Climate Emergency

14 December 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking for views on Chester’s Park & Ride service.

The Council is keen to attract more users to the service, which is vital for its climate emergency response plan and for reducing congestion and pollution in the city.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said:

“Our Park & Ride service makes travel into Chester quick and easy, without the hassle of finding a car parking space. I’m sure many people are taking advantage of our special £1 fare over the Christmas period and we’d really like to know what they think of the service."

”It’s important for us to understand why people are using the service and what changes are needed to attract more people to make journeys on the Park & Ride. Feedback from this survey will help us to understand if improvements are needed to services, or our Park & Ride sites. We really appreciate people taking the time to complete the survey and there is a chance to win a £25 High Street Voucher in a prize draw.”

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/7PVJD3/

Completing the survey is voluntary and all the information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. No information will be released that could identify an individual.

More information on the Park & Ride’s timetables and routes is available on the Council’s website, including where to park.

Wearing a face covering is now compulsory when travelling on Park & Ride buses. All buses are subject to a rigorous cleansing regime and face masks are available on board if you forget to bring one.

14 December 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council and Citizens Advice Cheshire West are sharing five top tips to stay safe, while going green.

Citizens Advice has found that in the North of England 72% of adults are thinking about making their homes more energy efficient in the next 12 months. But 40% said they have already been targeted by a green scam.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Trading Standards team and Citizens Advice Cheshire West are taking part in this year’s National Consumer Week to help you know how to stay safe when making your home more energy efficient.

Councillor Karen Shore, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said:

"It’s important we know how to stay safe when going green, as scammers have no qualms about playing on the need to do our bit for the environment. If you’re thinking of making your home more energy efficient, take your time doing research, getting quotes and reading reviews. And as always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Jason Bishop, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Cheshire West said: “We know that being scammed doesn’t just leave us out of pocket, it can leave us feeling very vulnerable, isolated and really knock our confidence. If you’ve been scammed or are worried about how to spot a scam, our advisers are here to listen and help.”

Cheshire West and Chester Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Cheshire West have five top tips to stay safe when making your home more energy efficient.

• Do your research. Before you buy anything, check the company or website you’re using. Read reviews on different websites, ask for references, verify the company’s details using external sources, and read any terms and conditions.
• Check certified schemes. When looking for a trader to use, check certified schemes that recommend traders, like TrustMark - the Government’s endorsed quality scheme.
• Get written quotes and a contract. Try to get quotes from at least three different contractors to help you decide if you’re getting a fair price. Once you’ve decided, always get a written contract before you give a contractor the go-ahead. If something goes wrong it can help get what you paid for, or at least get some of your money back.
• Pay with a secure method. Credit cards offer the most protection, followed by PayPal or debit card. If you’re paying for large home improvement works, see if you can pay in stages, and avoid paying for costs up-front where possible.
• Be suspicious. Scammers and rogue traders can be very smart. Take your time to make sure you’re happy with your decision - if someone pressures you or contacts you out of the blue, it’s most likely a scam.

If you’ve been scammed, talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment. See Citizens Advice’s page on What to do if you’ve been scammed for more information.

To report a scam or ask for advice contact Citizens Advice consumer service. Offline scams, like telephone, post and doorstep, can be reported via the Citizens Advice consumer service or by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the dedicated Scams Action service either online or on 0808 250 5050.

Text scams can be reported to your mobile phone provider by forwarding it to 7726. You can also report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

For more information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm through Adviceline: 0808 2787 806, by using the email enquiry service, or webchat accessed through the Citizens Advice website. In-person help and advice is reserved for people who really need it and appointments are available at a number of Community Access Points. Please click on this link for up to date information on services and opening hours.

9 December 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council has supported 21 projects through a £2 million Climate Emergency Fund this financial year.

The second round of the Climate Emergency Fund will provide a financial boost for local organisations and Council projects that can reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, reduce litter and improve biodiversity.

The fund has been set up as part of the Council’s work to tackle the Climate Emergency and both local organisations and Council services, delivering projects that meet set criteria, were able to bid for funding.

The successful applicants include the following.

Community-led bids:

• Chester Sustainability Centre
• Eco Communities Community Interest Company
• Farndon Parish Council
• Forest City Projects
• Hospice of the Good Shepherd
• Jessie Hughes Village Hall
• Weaver Sailing Club

Council and Council company bids:

• Avenue Services Low Carbon Project
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Electric Taxi Infrastructure Project
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Green Homes Grant Match Funding
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Guilden Sutton Depot Electric Vehicle Charging Project
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Highways Fleet Upgrade Project
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Low Carbon Business Fund Match Funding
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Mersey Forest Trees for Climate Match Funding
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Northgate Car Park Sustainability Upgrades
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: On-Street Residential Charging Project
• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Wildflower Programme
• Qwest Services: Barrow Church of England School LED (Light Emitting Diode) Project
• Qwest Services: Community Building Energy Audit
• Qwest Services: Hoole and Willaston Schools Decarbonisation Projects
• Qwest Services: Kingsley Community Primary School LED Project

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and the Climate Emergency, said: “We had a great response to our second call for projects and organisations to apply for this funding. There is a diverse mix of projects that will benefit from this support - from nature enhancement projects through to energy efficiency and infrastructure improvements. These will all play their part in reducing carbon emissions in west Cheshire and helping us to achieve our target of the borough becoming carbon neutral by 2045 and the Council, as an organisation, by 2030.”

The first round of the Climate Emergency Fund was announced in autumn 2020, with 11 projects awarded funding to deliver low-carbon outcomes. The funding plays a key part in the Council’s Climate Emergency response plan which sets out how the Council, businesses, residents and communities can all play their part to tackle the Climate Emergency.

One project that secured funding during the first round of the Climate Emergency Fund was Passion for Learning, a local charity that supports children with their learning. With the funding they were able to purchase an electric car that they are using as part of their work, when visiting schools.

Diane Clark, Chief Executive Officer at Passion for Learning, said: “Our Enrichment Clubs are all about learning through play and experience. We are keen to make the children knowledgeable about their world and the challenges that their generation will face in the future. The children have been really excited by the electric car and it stands at the centre of a range of experiences, trips and activities that will bring Climate Emergency issues to life for them. Undoubtedly this funding has provided us with this wonderful illustration of the way in which our choices can make a genuine difference to the future.”

Further rounds of Climate Emergency funding will be available from 2022 to 2024 and will be announced online: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateemergency

6 December 2021
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Total Environment team have been busy during National Tree Week (27 November – 5 December) replacing saplings, planting an oak tree and rare black poplar trees on a site in Picton, on the outskirts of Chester.

The team, who care for the natural and historic environment across the borough, have previously planted 12,366 trees and 305 metres of hedgerows at the site earlier in the year, using funding from the national Trees for Climate programme.

The Council, through The Mersey Forest, is the accountable body for Trees for Climate, a national multi-million pound woodland creation programme, part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate Fund, which is being delivered by 13 Community Forests across England.

Native black poplar trees are an endangered species, with only around 7,000 left in the UK, often growing in isolation. These large trees, growing to a height of around 30 metres, were once widespread across the borough’s floodplains.

This tree species is very valuable for wildlife with over 100 specialist insects associated with it, including a variety of moths such as the hornet moth, wood leopard moth and poplar hawk moth. Catkins on the trees also provide an early source of nectar for bees and the seeds are enjoyed by finches.

The black poplar trees have been provided by Chester Zoo as part of one of their species recovery programmes.

Philip Esseen, Curator of Botany and Horticulture at Chester Zoo, explains more about the programme:
“As well as working to prevent extinction of animals, we’re committed to plant conservation here at Chester Zoo. There are a lot of threatened species on our doorstep in the UK. We have been growing black poplars for over 10 years, the material being collected from cuttings of old trees growing in Cheshire. It’s important to use material from a number of different trees, as some have different genes, and this helps to maintain a healthy population which can adapt to climate change or other environmental factors. Our expert team have grown over 1,500 black poplars here at the zoo, and while most have been planted in Cheshire, some have gone as far as Devon and North Wales.”

A larger oak tree was also planted during the week. This will be pollarded, were the top branches are cut back to its trunk, to provide a future perching point for barn owls and other predatory birds to save energy in the winter while they hunt the newly created grassland.

Alongside the work to introduce trees to the site, six hectares of wet fields were planted in September with a special native wildflower and grassland mix to help restore some of Cheshire’s important herb rich hay meadows. The grassland will play its part to help capture carbon, storing it in the soil and is also an important food source for moths, hoverflies, bees and butterflies, which help to pollinate crops.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “It’s fantastic to have Chester Zoo support us to introduce black poplars back to this site in west Cheshire. We’ve recently declared a nature crisis, with a commitment to protect land for nature by 2030, and our Climate Emergency Response Plan includes actions to enhance local biodiversity. The work being done on this site will create a rich mosaic of habitats, attracting wildlife and playing its part to help capture carbon."

“The team plan to use the grassland meadows as a donation site to collect wildflower and grass seed which will benefit other areas of the borough where similar meadows will be created.”

A consultation on a draft Land Action Plan for the borough is currently open until the 12 December. The plan sets out a vision for land in west Cheshire, including 68 actions that will help to restore and protect nature, which will both help tackle the climate crisis and provide many benefits for our communities. Residents can give their views by taking part online. The consultation is available to view on the Participate Now site.

View the Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan online.

3 December 2021

North West in Bloom judges awarded a gold award for a whole borough entry including Chester in the Large City category and the Local Authority Large Parks gold medal award to Marbury Park.

The North West in Bloom awards ceremony held at the Northwich Memorial Hall this week also presented silver awards to Alexandra Park, Hoole and Grosvenor Park, Chester.

In a separate event held at Little Sutton Community Centre. Royal Horticultural Society and North West in Bloom judges, Bernard Pendleton and Neil Harvey presented awards to Ellesmere Port in Bloom. Awards included a silver for the Ellesmere Port Town entry and a Royal Horticultural Society Certificate of Distinction special award for Trees of Climate, Ellesmere Port.

This is the result of the hard work of many groups and volunteers across the borough being recognised by the North West in Bloom judges who visited the area during the summer.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said: “I’m delighted the Council was able to support this year’s entry into the North West in Bloom competition and I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations to all the volunteers involved in improving their community and bringing people together to make a positive change to the place they live, work or spend their leisure time."

“This has been a fantastic achievement and we can celebrate the achievements of organisations and community groups across Cheshire. There were so many exciting projects, activities, locations, developments and future plans included in our portfolio and at the judging days, it was difficult to decide what to include. We were very proud of what we were able to show the judges the results reflect the hard work of everyone involved in this year’s entries."

“Throughout the pandemic we have seen how our green spaces and parks contribute to our wellbeing. We will need to work even more closely with our residents, partners and businesses to build strong, resilient communities in the months and years ahead. Together, we can ensure our borough continues to thrive, long into the future and the results this week can be built upon to further improve our natural environment.”

The results

Large City - Gold Award

North West in Bloom with the RHS Chester City Centre / Cheshire West and Chester Council

Local Authority Parks large - Gold Medal Award

North Westin Bloom with the RHS – Marbury Park

Local Authority Parks small - Silver Gilt Medal Award

North West in Bloom with the RHS – Alexandra Park, Hoole

Local Authority Park Small - Silver Gilt Medal Award

North West in Bloom with the RHS - Grosvenor Park Chester

Large Town – Silver Gilt Award

North West in Bloom with the RHS - Northwich In Bloom

Silver Gilt Award

North West in Bloom with the RHS - Northwich Town Centre Bid

2021 Award for Outstanding Contribution

North West in Bloom with the RHS - Grosvenor Park Volunteers

2021 Award for Outstanding Contribution

North West in Bloom with the RHS - Friends of Anderton and Marbury County Park Volunteers (FOAM)

Large Town - Silver Award

Ellesmere Port in Bloom Special Awards

2021 Best Environmental Award
North West in Bloom with the RHS - Marbury Park, Northwich
2021 Award for Outstanding Contribution
North West in Bloom with the RHS - Friends of Anderton and Marbury Country Park Volunteers
2021 Best New Landscape Award
North West in Bloom with the RHS - City Forest Garden Chester
2021 Award for Commercial Effort
North West in Bloom with the RHS - Cheshire Oaks
2021 Environmental Award for Schools
North West in Bloom with the RHS Kingsmead Primary School, Northwich

National Certificate of Distinction

Royal Horticultural Society - Trees for Climate Ellesmere Port

In your Neighbourhood Awards

Level 1 Establishing
North West in Bloom with the RHS Friends of Greenbank Station
Level 5 Outstanding
North West in Bloom with the RHS Transition Northwich Rods Secret (Community) Garden
Level 3 Advancing
North West in Bloom with the RHS Transition Northwich Dane Valley Community Orchard

Level 2 Improving
Stanford Street Allotments Sensory Garden

Level 3 Advancing
Friends of Wolverham Community Centre

Level 5 Outstanding
Friends of Elm Grove Community Park

Level 5 Outstanding
Trinity Methodist Church Ellesmere Port

Level 5 Outstanding
Bridge Community Wellness Gardens , Ellesmere Port

1 December 2021

Households across west Cheshire could benefit from funding to provide energy efficient measures for their homes this winter.

Eligible residents are invited to apply to Cheshire West and Chester Council's Green Homes Grant scheme which can be used to install energy efficient measures such as wall, loft and under-floor insulation, and low carbon heating such as air source heat pumps and solar panels.

To apply residents must meet both of the criteria below.

• Have an annual combined household income of £30,000 (gross) or less, this includes households in receipt of qualifying welfare benefits.
• Live in a property that is classed as inefficient with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F or G .

Residents can apply online at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/greenhomegrant. Alternatively, call: 0300 123 8123.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: "The Green Homes Grant provides an opportunity for households struggling to afford to heat their home and with low energy performance ratings to make improvements to their homes. For some people, this will be a real lifeline this winter, helping to reduce their bills and providing them with a warm home, helping keep them safe and healthy.

"The additional benefit is that these improvements will also lower households' carbon emissions, something that contributes to the climate crisis. In west Cheshire, we are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2045 and taking measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the borough will play a major part in achieving this."

All measures offered to homeowners will be fully funded with no contribution required from residents, and installed by Council-appointed contractors.

Private rental properties with an eligible tenant are also able to apply for the grant scheme. There is no cost to the tenant for any energy efficiency measures installed, but the landlord is required to contribute one third of the costs, with two thirds (to a maximum of £5,000), being provided by the grant.

Funding has been secured by the Council from the Government's Green Homes Grant scheme, which aims to improve the energy efficiency of some of the country's least efficient homes, helping to reduce costly energy bills, whilst also lowering energy use and the carbon emissions of households.

24 November 2021

The Christmas countdown has started and Chester city centre is preparing for an influx of shoppers and visitors.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is encouraging visitors to give the Park & Ride a try.

The frequent service helps visitors to enjoy everything the city has to offer this Christmas, quickly and easily, with fares now half price, at just £1, until 9 January 2022; while also reducing traffic queues and pollution.

To help get festivities off to a good start, as well as subsiding low price fares, the Council has also extended the service every Thursday up to Christmas, for late night Christmas shopping.

Families with children coming into the city can take advantage of free travel for under 16s, if they are accompanied by a fare paying adult.
The three Park & Ride sites at Wrexham Road, Upton (Chester Zoo) and Boughton have a total of over 2,400 free parking spaces, a bus every 10 to 12 minutes and 12-minute journey times.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “If you’re thinking of coming into Chester this festive season, please use the Park & Ride. Why not take advantage of the late-night shopping, as every Thursday up to Christmas, the last bus back to the three Park & Ride sites will be around 9pm, rather than 7pm."

“You’ll be doing your bit to cut Christmas congestion as queues build during the busy build up to the festive season. Recently, we’ve all become more aware of the climate emergency and the need to all play our part to reduce emissions, using the Park and Ride is the perfect way to do this."

“You’ll also be travelling safely as all our buses are subject to a rigorous cleansing regime and face masks are available on board, if you choose to wear one. Our stylish and comfortable Park & Ride buses have USB charging, free wifi and premium seating. Jumping on the bus means no parking charges and travel into the city is now half price at just £1 for a return ticket until 9 January 2022.”

More information, timetables and routes are available on the Council’s website, including where to park.

26 November 2021

National Tree Week sees people around the country joining together to celebrate the beginning of the winter tree planting season.

The celebration, which takes place between the 27 November and 5 December this year, highlights the importance of trees, both for the environment and for our health and wellbeing.

New woodlands provide many benefits for communities, including playing their part to reduce flood risk by helping to increase water infiltration and reduce surface water run-off, delivering more home-grown timber, providing more places for nature and biodiversity to thrive, and increasing people's access to nature.

In west Cheshire, our local Community Forest, The Mersey Forest, planted over 81,000 trees last planting season thanks to the Trees for Climate programme, a multi-million pound national tree planting programme.

This year, the team has already been out on site planting over 5,400 trees at a farm near to Frodsham and have plans to plant over 140 hectares across Cheshire and Merseyside by the end of March 2022.

Get planting

Planting more trees and hedgerows will make a big difference as we work together to tackle the climate and nature crises, but you might not know where to start.

If you have land available that would be suitable to plant trees on, you can contact The Mersey Forest team for free advice and support.

• Contact The Mersey Forest

If you are interested in planting a tree in your garden, the team has a useful guide to help you plant and care for trees.

• Download the guide here

Alternatively, sign up for the Tree Council’s free webinar on Monday 29 November, 6-7pm, to learn all about tree planting from their resident tree expert, Jon Stokes.

• Sign up for the Tree Council’s webinar

Get out in nature

Getting out in nature and amongst the trees has many health benefits and studies have found that spending time in the woods can boost immune function, reduce stress hormones, and cause you to physically relax.
In west Cheshire, we’re lucky to have a great range of woodlands to enjoy on our doorstep, including Marbury Country Park in Northwich with its magnificent lime avenues and arboretum and Delamere Forest, with miles of walking and cycling trails.

• View Council managed parks, greenspaces and woodlands
• Explore woodlands and Forests across Cheshire and Merseyside

Get the kids involved

Woodlands are great places for kids to play and learn more about nature, and natural play is great for children's development. Research has shown that natural play can boost cognitive abilities, increase physical fitness, reduce symptoms of attention deficit disorder and even help improve grades in school.

To get some ideas of the type of activities you could enjoy as a family, download The Mersey Forest’s Trees for Learning pack which has suggested activities for every season and for a range of ages, from early years through to children in key stage 2.

• Download the Trees for Learning pack

If you decide to plant a tree this tree planting season, or have a favourite tree you would like to share, put the details on the ‘Your stories’ section of the Climate Emergency Inspire page. You might just inspire someone else to get planting.

22 November 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Road Safety team has been applauded for its Junior Safety Officers (JSO) programme in the Modeshift National Sustainable Travel Awards.

The Council’s Road Safety team provides a range of programmes to schools and colleges across the borough to help keep children and young people safe on our roads whilst increasing safe active travel.

These programmes are also designed to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing whilst helping to cut air pollution, which in turn will aid towards the borough’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2045 as part of the Council’s commitment to tackle the Climate Emergency.
The JSO project was shortlisted for the ‘Best Project under £1000 for 2021’ category. The national Modeshift awards recognise those who work in education and community settings for all their hard work and contribution to the world of sustainable travel. It is designed to celebrate achievements of those who work together to achieve shared aims and objectives.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “The JSO project is a partnership between the Council’s Road Safety Team, Cheshire Constabulary and the Safer Schools and Young People Partnership (SSYP) who work to promote road, community and personal safety to primary school children through elected year six pupils. These Junior Safety Officers are responsible for setting an example of good safety to the other pupils."

“Well done to the Road Safety and all our Junior Safety Officers, I’m delighted they’ve been recognised for all their hard work across the borough.”

Covid-19 had a big impact on how the team can deliver the programmes as it has not been possible to enter schools as freely. To keep the JSO initiative running the team explored new ways of delivering their programmes and messages.

The launch of the JSO initiative usually involved a large presentation ceremony each September with the children being briefed on the programme and receiving their certificates in person. As it was no longer possible to hold this ceremony the Road Safety team organised and produced a video message to welcome the children and their adult helpers to their role which was distributed to the schools, followed by additional videos each month.

Councillor Shore added: “We’ve overwhelmed by the positive response to the videos produced and the Council has been one of the few local authorities in the region who have been able to keep the JSO programme running by adopting this proactive and innovative approach.”

The Road Safety team has been working with the Modeshift Stars programme in schools over the last two years and decided to enter this JSO scheme for a National Travel Award in October 2021 due to its success especially given the new way of delivering messages and the programme.

11 November 2021

Residents across Cheshire West and Chester can benefit from taking part in Healthy Conservation sessions in parks and green spaces across the borough this winter.

The sessions, as part of Cheshire’s Natural Health Service, provide participants with an introduction into conservation activities in community woodlands, parks and green spaces, whilst improving their physical activity and mental wellbeing.

Cheshire’s Natural Health Service, which is part-funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council and managed by The Mersey Forest, uses the Boroughs green spaces to help tackle health inequalities. The service, which has been running since 2017, has helped nearly 4,000 people locally connect with nature and in turn improve their health through activities such as group walking, mindfulness, horticulture therapy, healthy conservation and bushcraft.

The Healthy Conservation sessions are open to all residents and participants will get to learn new skills, taking part in activities such as hedge and tree planting, pond maintenance and wild flower seeding.

Alongside supporting residents health and wellbeing the sessions will also help to improve and protect the natural environment, an important part of the borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan which sets out how the borough will become carbon neutral by 2045.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Poverty and Wellbeing, said: “Throughout the pandemic we’ve seen how getting out in nature has incredible benefits for people’s health and wellbeing. These sessions provide residents with an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with nature and others in their community.

“One of the Council’s priorities is to help our residents live longer, healthier and happier lives something that is central to this programme of work. Through Cheshire’s Natural Health Service, we are able to use our own green spaces as health assets, empowering residents to take a preventative, self-care approach to their wellbeing, whilst enjoying and protecting the many beautiful green spaces we have in the borough.”

Sessions are currently organised to take place at the following parks and green spaces.

• Jubilee Field in Huntington, Chester
• Whitby Park in Ellesmere Port
• Sytchcroft Park in Neston
• Saxons Lane, Northwich

Full details on dates and times of sessions, including how to take part, are available on: www.naturalhealthservice.org.uk/Cheshire

Funding for the part of the programme has been secured through the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF), which provides funding to local authorities in England to help reduce the spread of coronavirus and support local public health.