Make our city centre buzz again, stop asking BIDs to do it with hair brain schemes get the basics right clean , maintain and lower rates and rents!!

A community wealth building strategy, worker co-ops could be developed to provide services procured by anchor institutions (such as CWAC) to the benefit of the local economy. Democratically organised workplaces are empowering, productive and ethical organisations that seek to add value and benefit to the local and the wider global community.

I started up and run the Uniform Exchange Winsford, a place for people to donate pre loved school uniform, shoes and coats that can then be passed onto other families in need within the local community. There are so many fantastic groups, charities and organisations offering different types of help to families that having a central hub to allow single point access to all services required would assist so much. Currently community groups are overlapping where they don't need too because they are unaware of the services they can offer. Having a centralised community focal point which can advertise all services and offer assistance would be really beneficial. Ideally working with the local Council and businesses allowing access to much needed resources and facilities.

There is a national shortage of local NHS dental provision which has been exacerbated by COVID and associated infection risks. Winsford residents are being asked to travel to Sandbach for NHS dentistry and for low income residents this creates unfair affordability and time-wastage. Communities where dental and other health risks are already raised should be prioritised for improved access urgently. Can we as a Council advocate for this as a ‘recovery’ policy within the Health and Wellbeing Board and with the CCG?

There are many problems for Winsford Community residents with hospital visiting and appointments as well as in accessing work and study as a result of significant gaps in public transport provision. Community ownership and prioritising the health and employment needs of those at greatest risk of poverty and unemployment should be part of how we recover.

Marbury Maid.

One of the better aspects of the pandemic has been people looking out for neighbours and offering help. Sometimes we can all be too backwards at asking for, or offering help from friends and neighbours. So many things that sounds small add up to bigger things. We can't all do eveything, but we should all try to: support local shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs, vote, give blood, recycle, home compost, walk or cycle short journeys, pick up some roadside litter ocasionally, talk to people, join a local group or society and so on.

The Council needs to invest more in volunteer organisers, for example Green Space Rangers so that more volunteer hours can be effectively managed. This will have the added benefit of reducing demand on health and social care are members of the community will also have improved health and wellbeing