Autumn 2011

Upton retains its title’

As residents will know, Upton is entered into the Community Pride Competition each year, this is sponsored by Essar Oil, formerly Shell UK. We are pleased to report that Upton has achieved 1st place (population 5.000-10.000 category) for the second consecutive year. Clearly the standard that was set last year has obviously been maintained, especially as we were assessed by different judges this year.              

Chairman, Cllr Pat Lott presenting the certificate to Simon Lammond

of Streetscene.

Our ‘Little Gems’

Part of the Community Pride Competition involves the preliminary judges deciding, within the competing entry, what they consider to be a "LITTLE GEM".  The judges this year awarded this to both the Upton Home and Garden Shop and the Roundabout display on the A41 at the entrance to Chester Zoo. The Roundabout is maintained by the Borough Council Street Scene Department.

WEBSITE ACCOLADE

The Community Pride Competition looks at the websites of the competing entries and we are pleased that the Upton Parish Council website achieved Joint Runner up. Residents wishing to see one of the best examples in Cheshire should look at www.uptonbychester.org.uk The Parish Council wishes to thank the Clerk for her website expertise in helping to achieve this accolade.

NEW COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT – UPDATE

As a large number of new Members were elected to the Parish Council in May 2011, the partners in the project ensured that all Members were brought up to date on information available through various meetings and a workshop. The Parish Council was then asked to confirm its commitment to the project before further work was undertaken.  At the council meeting held on Monday 24th October 2011 the following motion was put to Members:

‘That, based on the information received so far, the Parish Council agrees to continue to support the

Community Building Project in partnership with Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire & District Housing

Trust and the Youth Club.’

A vote was taken and 4 members voted in favour and 10 members voted against and therefore the current

project and partnership will no longer proceed.  As this was such an important decision a ‘named vote’ was

requested and this is recorded in the minutes.

REPORTING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR.

Are you having problems with anti-social behaviour? Did you know that you can now report these problems direct to Cheshire West and Chester Community Wardens? All you need to do is telephone the ‘Anti-Social Behaviour Report Line’ on 0300 123 7033. Please note this is not an emergency response line, but someone will be in touch with you within 48 hours in order to gather more information and talk to you about possible solutions. If your problem is an emergency please call 999 or contact the Police at other times on 0845 458 000.

Where shall we put the Trees?

The Parish Council would like to plant around a dozen trees in the area to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. There are some restrictions as to where trees can be planted, but would like to hear from local residents who may have some ideas of locations that can be considered. Please contact the Clerk.

Parish Council at the Community Forum.

The Borough Councillors for Upton, Newton and Hoole have a regular Public Meeting known as the Community Forum. Officers from the Council are there, at the beginning of each meeting, for members of the public to speak to them. It has been agreed that the Parish Council can also have some of our Parish Councillors in attendance so that any of our residents can come and speak to us about any Parish problems they may have.

Time to clean up

Over the years the War Memorial had become grimy and has now been cleaned by the Borough Council. It is also planning to lay new tarmac and install three new benches.  The flower beds are maintained by ex-councillor Peter Griffiths as a "labour of love" and we are grateful for the time he gives to this work.  Partly as result of the damage caused by the utility works; the Borough Council has also agreed to tidy up the area in front of the memorial and we trust that Peter will continue to maintain the area. The Memorial and its surroundings are often commended by Community Pride Judges.

Tesco’s licencing hours

Whilst generally welcoming the advent of TESCO to Weston Grove; members of the Parish Council were disappointed to learn that the Store had been granted a Liquor Licence to sell alcohol from 6.00 am until 11pm SEVEN days a week. The Parish Council were also disappointed to have been ignored by the Borough Council; by not being asked to submit their views on this matter. Previously the Parish Council was always consulted on these matters. 

YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS

UPTON HEATH UPTON GRANGE

Nigel Banks 10 Longfield Ave 380755 Alison Bennion 25 Oakfield Dr 372342

Theresa Bartliff 66 Cross Green 348467 Jill Houlbrook 18 Daleside 07749484434

Jack Doyle 44 Weston Grove 07974887494 Mary Lloyd 18 Rosewood Ave 383811

Gerald Grant 16 Tintern Ave 312825 Stuart Lloyd 18 Rosewood Ave 383811

Pat Lott (Chairman) Hilarie McNae 16 Caughall Rd 380433

. 47 Appleton Road 344837 MOSTON

Tom Parry 100 Upton Grange 07789615246 John Butler 109 Long Lane 383703

Liz Squire 49 Appleton Road 348993 UPTON PARK

BACHE Sarah Ford 5 Delvine Dr 07976125113

Eddie Doyle 8 Countess Court 381998 Danny Worley 48 Bouverie St 07588472901

Contact the Clerk to the Council, Mrs Sandra Devenney during office hours on 0151 644 5975, in writing to: 20 Bridge Street, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 4UR or e-mail on clerk@uptonbychester.org.uk

Information on some of your Councillors Information

Nigel Banks - I work full time, my son attends Upton High School, and I enjoy getting involved with local community activities. I am assistant Beaver Cub leader at the 48th Chester scout group, a member of Upton High School PTA & a lifetime supporter of Chester FC.

Jill Houlbrook – I have lived in Upton for over 30 years.  I am also a member of Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council representing Upton residents. I am currently the Chairman of Governors at Westlea primary school.

Alison Bennion - I work full time in Chester as a management accountant and have two children.  My youngest is in his final year at Acresfield and my daughter is in Year 8 at Upton High.  I am a member of the PTA at Acresfield and a member of Chester Zoo. I am a Corporal in the Territorial Army and enjoy being involved in Upton activities.

Tom Parry - I was elected as a new Parish Councillor in May 2011 and have been a Councillor on Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council since 2008, first as member for Chester City Ward and now Newton Ward. I am looking forward to closer working with local residents, community groups and businesses to make Upton an even better place to live, work and visit. I attended Upton-by-Chester County High School from 1994 - 2001 and now work for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Gerald Grant – I am a retired production planner and a widower with two grown up children, who has lived in Upton for 46 Years and has been a Parish Councillor for 25 years. My interests are the environment, public transport and twinning with Arradon in France. My personal interests are music, British art, theatre, the cinema and real ale.

Eddie Doyle - Chester has been my adopted city for most of my adult life. My first career was in marine engineering followed by nuclear engineering, which somehow led me on to what I do now; work of almost an entirely legal nature. I have travelled to every area of the world, except Antarctica and the southern part of South America. I have worked with, & got to know many different cultures. One day I must do a cruise of the Magellan Straits and Antarctica to complete my global journey.

Pat Lott – Having lived in Upton since 1965 and brought up three children who were educated at the local schools, I enjoy being able to work with the local community to keep improving Upton. A Parish Councillor for nine years, former Borough Councillor and Sheriff of Chester last year. I am also a Governor at Acresfield and Dorin Park Schools, Chairman of the Older Peoples Network, Trustee and Executive member of Chester MENCAP, Member of Chester Zoo and Upton Local History Group

Jack Doyle - I currently work for the Bank of America and have an interest in economics and finance as well as History having studied it for a period of time. I have been resident in Chester all my life and think it's a brilliant place to live

Hilarie McNae - I have 2 grown up children. I am a Cestrian and have lived in Upton for some 30 years. I am a Magistrate, a Borough Councillor and a Governor of Upton Heath Primary School.

John Butler – Married with two grown-up daughters. A retired Secondary School Teacher, former City Councillor and Sheriff and my interests include volunteer verger at the Cathedral and Treasurer of the Chester Branch of the RNLI. Elected to the Parish Council in 1969.

Reporting of Highways & Pavement issues

If you need to report an issue regarding matters effecting highways & pavements within Upton, ranging from potholes, street lighting, missing manholes, damaged bus shelters and traffic light failure,  just to name a few, this can now be done quickly & efficiently via the Cheshire West & Chester website. The site can be located via the following link

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Simply click on the letter H within the A-Z index of the site at the main menu, then look for the service description "Highways fault reporting" & click on this link, you will then be presented with a map & instructions on how to report your problem. Once submitted you will be e mailed with an acknowledgement.

Chemistry Pits Wildlife Area, Upton

Are you interested in wildlife, the great outdoors and your local environment? Would you like to learn more about practical conservation and get involved in the on-going management of this special feature which we look after on behalf of the Parish Council?

BTCV leads a diverse group of volunteers, carrying out important maintenance works on the wildflower meadows, pathways and trees at least three times a year. These visits normally occur late spring, mid-Summer and early autumn. If you would like to come along and help, please contact BTCV’s Martin Watson on 07739 447964 or Email M.Watson@btcv.org.uk for more details.

SMILEY SIDS J

The local police have recently undertaken an operation in Saughall that is a great success. They have a group of residents who operate the "SMILEY SIDS".  These are the electronic signs that smile or frown depending on vehicle speed.  The signs are obtained from the Borough Council and are passed onto the volunteer operators for a few days.  They would like to provide this facility for Upton and the local PCSO Matt Browell is willing to work with volunteers from the community in the use of the speed gun on a speed campaign. Essentially we need a group of residents to use the SID equipment a few times over the weekends. Anyone who wants to volunteer and contribute to their community in this way should contact the Clerk whose contact details are in this newsletter.

Civic Service

Four years ago The Parish Council decided to hold an Annual Civic Service. Since then representatives of the Council have taken part in a Sunday Service with The Holy Ascension, St Columba’s and the United Reformed Churches. This year the service was held at the Baptist Church where the Chairman of the Parish Council, Pat Lott, told the congregation a little bit about the Parish Council and what it does in the local Community.

FACELIFT FOR GARAGES

After numerous representations from the Parish Council over a long period, we are pleased to see that the lock-up garages at the rear of the Weston Grove shops have been renovated. The garages were in a dangerous condition and it was necessary for the Police and the Borough Council Environmental Health Department to be involved. Our thanks to those departments, who helped to resolve the problem.