Cheshire Independent Issue 217

AUGUST 2026 2 EDITOR: MikeHulme - mike@independentnewspapers.co.uk ADVERTISING: RobinAtkins - robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk Tel. 07767 840274 CLASSIFIED: JayneMeadowcroft - jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk Tel. 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 CONTACT US No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. Tel. 01204 478812 EAST Cheshire NHS Trust’s (ECT) adult audiology service is moving this August, from its current base in Macclesfield to Congleton War Memorial Hospital. The relocation is a temporary move while refurbishment works are completed at its new purpose-built audiology unit, which is expected to open in early 2027. Doctor Robert Johnson, Clinical Lead for Audiology, said:“TheTrust has an ongoing commitment to improv- ing patient care and a big part of that is investing in our estate to ensure we have the best possible facilities at our disposal. “To achieve this we’re creating a new, modern, purpose-built home for our audiology service, at Pavillion House inMacclesfield. And to facilitate this, we need to undertake this tempo- rary move to CongletonWar Memorial Hospital, while refurbishment work is completed. “And we’re putting arrangements in place to help minimise any disruption, includingmaintaininga limited service at Waters Green Medical Centre in Macclesfield for clinically appropriate appointments, and expanding local options for hearing aid battery collec- tion and hearing aid repairs.” Patients will be able to collect hearing aid batteries and drop off hearing aids for repair at the follow- ing locations: ● MacclesfieldDistrict General Hospital (batteries ONLY) ● Waters GreenMedical Centre (drop off hearing aids ONLY – no battery collection) ● WilmslowHealth Centre (batteries ONLY) ● CongletonWarMemorial Hospital (drop off hearing aid repairs and battery collection) ● KnutsfordDistrict Community Hospital (batteries ONLY) Patients with existing appoint- ments will not need to take any action as the audiology team will contact themdirectly if their appointments are affectedby the temporary relocation. If patients have any questions, they can contact the service on 01625 66 1716. KNUTSFORD Town Council and Knutsford Lions have announced Remi Livesey as the recipient of the 2026 KnutsfordMillenniumBursary, with Valeriia Shymko receiving the Knutsford Lions’ Discretion- ary Award. Established in 2000, the KnutsfordMil- lenniumBursary is awarded annually by Knutsford Town Council in partnership with Knutsford Lions to support local students undertaking higher education. The bursary is open to students who have completed their second year of study and normally reside in Knutsford or Toft. The main award of £760 is designed to help fund a specific project, dissertation or other aspect of a student’s academic development, with an additional Knuts- ford Lions’ Discretionary Award recognis- ing another outstanding applicant. Remi, a former student of The Grange School, is currently studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Alongside an outstanding academic record, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to both community service and medical innovation. Remi plans to build a career combining clinical practice with research and is currently exploring emerging treatments in immunology and cancer research. The bursary will help fund accommo- dation costs associated with summer research projects, enabling him to gain valuable experience at the forefront of medical advances. Alongside his studies, Remi has volun- teered extensively within the local com- munity, including supporting patients on respiratory and dementia wards at Mac- clesfield District General Hospital and helping deliver CPR and first aid training through the Knutsford Community First Responder Trust. He hopes to continue supporting local initiatives whenever he returns to Knutsford. Valeriia Shymko, a former student of Knutsford Academy, has been awarded the Knutsford Lions’ Discretionary Award. She is currently studying Busi- ness and Management at the University of York, where she has developed a par- ticular interest in sustainable business and consultancy. Earlier this year, Valeriia was selected to present a project at an international symposium in Greece and this summer will undertake an internship in Man- chester to further develop her profes- sional experience. Alongside her studies, she serves as a Student Ambassador for the University of York’s School for Business and Society, supporting prospective students and rep- resenting the university at events. The award will help support the costs associated with her internship, research and final-year dissertation as she pre- pares for a career in business, which she hopes to pursue from her hometown of Knutsford after graduation. Applications for the 2027 Knutsford Millennium Bursary will open in Octo- ber 2026 and close on 31 January 2027. Eligible students fromKnutsford and Toft are encouraged to apply. THE main road from Macclesfield to Buxton is facing six months of road closures Derbyshire County Council has con- firmed that major improvements are being made to a 2.8km stretch of the A54, known locally as the Cat and Fiddle. The work, split into two phases, will impact the road from its junction with the A53 Leek Road to its junction with the A537 on the border with Cheshire. The project has been split into two phases. Phase one will require a 14-week full road closure until Friday, October 30, and will focus on road and drainage improve- ments ahead of the challenging winter weather conditions. This includes resurfacing the road between the junction with the A537 at the county border, and where the hill known as ‘The Terret’ meets the road. Meanwhile, a new drainage system will be installed to make sure rainwa- ter drains away from the road surface to minimise surface water flooding. Phase two is expected begin in April 2027 and will last approximately 12 weeks. This phase of the project will include: ● Reinforcing the earth banks to make them more stable and less likely to collapse. This will reduce the risk of falling debris or loose rock falling on to the road ● Installation of new and repairs to exist- ing safety barriers and bike guards ● Completion of the remaining road resurfacing improvements from the junction with the A53 Leek Road and where the hill known as ‘The Terret’ meets the road ● Replacement of existing drainage cul- verts, the structures and channels that carry water beneath the road, to reduce surface water collecting on the A54 Derbyshire County Council has warned that the road closure will affect bus ser- vices 58 and 60 between Macclesfield and Buxton. A signed diversionary route is also in place using the A53, A523, A537 and the A54. CHESHIRE East’s parks and green spaces have once again been recognised among the country’s best after securing Green Flag Awards for a num- ber of sites across the bor- ough, including a first award for The Carrs in Wilmslow. The Green Flag Award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces and reflects the ongoing work of parks staff, volunteers and community partners, who help care for these valued public spaces throughout the year. Among this year’s successes is The Carrs, which has achieved Green Flag status for the first time. The award marks an impor- tant milestone for the Wilmslow park and recognises the work undertaken to ensure it meets the high standards required by the scheme. The awards also recognise the continued success of a number of other parks and countryside sites across Cheshire East, highlight- ing the council’s commitment to providing high-quality green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. Green Flag Award status is reviewed annually and recog- nises excellence across a range of areas, including environmen- tal management, biodiversity, cleanliness, safety and commu- nity involvement. Councillor David Jefferay, Cheshire East Council’s cabinet member for environment, sus- tainability and waste manage- ment, said: “We are delighted that a number of Cheshire East parks and green spaces have once again achieved Green Flag Award status. “These awards are a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our environmental services teams, volunteers and community partners who help care for these important community spaces throughout the year. “It is particularly pleasing that The Carrs has achieved Green Flag status for the first time. This recognition demonstrates the commitment that has gone into ensuring the park contin- ues to provide a welcoming and high-quality environment for res- idents and visitors. “Parks and green spaces play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing, encouraging peo- ple to be active and helping com- munities connect with nature. We are proud that so many of our sites continue to receive this prestigious recognition.” The full list of Cheshire East’s Green Flag award-winning sites in 2026 is: ● Bollington Recreation Ground ● Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve ● Congleton Park ● Fountain Fields, Middlewich ● Macclesfield Riverside Park ● Milton Park, Alsager ● Queens Park, Crewe ● Sandbach Park ● Tatton Park ● Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Macclesfield ● The Carrs, Wilmslow ● The Moor, Knutsford CHIEF Constable Mark Roberts QPM is to retire from Chesh- ire Constabulary. The announcement ends a 33-year career in policing, which began as a police constable in Salford in 1993. “For me, policing has been a vocation and privilege, and I am immensely proud of everything that I have achieved over the past 33 years,” said CC Roberts. “I have worked alongside some truly dedicated and focused colleagues who strive every day to provide the best pos- sible service to the public. I had hoped to take the force through to 2028, but the decision has been made to take the force in a different direction. “Cheshire is a force very much at the top of its game, so this announcement does not mean that the good work stops here – far from it.” Cheshire’s top cop to retire Students receive Bursary Awards Cheshire parks achieve Green Flag successes The Carrs inWilmslow has been awarded a Green Flag for the !rst time. (Image: Cheshire East Council) Road closure means months of disruption Changes to audiology services