. Where will people go if Hollins View closes?
For once I agree with Vic Barlow when he states that he suspects that the closure of Hollins View is a cost-cutting exercise disguised as seeking better care for vulnerable people – ie: in the private sector.
I would like to know why there has been no publicity or consultation with people in Macclesfield.
I also read in last week’s paper that Coun Jeuda had been asked not to visit Hollins View until a briefing was produced for council members. Coun Jeuda should have been entitled to visit, unfettered, as Hollins View is in her ward.
I would like to call on Coun Jones to state clearly through your newspaper what is going on. He is an elected member who should be representing the people of Macclesfield. It is, after all, our amenity paid for with our money. Carolyn Ryalls Vernon Street Macclesfield
DEMOCRATIC FRAMEWORK
I WAS delighted to see the results of the vote on the governance of Macclesfield published last week. There was a clear majority of residents who voted, choosing a single town council to govern the town.
This clearly recognises that Macclesfield is a unified community deserving of its own elected representation which is the privilege of every other town in Cheshire East. There was also a clear rejection by residents who voted of a Cheshire East appointed committee to run the town, which expressed the wish of Macclesfield residents to have an independent democratic voice.
We now want a clear timetable of appropriate decision making published by Cheshire East Borough to ensure the rapid choice of prospective candidates so elections can be held in May 2015.
A democratically elected town council working in a strong partnership with Cheshire East will be able to create a neighbour plan for the town embracing the good work already being done in producing a town centre strategy and a heritage strategy. The newly formed town council will also be able to work with other bodies such as Make It Macclesfield and the Silk Heritage Trust as well as supporting voluntary group working on behalf of the community.
The town’s residents will, at last, have a powerful independent democratic framework for articulating the town’s needs and ensuring that those needs are met over time. Ken Edwards Councillor for Macclesfield Town Centre ward
SHOCK OVER APPLE STORY
I WAS very surprised to see your article regarding the fact that there were no English apples available at the Tesco store in Macclesfield. As a local community it is vital that we try to support local traders, or at least those in Britain.
I would think that a ‘locally-sourced’ section in our supermarkets would bring more people to the store, and so negate any extra cost incurred (strangely) of buying in the local goods. Will we be seeing this happen though?
Probably not, as capitalism guides the way the world works these days rather than making sensible, ethical choices. I will be continuing to buy my fruit and veg from the local market, and would urge others to do the same. Name and address supplied I LOVE travelling by train, but it seems when I have an important appointment and I need to be somewhere on time, the pesky train is late. On Monday, I was standing on the platform, ten minutes early, waiting for the 07.31 train to Manchester Piccadilly to find it had been cancelled.
The next train arrived ten minutes later which was great, but it ended up stopping on route for a good five minutes. At this moment, the conductor walked through the carriage asking for our tickets.
I seriously considered having a rant and demanding a refund, but the calm and patience of my fellow passengers had a wonderful, positive effect on me.
So I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all those men and women who were travelling to
Manchester that morning. They taught me that all you need to do is ‘keep calm and chugger on’ and enjoy the ride. Debbie Kruger Macclesfield IT is good to see Macclesfield and North-East Cheshire doing well in recently securing major investment from the Government’s Growth Deal, backed by Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Partnership.
The £20 million Life Science Investment Fund, secured as part of the Cheshire & Warrington Growth Deal, will support growth in life sciences at the Alderley Park science park and beyond. It will also be instrumental in encouraging new start ups and spin-outs, following AstraZeneca’s decision to move its research and development facilities to Cambridge.
As a member of the Alderley Park Task Force, I have been actively working with the Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Partnership, Cheshire East Council and Government Ministers to secure this important funding. This initiative is a critical priority and builds on the life science heritage in North-East Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Funding for the Poynton Relief Road, which totals £16.4 million, is great news for the village. I have been campaigning with local Poynton councillors, including Cllr Phil Hoyland, and Cheshire East Council to make the case for the relief road for several years. The campaign has strong support from local residents in Poynton as the Relief Road would significantly reduce traffic congestion and further improve the quality of life in the village.
Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Partnership and Government Ministers pledged their support for the 3 km Poynton Relief Road, when they saw that it would not only ease congestion, but also improve the transport infrastructure to Macclesfield and further benefit the area’s strong life science industry and entrepreneurial business community.
Recent positive reports on demand for commercial property, in areas such as Tytherington Business Park, show that many local firms are expanding and others are looking to locate here.
The new Growth Deal funding is a real boost for the local economy and will create many new jobs.