Latest news with #StewartGardiner
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cheshire East Council: New opposition Tory group leader elected
Stewart Gardiner has been elected as the leader of the opposition Conservative group on Cheshire East succeeds Janet Clowes, who has led the Tories since 2019, following her decision to stand down as leader following a period of ill health. She will continue to serve as a Wardlaw has been named as Gardiner's East Council is led by a coalition of the Labour and Independent groups. "Both Stewart and Liz are committed to robustly holding this failing administration to account over the year ahead and are looking forward to setting out their positive vision for the future of Cheshire East," the new leadership group said in a said she decided to step down after being rushed to hospital in March and taking six weeks off to recover."In consultation with my husband and sons," she said, "I have decided that this is an opportune moment to step back from the roller-coaster that is inherent in any form of political leadership and that has marked our lives as a family for the past six years."In short, to take stock and reset what has been a frenetic work-life balance." See more Cheshire stories from 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.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Capesthorne Hall: LaplandUK's second site approved in Cheshire
A Christmas event run by LaplandUK will be held in the grounds of a historical country house for the next ten years after the plan was approved by councillors. Cheshire East Council has approved the proposal for Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield, which it said could create about 1,200 temporary jobs each already runs a "fully immersive theatrical experience" at Swinley Forest, Ascot, and the event at the Cheshire hall, which it is calling Lapland Manchester, will be the firm's second site. Marketing Cheshire said the economic impact for the area would be "enormous" and it was a "fantastic opportunity to put Cheshire in the shop window". Concerns were raised by one councillor about the impact on the green belt, but members voted to approve the scheme as they felt the financial benefits would outweigh the the meeting, Conservative councillor Stewart Gardiner said he was "not the Grinch" but that he "was not convinced the proposal was acceptable".He said he was "not convinced that the [benefits] outweigh potential harm to the green belt and the setting" of the Grade II-listed his Conservative colleague Lesley Smetham, who proposed approval of the application, said she felt it sounded "very positive"."The parish council are not objecting at all, and that's always a benefit to know the local people have confidence in what's proposed," she Labour's Heather Seddon said it would benefit the local economy, adding: "There's lots of opportunities for part-time working. "We do have a slight concern about the traffic, but I'm sure it can be overcome." Independent Hannah Moss, who seconded the proposal, said she had visited the company's current site in Ascot as a visitor."I think it'll be a huge asset to Cheshire East and bring footfall from far and wide, which I think will benefit shops, hotels and hospitality venues, and that people will make a short break of the experience if you're not local," she planning application was passed by eight votes to Marcucci, managing director of Marketing Cheshire, said the attraction choosing to open its second site in Cheshire was "a real coup" for the area."It feels like Christmas has come early for us in many senses," he said."I think local businesses and the local economy are really going to benefit from it."It's a fantastic opportunity to put Cheshire in the shop window and more of our towns and attractions in front of people to come and enjoy."He said the visitor economy was worth about £3.9bn a year to the economy of Cheshire and Warrington and supported about 38,000 site is set to open later this year. See more Cheshire stories from 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.
