Latest news with #ChesterCouncil
Leader Live
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Leader Live
Chester: Grosvenor Pulford Hotel plans to build car park
The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa, in Wrexham Road, has approached Cheshire West and Chester Council with plans to create 63 additional parking spaces, using a patch of woodland within the hotel's footprint. The new overflow would utilise a patch of the hotel grounds towards the south west of the main building. The area is currently designated as Green Belt land and restoration area under the council's Local Plan, with NSC Planning saying that proposal would seek to 'safeguard and enhance' identified areas. Permeable grass webbing or webbed panels will be installed to support vehicles and to 'limit the impact on biodiversity' in the site. OTHER NEWS: Some trees and hedges would need to be removed in order for the car park to be completed including three ash trees, an English oak, and some hedgerows, however a survey states that all of the trees identified are in fair to poor condition, with one ash tree already dead. The planning statement adds that in 'times of heavy business' the current parking for the hotel becomes overrun and parking spreads onto Wrexham Road, which can be 'inconvenient' or 'troublesome' for residents, increasing traffic and reducing access. Its developers say that the build, if approved, will be 'in keeping with the rural character of the site'. They add: 'When not in use, the car park will seem as it did before, proving sympathetic to the delicate nature of the Green Belt and restoration area minimising the impact on both openness and visual amenity.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Film venue latest to axe Kneecap screening
A Cheshire venue has cancelled a screening of a film about hip-hop trio Kneecap after a clip on social media appeared to show one of the band members calling for the death of British MPs. Storyhouse in Chester was due to show Kneecap, a comedy drama about the rise of the band from Belfast, as part of its Moonlight Flicks in the Park series at Grosvenor Park on 13 July. Counter-terror police are also investigating footage which appeared to show a band member shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". The band said it has never supported either of those groups and would not incite violence against any individual. Storyhouse said it was "committed to free expression... but also to the safety, dignity, and respect of all communities". Several of Kneecap's gigs have been cancelled by venues around the world. The Belfast-based group previously apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, but claimed the footage had been "taken out of all context and weaponised" Kneecap said they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever". Councillor Adrian Waddelove, Conservative group leader at Cheshire West and Chester Council, had written to the Storyhouse, which is subsidised by the local authority, urging the film to be pulled, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. In his letter, he wrote: "I believe many local council taxpayers would be shocked to understand that their money is being used to give Kneecap a platform in Chester." Confirming the decision to cancel the screening, a Storyhouse representative said: "This decision follows comments made by a member of the group that have recently come to light which allude to violence against MPs. "We are committed to free expression and critical debate but also to the safety, dignity, and respect of all communities." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Kneecap: Rap group are no strangers to controversy, but is this time different? Rap group Kneecap's Eden Sessions show cancelled Kneecap should give 'real apology', husband of murdered MP says UK government condemns 'unacceptable' Kneecap comments Kneecap apologises to families of two murdered MPs Storyhouse Cheshire West and Chester Council
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I only have pyjamas and handouts after crash'
A man living in a row of terraced properties that was smashed into by a tractor following a crash said he woke up to a loud bang before fleeing the property in his pyjamas. Darren Kearn said he was an "emotional mess" after the incident on the A51 Vicars Cross Road in Chester on Tuesday. Mr Kearn, who has lived in the property for 12 years, said he was unable to get back into the building to pick up any belongings as the property was not structurally safe. "All I have is pyjamas and clothes given to me by the Red Cross - it's literally everything I have, and my cat," he said. Mr Kearn said when he first woke up he looked out of the window and couldn't see anything but then when the fire alarm went off he left the flat and saw the aftermath of the crash. He said most of Tuesday was "a big blur" and after the incident he was taken to a church down the road. "It is very shocking - it does sort of bring a knot to your stomach," he said. Mr Kearn said he had been given temporary hotel accommodation by Cheshire West and Chester Council. He said it was a "waiting game" to find out when he might be able to return, even briefly to collect some of his belongings. "Basically my life is in there and I can't get to it is where I'm at," said Mr Kearn. "What do I do for furniture? I am not exactly well off." He said that a friend had set up a fundraiser for him to help with the cost of furnishing the basics such as a bed and sofa if he was unable to return to the property for some time. "When you get to 44 you don't think about having to replace everything that you own and start over again," he added. Mr Kearn said: "At the end of the day, though, it's bricks and mortar, everybody got out, they're safe that's what's important." The incident, which happened at around 06:36 BST on Tuesday, involved a tractor carrying a large red tanker and a Mercedes car. No one in the properties affected was injured in the incident, while the two men driving the two vehicles have since been released from hospital, a Cheshire Police spokesman said. The Mercedes driver, a 52-year-old man from Boughton, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Cheshire West and Chester Council have been contacted for comment. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Arrest after crash sees tractor plough into homes Tractor smashes into terraced homes after crash
BBC News
04-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
'I only have pyjamas and handouts after Chester tractor crash'
A man living in a row of terraced properties that was smashed into by a tractor following a crash said he woke up to a loud bang before fleeing the property in his Kearn said he was an "emotional mess" after the incident on the A51 Vicars Cross Road in Chester on Kearn, who has lived in the property for 12 years, said he was unable to get back into the building to pick up any belongings as the property was not structurally safe."All I have is pyjamas and clothes given to me by the Red Cross - it's literally everything I have, and my cat," he said. Mr Kearn said when he first woke up he looked out of the window and couldn't see anything but then when the fire alarm went off he left the flat and saw the aftermath of the said most of Tuesday was "a big blur" and after the incident he was taken to a church down the road."It is very shocking - it does sort of bring a knot to your stomach," he Kearn said he had been given temporary hotel accommodation by Cheshire West and Chester Council. He said it was a "waiting game" to find out when he might be able to return, even briefly to collect some of his belongings."Basically my life is in there and I can't get to it is where I'm at," said Mr Kearn."What do I do for furniture? I am not exactly well off." 'Everybody out safe' He said that a friend had set up a fundraiser for him to help with the cost of furnishing the basics such as a bed and sofa if he was unable to return to the property for some time."When you get to 44 you don't think about having to replace everything that you own and start over again," he added. Mr Kearn said: "At the end of the day, though, it's bricks and mortar, everybody got out, they're safe that's what's important." The incident, which happened at around 06:36 BST on Tuesday, involved a tractor carrying a large red tanker and a Mercedes one in the properties affected was injured in the incident, while the two men driving the two vehicles have since been released from hospital, a Cheshire Police spokesman Mercedes driver, a 52-year-old man from Boughton, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of West and Chester Council have been contacted for comment. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Devolution: Town name to remain in devolved Cheshire authority
Cheshire and Warrington is set to be the official name of a new combined authority for the area, after councillors rejected calls for it to be known only under the county had been calls for the administrative area to be known simply as Cheshire but leaders of all three councils in the county voted to retain the name it has been working to at a meeting at Warrington Town Council leader Hans Mundry said it was "important for Warrington to be recognised" and noted the current name had been in use since the process started almost a decade three authorities have asked to be part of the devolution priority programme, with the government expected to make a decision on the county's future shortly. Nick Mannion, leader of Cheshire East Council, said the planned name had never been raised as an issue with him."As we came into this lovely Georgian building, we noticed for many years Warrington was a county borough therefore effectively a unitary authority in its own right and then under local government reorganisation in 1974 it became part of Cheshire," he Shore, deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, highlighted the precedent of her authority including the city name in it."If we use the name Cheshire it might cause some confusion around Halton and I want to be inclusive and I'd support keeping Cheshire and Warrington," she is in Cheshire but chose to join the Liverpool City Region in 2015. Cheshire West and Chester leader Louise Gittins, chairman of the committee, also responded to questions from a union on the size of the proposed combined authority and any impact on the police and fire services in the government's devolution white paper had expected strategic authorities to have a population of about 1.5 million or more, and local authorities to each have a population of 500, three authorities have a population below 500,000 and their combined population is about 990, Gittins said the size would not affect the area."Our devolution deal, because of the importance of what we have to offer, we have flexibility," she added that the councils had "no ambitions to change any boundaries" such as health, fire or police. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
