Upton-by-Chester & district
News previously posted on this site

YOUTH PARTNERSHIP EVENT This took place at the Youth Club on Friday 3rd June. Some activities were held on the Wealstone Lane Playing Fields. The event was arranged by the Parish and City Councils with input from the Youth Club, the County Youth Service and local Schools. There was also interest shown by other community organisations. The event attracted young people aged from 9 to 19. Some 24 young people attended a Drumming Workshop whilst a Trash Fashion session attracted 12. Although numbers were not high the turn out was considered encouraging for a first event. Student volunteers and adult helpers monitored the various sessions. The group are investigating possible funding for future events and will be meeting again soon to plan for 2006.

The Parish Council have been advised of a proposed raised zebra crossing to be installed on Heath Road. Cllr Jean Evans is to meet with the County Highways Department to discuss the location of the crossing in the near future.

The Parish Council has replaced a plaque at Chemistry Pits Play Area which was apparently removed some years ago. The plaque identifies that the land was donated by Sir John Frost.

At a recent Planning Committee meeting local residents attended and loudly voiced their objections to a planning application. The Chairman had to remind the residents that members of the public are able to attend and listen to any Parish Council meeting, but they cannot join in the discussions, except during alloted public speaking time. If members of the public have concerns they wish to raise with the Parish Council they can attend and speak during the Open Forum which is held before each Parish Council meeting or they can contact either the Clerk or one of their Councillors to ask that their views be considered.

Two Members of the Parish Council recently met with Hospital staff to discuss the lack of parking on the site. The Hospital have invited one Members of the Parish Council to attend future workshops and meetings where this is being discussed.

The Parish Council has been working with young people from the Youth Club for many months now in an effort to minimise disruptive behaviour in Upton. Following the young people’s request for a ‘Teen Shelter’ where they can meet in a place where they are not annoying other residents, the Parish Council have been instrumental in working, with the help of other local agencies, to get the shelter built. The young people themselves were fully involved and helped to design a shelter and pick a suitable location on Wealstone Lane Playing Field for it to be erected. Since the young people designed a shelter, the Community Partnership Team advised Parish Council’s that they were purchasing seven shelters for Chester District and bids were invited.  Upton bid for one of the shelters and was successful and the shelter, which has been provided and installed free of charge, was erected in July.   Discussions and information gathering is taking place on lighting the shelter which could now be provided with the finance which would have been used to purchase/build the shelter.

 The Teen Shelter idea came about following meetings with a group of representatives from various agencies including the police, local schools and businesses and youth groups.  The Parish Council has re-started these meetings to look at the ongoing problem of anti-social behaviour and ways of dealing with it. 

The bus shelter at the junction of Wealstone Lane and Church Lane has been subject to vandalism over many years, but this has recently intensified. The Parish Council has paid a large sum of money over the last two years for repair work. The Parish Council has been successful in it’s bid for a new shelter from the County Council which will not be as asthetically pleasing to look at, but should be most cost effective.

Parking at Countess of Chester Hospital is causing major problems for patients, staff and visitors alike.  The Parish Council have written to the Planning Department to request that permission for any future planning developments only be given after consideration of parking facilties on the site.  A copy of the letter is being sent to the Community Health Council to ask them for assistance in the matter.

The Parish Council opposed the erection of a  telecommunications mast at Handford Road.  The mast was erected by Hutchinsons 3G on the belief that the land was public highway and that they had a right to do so. 

On 28th August a number of local residents braved the rain to see two helicopters land together on the playing field at Wealstone Lane. This was part of the Granda 'Care in the Air' Appeal. The event was a great success.

Community Pride Competition is the new name for the Best Kept Village competition. The Parish Council is pleased to announce that Upton won the award for 2003. A certificate and plaque have been presented to the village and a tree was donated and planted, with the aid of Lord Mayor, Councillor Barry Cowper, by the Cheshire landscape Trust at the War Memorial recently. The Parish Council thanks all the people whose efforts have resulted in such a splendid result for Upton.

Grant funding has now been found for the renovation of Chemistry Pits Playing Fields and residents will be aware that gates have been erected at both entrances to the playing field which are locked at night and unlocked in the morning. The next phase of the project, the building of a new path across the field, will go ahead at the end of June. There will be some landscaping and tree planting with a wildlife area. It is hoped that local residents and young people especially will be involved in completing the project.

The Parish Council were thanked by local residents of Alwyn Gardens recently for providing three trees for the green. Thanks also go to Chester Zoo for planting the trees and also the pupils and staff of Acresfield School for getting involved on the day.

On 7th April 2003 there was an Annual Assembly at Acresfield School, Acres Lane, Upton. The evening included a presentation by Cllr Bob Thompson on conducting a Local Plan for the area which will identify strengths and weaknesses which can be used to formulate a ten year future plan. The Chairman of the Parish Council also outlined the activities of the Parish Council over the last twelve months.

Despite the strong objections of the Parish Council, County Council and City Council, the Government Inspector has approved the demolition of 10 - 12 Caughall Road and the erection of 20 new houses.

The Parish Council contacted the Highways Department to ask them to look into problems encountered when crossing the slip road at the end of Caughall Road, which was raised by a local resident at the last meeting of the Parish Council. The Council agreed that there was a problem and have placed the necessary works on their Rolling Maintenance Programme.

A local resident reported to the last meeting of the Parish Council that there were no signs around Upton Heath School on Upton Lane. The Parish Council contacted the Highways Department who have agreed to erect signs outside the school.
Members were informed by Cheshire County Council that they are looking into a proposal to extend the no-waiting area in Marina Drive and create parking spaces in the grassed area to the front of Spar Stores, to allieviate traffic problems.

Following the Parish Councils'and local residents strong opposition to the proposed mast to be sited on the corner of Handford Road/Newhall Road, this application has been refused by Chester City Council. The proposed mast at Chester Zoo has also been refused planning permission.

Over the last twelve months, the Parish Council have been trying, unsuccessfully, to arrange a meeting with the Management Team and Governing Body of Upton High School to discuss ways of solving the traffic problems on St James Avenue. There appears to be no response from the school to get involved in this issue.
Details of Best Kept Village Competition