BIG PICTURE
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SILK ROAD IS NO MYTH
REGARDING the report in the Macclesfield Express, February 17, about the Silk Road and the Chinese sculpture.
In 1991 I wrote to the chief executive of the then Macclesfield Borough Council (MBC), suggesting that a new road in Macclesfield might contain the word Silk, in light of efforts of the Friends of Macclesfield Silk Heritage to publicise the creation of a Silk Museum for the town, the name of Silk Street having been lost under the creation of the Duke Street car park.
Subsequently I listened to MBC highways committee members debating calling the town’s new east/west road after Eckenforde, the on/ off twin town.
Again I wrote to suggest ‘The Silk Road’ as an alternative (the ‘The’ being important) as a light-hearted thought, the concept globally being known as starting in the east, but no one knowing where it ended.
Coaxed through MBC’s management procedure and the Ministry of Transport’s, it was eventually seen as a worthy suggestion for a silk town and appeared to become a popular and successful choice.
China later seemed pleased.
The Silk Road is far from being a myth, as centuries have seen the progressive passage of goods and culture, expanding now to include a maritime version.
Baron Ferdinand von Richtofen (1833-1905, uncle of flying-ace The Red Baron) is credited with the name in 1877, saying ‘history without romance is sterile’.
A widely-travelled star geography professor, his own history repays study and recognises the importance of his teaching of subsequent eminent students.
Not sure whether ‘Seidenstrasse’ would have been better than ‘Eckernforde’, either! Olive Ambrose, via email
SHOW LOVE FOR PLANET
GREEN heart displays have been appearing around Macclesfield and probably around the country.
They are part of the Climate Coalition’s #ShowTheLove campaign, which is saying that the time is now to protect what we love from the climate crisis.
Action is required locally, nationally and internationally to meet the great challenge of reaching net zero carbon and protecting the planet.
For example action is required to provide more charging points for electric cars (particularly in areas where few houses have off-street parking), set lower speed limits and put an emphasis on public transport and safer cycling.
Karen Downard, via email
MPS’ HANDS NOW TIED
PARLIAMENT has just voted to tie its own hands on future trade deals.
In a vote on the Trade Bill, MPs voted to drop an amendment that would have guaranteed them a vote on trade deals.
It is disappointing that our MP, Mr David Rutley, was one of those who voted to drop this democratic procedure.
The dangers of high risk trade deals, such as one with the US or the Trans-Pacific Partnership are real.
They could undermine food standards, raise medicine prices for the NHS, affect the way public services are run and impact workers’ rights.
And at a time when we are facing a climate emergency, they could also block climate action.
Usually in domestic law, Parliament would get a vote on issues like this.
But trade deals, as international treaties, can effectively override this, which is why it was so important that Parliament also got a vote on the trade deals themselves.
This vote was a dereliction of duty by most Conservative and DUP MPs and a powergrab by the government. Natalie Abbott,
Byrons Lane, Macclesfield
A WAR HERO AND DIPLOMAT
THE Daily Telegraph (February 2) ran an obituary of Captain Michael Wenner (b1921) who was a paratrooper, commando and later a diplomat.
It said he was ‘born at Macclesfield, father Alfred descended from Swiss textile merchants who came to England in the 19th century’.
Is anything else known about the Wenner family in Macclesfield?
Should anyone have any information please contact me at macooper1607@gmail.com.
M A Cooper, via email
COUNCIL TAX HIKE IS CRUEL
COUNCIL Tax Hike 4.9 per cent - sounds better than 5 per cent.
I understand the leader of Cheshire East Council is some form of accountant yet he has approved a cruel increase in council tax for his suffering residents.
He is making the poor, poorer
Does he not understand the law of diminishing returns?
He appears to be more concerned with saving the planet than looking after his residents in Cheshire East.
Jo Jones,
Moss Lane,
Macclesfield
SOCCER CLUB NEEDS SUPPORT
DURING the last council administration ex-Councillor Gareth Jones and myself worked very hard to try to help Macclesfield Town FC survive
He was a volunteer on match days and I did some voluntary work in the office. Under the previous ownership it was not easy.
However we organised the open top bus celebration and made manager John Askey the first Freeman of Macclesfield.
Now the new club owner and director of football needs councillor and community support like never before.
I urge our new councillors to get stuck in and be seen to actively show their support in every way possible.
Chris Andrew,
Jasmine Avenue, Macclesfield
LOOKING FOR OLD FRIEND
WE are trying to find an old family friend Geoff Bann.
We always exchanged Christmas cards and birthday cards in December but didn’t hear in 2019.
His phone was uncontactable.
Formerly of Park Lane, in Macclesfield, Geoff was good friends with my dad for over 60 years.
Unfortunately we lost his next of kin Sally’s contact details.
Can anyone help please?
If so contact Michael at 07784 736 254.
Anne Torkington, via email
I WAS pleased to read of Cheshire East Council’s success last week, in securing a High Court Order against a significant incursion of caravans onto agricultural land in the green belt at Mobberley.
Planning enforcement is a complex area generally poorly understood and for which we all tend to have excessive expectations.
It was a shock to learn when I became a councillor its not ‘illegal’ to build without planning permission - but of course it’s an enormous risk if what you build is not compliant with planning policy.
The focus of planning enforcement is usually to determine if a development had come forward in the usual way, would it have been permitted. Often the answer is yes and the development is allowed.
Some of the most contentious enforcement issues experienced are those related to approved developments where important conditions, included for the safety and amenity of residents, are flouted. In November 2020, the Labour-Independent administration updated planning enforcement policy, which makes clear where breaches occur and how they will be prioritised for attention.
Despite this, councillors across the borough can describe significant enforcement issues that still require resolution years after being reported.
Councillor Asquith and I raised this issue at full council. Other councillors have shared planning enforcement issues and no doubt readers of this paper will have similar stories.
We understand money is tight, Covid restrictions have slowed things down, enforcement staff are in short supply and the demand is high, but enforcement of significant planning breaches is not an optional extra - it is a statutory duty.
Consequently, where long-standing issues are having significant and unacceptable impacts on residents, then policies and priorities either need to be urgently reassessed or properly implemented.