Welcome to this week's newsletter.
Firstly apologies to some people who signed up via my website but haven't been receiving the newsletter. We discovered a bug which mean't not all the emails were added.
The Crewe Town Deal took a step closer this week with the signing off of two more projects. Pocket parks around Crewe will be getting an upgrade, making them better more pleasant places to be. I worked with Wishing Well to also include a new MUGA in the town centre. We will also be getting funding to improve the public realm around the new history centre at the site of Crewe's old library. I worked with Whitby Morrison & South Cheshire College to also secure funding for an ice cream van that will be used as part of their catering courses but also give us more opportunities to celebrate this great part of Crewe's heritage. Yet more positive steps in the right direction for the regeneration of Crewe Town Centre.
I had the privilege this week of meeting local World War 2 veteran and hero, Bernard Morgan. It was really good to hear about his experiences. You can read more about his inspiring story below.
It was great to see that the artwork on the Jack Mills Way roundabout has finally been removed. Now, it would be good to see the public get a say in what will replace it - something which both looks good and shows off our history and heritage.
I am continuing to push for Cheshire East to reconsider the parking fines given out at the Oak Street car park last during the botched closure. Do let me know if you have been affected. I can't make any promises, but I will push as hard as I can.
Charlotte, a local girl heading off to University later this month, joined my office to do work experience this week. Read below about her experience coming along to a couple of visits with me, to the Brookfield's community garden and BAE Systems.
This weekend we have the welcome return of Nantwich Food Festival. I will be volunteering for a few hours on Saturday morning. Never forget this huge event for Nantwich is run and organised entirely by volunteers, so if you enjoy the festival this year why not volunteer next year?
Crewe & Nantwich RUFC is also celebrating its 100 year birthday this weekend with a Family Fun Day including showcase matches, a BBQ and a gladiator run for kids from 12pm onwards (at the Vagrants, Newcastle Rd, Nantwich CW5 7EP).
The Cornerstone Project, which is hoping to raise money for a refurbishment of one of the vestries at St Andrews Church, involving an extension being built to provide a new kitchen, new meeting room and new accessible toilet is being launched next weekend, with a series of events happening at St Andrews Church, Bedford Street, Crewe. Read on below to see if there is anything you are interested in going along to!
Thanks so much to the people who offered to help deliver my newsletters in their local area last week, anyone else interested in helping let me know. Not everyone is online so it's a great way for me to reach out more widely.
Have a great weekend.
Town Deal Projects Signed Off
Bernard Morgan
Roundabout Artwork Removed
Oak Street Parking Fines Update
Brookfield's Community Garden
BAE Systems
Alleyways
Cornerstone Project Launch Weekend
Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Filler (Children's) Act 2021
Traffic Report
Town Deal Projects Signed Off
The business case for two major Crewe Town's Fund projects have been approved by Government - part of the £22.9 Million in funding we are getting.
First, we will see eight 'pocket parks' around Crewe get new funding to not just address damaged equipment but make them even better. The parks included are Queen's Street, Derby Docks, Mclaren Street, School Crescent, Samuel Street, Lime Street Avenue, Valley Park and Westminster Street. Residents will be asked to share their views for the parks very shortly. On top of this, to respond to people telling me we need more things for young people to do in the town centre itself I supported The Wishing Well Project in a bid for funding for a new outdoor multi use games area in the town centre.
Second, the History Centre Public Realm Project has been approved which will help ensure that, when the History Centre is built in place of the current car park by memorial square the public realm, around it will be of the same standard as Memorial Square.
And as part of celebrating our history, I worked with Cheshire College - South & West and with Whitby Morrison to come up with a plan for the college to have an ice cream van as part of the colleges catering courses which can also help us celebrate this exciting part of our heritage more often and more publicly.
Bernard Morgan
A local resident who is a hero we can all be proud of.
I had the pleasure of visiting WW2 Veteran Bernard Morgan after I met him at Armed Forces Day. Bernard has a home that his grandchildren call a museum! It is an amazing collection from his time in the RAF during WW2.
Bernard signed up to the RAF when he was 18 following in the footsteps of his uncle who was a pilot during WW1 (pictured with Bernard along with his signing up papers). He went on to be the youngest Sergeant in his unit and Bernard was 20 on D-Day.
He told me that when they set off for what turned out to be the D-Day landings they weren't told where they were going. They only knew it was France when they were all given a mini French guide on the boat two days in (pictured). He told me about the time Churchill and Montgomery visited his regiment and as the Sergeant on duty he had to quickly pull together men to welcome them. He remembers Churchill thanking him.
Later in life his collections and his time have helped remember and honour his fellow serviceman and what they went through. His belongings have featured at the Imperial War Museum (pictured).
Bernard has made many trips to France and visited the graves of the 3 men lost from his unit (pictured)-John Baines aged 21, RK Hall aged 22 and PH Langstaff aged 22.
He has one of only 300 RAF caps with plastic rather than shiny metal adornments (pictured). A landing field in France he helped operate suffered a crashed landing as the metal caps reflected plane lights and confused the pilots.
He has one of the original printed telegrams announcing the end of the war (pictured).
Bernard received France's highest military honour, the Legion D'Honneur (pictured), for his role in helping liberate France. He has also met the Queen twice.
Roundabout Structure Removed
I am pleased to see that the structure on the Jack Mills Way Roundabout has finally been taken down. It was not right that it appeared out of nowhere without any consultation with residents. Not only did the state of the roundabout give a bad first impression of Crewe, but also the finished artwork would have no relation to Crewe at all.
The public should now have their say on a artwork design for the roundabout which will, not only look good, but show off our proud history and heritage as well. I have begun talking to key local businesses which have already shown and interest so I am hopeful we can come up with a positive way forward.
Oak Street Parking Fines Update
Cheshire East Council has refused appeals from motorists who were caught up in a recent botched car park closure. Oak St Car Park was recently closed for a day, but a number of motorists parked there, unaware of the closure that was only advertised via plain white notices on lamp posts. You could still pay to park there on the parking app.
Despite indicating any appeals would be considered sympathetically, the council has denied appeals by a number of motorists, including staff from my office. These appeals are from motorist who paid to park on the parking app meaning they did not visit the parking payment machine where the notices were most prominent.
This is very disappointing, and I have written to the council to ask them to think again. If the car park had a proper prominent sign or a barrier put up, if the machine was bagged up, if the app wasn’t allowing people to book none of this would have happened. The council shouldn’t dig their heals in, they should just recognise this wasn’t done properly, apologise and squash the fines. I will be supporting anyone who doesn’t pay their and challenges it.
Brookfield's Community Garden
This week I had Charlotte joining me for work experience before she goes off to University. She accompanied me on my visit to see Brookfield's Community Garden in Nantwich. This is what she said about her visit:
This Thursday I had the privilege of joining Kieran on his trip to the community garden in Nantwich, Brookfield Park. I met Mel & Jeremy who along with others have been putting in a lot of hours to build the allotment/garden this year. I was amazed to discover the dedication they have, coming together to create this. They were very warm, welcoming and friendly. The people who run this made it very clear that anybody is welcome when it opens, as their aim is to create a ‘safe haven’ for the Nantwich residents to enjoy.
However, they are still looking for volunteers to help complete the setup of the allotment. Any help would be appreciated so they can finish their wonderful creation. They would also like admin volunteers to help them organise and run it.
Their contact details and more info are available via Facebook:
Or email Jeremy herbertjeremy@rocketmail.com
BAE Systems
Charlotte also joined me on a visit to the BAE Systems site at Radway Green. I will write about my experience next week, but this is what Charlotte had to say:
Upon my visit to the British Aerospace Company with Kieran, we were welcomed instantly and shown into a room where we were greeted with a powerpoint on the history behind BAE Systems. Afterwards, we were honoured to be shown around the factory in person and be able to see the process of a bullet being made. We were treated like members of the company. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and felt honoured by the grand tour that followed.
I was amazed to see the journey of the BAE System in terms of its technology and employees that work there. I was even more amazed to discover that BAE Systems takes on apprentices from college.
So, young people, if you are looking for a job in mechanics or engineering, dont be hesitant to contact BAE Systems in Radway Green.
Alleyways
It was great to be back out helping Westminster/Walthall Street alleyway residents with help from Gary from Crewe Residents Against Flytipping. Every little bit counts, another bit of the alleyway improved.
Cornerstone Project Launch Weekend
There will be a forthcoming fundraising launch of the Cornerstone Project, which is hoping to raise money for a refurbishment of one of the vestries at St Andrews Church, which will involve an extension being built to provide a new kitchen, new meeting room and new accessible toilet. These will be held at St. Andrew’s Church, Bedford Street, Crewe, over the weekend of the 10th & 11th September.
The official launch commences on Saturday 10th at 10:30 am until 2:30pm, with a Family Fun Day. There will be lots of games, stalls, tombola’s, facepainting, a bouncy castle, visits by the police and fire service, various displays by local groups and hot & cold refreshments with a chance to view in more detail what the project is about. Entry is Free.
On Saturday evening a concert is being given by Singing Sensations starting at 7:00pm, with special guests including Charlotte Gibson and Wendy Nugent. Tickets are £5.00 including refreshments & a free raffle ticket.
On Sunday there will be a special church service at 9:30am celebrating the start of the Cornerstone Project.
To finish off our fundraising weekend, on Sunday there will be a final concert by our resident organist playing music from the shows through the decades (20 to 50’s) at 2:00pm. Tickets are £5.00 including a cream tea.
Tickets can be purchased on the door or reserved by contacting Robin Edwards 07947 571564.
Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Filler (Children's) Act 2021
The Private Members Bill we will look at this week is the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Filler (Children's) Act 2021.
This law came into force in October 2021 and band the administration of botox and cosmetic fillers by injection to those under the age of 18. It is now also an offence to arrange for someone under 18 to have these procedures.
The Act also requires a registered health professional to administer the jab when there is a genuine medical need in a young person.
This new law is helping safeguard young people from procedures that could potentially be harmful and are carried out due to pressure to look a certain way.
The Bill was introduced by backbench MP, Laura Trott.
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Middlewich Road - Between Pyms Lane and Smithy Lane - More information here: https://www.facebook.com/KieranMullanUK/posts/pfbid0azFGfE6Zo4ddQZKVF72xY7Cy1TyEK8KwAGgjo4bjFDYnMK4i2CCgw6RorHe5uq6hl
Capesthorne Road, Crewe - Until 9th September
Waterloo Road, Haslington - Between Cross Road and Fields Road - Until 13th September
Slaughter Hill, Haslington - Until 5th September
Nantwich Food Festival - between 30th August and 5th September - The Gullet, Churchyardside, Market Street, 46 High Street, Mill Street
Beam Street, Oat Market, Swine Market, High Street, Nantwich - Until 28th October