Author: GBClerk

In light of the recent Covid surge and advice from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), it has been decided to defer the Parish Council meeting planned for 10th January. Details of a re-arranged date will be posted here and on the Parish Noticeboard. It is hoped that this will be later in January or early February.

Background

Cheshire West Recycling (CWR) has conducted a review of the waste and recycling collection rounds in the borough; some of the existing routes will be adapted to provide a more efficient service and reduce carbon emissions. It will also balance out all the collection rounds so that those rounds affected by housing developments will be more manageable. The last review was carried out by the previous provider Kier in around 2012.

Between 2012 and 2020, the number of households in the borough increased by 13,000, which has resulted in a nine per cent rise in demand for the waste and recycling service.

The initiative will look at all the existing operational zones and rounds to ensure the service can continue to run as efficiently as possible. It will also pave the way for future service changes which will be introduced through the Waste Management Strategy.

As a result of the changes, Cheshire West Recycling will be able to remove three domestic rounds from its existing schedule, which will support the borough’s Climate Emergency agenda.

What is happening

Approximately 60 per cent of all properties will receive a new collection day or week rotation. These will cover bin collection rounds in all areas of the borough. Work to make residents aware of the changes will commence on Monday 30^th September. Please see below the communication schedule.

The day changes will be communicated to residents of the borough initially through a ‘bin tag’ which will be placed on all domestic bins during one collection cycle.

The tags will include the message: “We’re making some day changes, look out for your new collection calendar”. Householders with a bag collection will receive the information by letter. Delivery of the tags and letters will be delivered to residents between Monday 30 August and Friday 10 September.

The changes will also be communicated through the Council’s website and social media channels.

Residents will then be sent a new printed bin collection calendar advising them of the changes to their collection day, along with extra information about the annual suspension of the garden waste collection service and collection arrangements during the festive period. It is anticipated that delivery of the calendars to households will begin from Monday 20 September 2021.

For some time the Parish Council has been concerned about the
dangerous crossroads on the A559 where High Street meets Budworth
Lane, highlighted in the Northwich Transport Strategy 2018.

In the past, property on the junction has been damaged and concerns
have increased about the safety of pedestrians and other road users.
Complaints have been received from local residents about speeding traffic,
poor visibility, unsafe bus stops, and difficulties crossing the road,
especially given the line of sight and breaking distance from the top bend.
Visiting cyclists have raised awareness of dangerous incidents where life
was at risk.

The Parish Council has repeatedly brought these matters to the attention
of CWaC Highways, who have responsibility for such matters, but after
meetings and discussions to address safety concerns, nothing was
deemed feasible. They advise that to qualify as a Local Safety Scheme, 5
or more incidents / collisions involving injury have to be recorded. To date
there are 2 such collisions based on available data.

Action is required to avoid any further incidents / accidents, but what
action? Especially when residents feel there is a serious accident waiting
to happen on the A559.

The Parish Council has recently been made aware of a relatively simple,
low-cost initiative, initially proposed by Comberbach Parish Council, which
is thought could address some of the issues associated with the junction.

Proposals
• To make Budworth Lane one-way to Cock Lane, after turning left off the
A559 from Northwich, keeping the right-hand turn travelling to Northwich;
• To create a pedestrian and cycle route between Budworth Lane and
Cock Lane.
This will provide local residents with safer and easier access between both
villages; improve access for walkers into Marbury Park; and make cycling
safer. It will mitigate the risk of either turning right to Northwich, or crossing
the A559 to enter Great Budworth, where visibility is poor from the left as
the line of site is not clear.

Other considerations to take into account
• Impact on Budworth Lane properties/ farmland and caravan park access;
• Impact on Cock Lane properties;
• Speed limits on both lanes – currently 50 mph.

This is the only option which looks feasible and worthy of discussion to
date by any interested party.

Outline costs and further details on road markings and signage etc have
been requested to enable discussion and facilitate decisions. Marbury
Ward Councillors will support the view taken by residents and Parish
Councils. CWaC will take the final decision if it is decided to submit this
proposal to them.

Therefore, it would be good to know residents’ thoughts on the proposals
(for and against) or any other ideas you may have, by emailing your
comments to the Parish Clerk, Gill Ayres at
[email protected] before 22nd October 2021 or pop a
note in the Parish Council postbox at the Parish Hall on Smithy Lane