Cheshire Independent Issue 187

MACCLESFIELD •TYTHERINGTON •BOLLINGTON ALDERLEYEDGE •PRESTBURY •WILMSLOW •HANDFORTH •POYNTON •BRAMHALL •DISLEY •ALSAGER •BIDDULPH •CONGLETON •SANDBACH ISSUE185 Independent FREE CHESHIRE FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER FOLLOWUSONTWITTER: @CheshireIndy www.independentnewspapers.co.uk Looking for Flooring Inspiration? Letushelpyou find theperfect flooring foryour home.Withgreatadvice,home styling,measureand planning service,plusquality fittingof topbrandsand designs, youwillbegladyoudid . Visitour showroom:Tuesday toSaturday orcall 01260224445 foraprivateappointment ThornycroftFarm,PexhillRoad, Siddington,CheshireSK119JN ● Modern,Traditional&LuxuryCarpets ● NaturalWoodFlooring ● LaminateFlooring ● StairRunners&Rods ● LuxuryVinylTiles ● BespokeRugs&Runners PEOPLE inMacclesfieldhave been asked for their views on town councilplans toborrow £1.25milliontofundanewSouth Parkpavilion. Theplanswouldseea24.5percent hike inthe2024towncouncilprecept –adding£12.50 to theCouncilTax bill forabandDproperty. Thecouncil is looking fora40-year PublicWorksLoanto fundthedevel- opment.Theannual loanrepayments will come toaround£101,700– fall- ingby£411.27everysixmonths. Itsaysthatunderthe fundingplan £5.21oftheproposedpreceptrisewill go towards therepayments. The development has planning permission and theproject team is looking to startwork on the site in thesummer. The intention,once thepavilion is up and running, is that the repay- mentswill bepaid through contri- butions fromthe income itgenerates. Council reserves of£548,472will also be used to fund the building work.Councillorsneed theapproval ofMichaelGove, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, to apply for the loan. PeoplehaduntilFebruary 23 to give their views on the loan pro- posals in apublic consultation and the feedback from that exercise is nowawaited. Towncouncilloranddeputymayor SandyLivingstone,who chairs the SouthParkPavilionworkinggroup, said: “SouthPark isoneof thegreat assetsofMacclesfield. “It is clear from the extensive consultation,and themandate local towncouncillorswereelectedon last year that our residentswantus to buildanewpavilion in thepark. “Apavilion thatwill, like thepub- lic toilets inour indoormarket,will continue the town council’smuch needed investment inour town,and provideagatheringplace foracoffee anda chat,asevents space for local bands, arts and culture, life events and celebrations,andmuchneeded accessible toilets.” He added: “Economic conditions and continued rising costs have caused large increases in construc- tionexpenses. THE MILLION POUND QUESTION PublicviewsonSouthPark Pavilion fundingawaited Pavilionplan:ACGIof theplannednewSouthParkPavilion (Photocredit:Maccles!eldTownCouncil) “Despite thiswehave taken our time to ensurewe can still deliver thebuildingandsuccessfullyoperate it.The publicwork loanwill allow us tobuild thenewpavilion for our residents and for the new visitors whowill comeand return.” The council says the pavilion needs to be replaced because there is a lack of accessibility to the first floor, limited toilet facilities and it is inapoor stateof repair. CllrLivingstonesaid:“Ourprofes- sional team, led by local architects BowerandMattin,havedesignedan excitinghighqualityenergysaving building thatwestillbe inuseat the endof century. “The two-storey design reflects the choices of our residents in the consultationofAugust2022,where therewasa choiceof fivedesigns.” SouthPark is the largestpark in Macclesfield. It celebrated its cen- tenary in 2022 after itwas gifted to the people of the town by local aldermanWilliamFrost. In a statement announcing the consultation, the council said: “The park isa trueasset forour town,and one thatwehavean opportunity to improve for our residents, our com- munityand toattractvisitors from nearand far. “Localresidentshavecampaigned forapavilionbuilding inSouthPark for the past 20 years.”The plan is to build a two-storey, environmen- tally sensitive pavilion designed to provide awide range of flexible spaces suitable for family gather- ings, fitness, dance and regular culturalevents. Theground floorwill consistofa largecaféareawith ‘chillout’spaces housing localartexhibitsandmag- azines. Itwill lead to a canopied outdoor terracewith seating over- looking thebandstand. Therewillalsobe two largemul- ti-purposeroomswhichcanprovide a space for people to gather.The first floorwill overlook the park and tennis courts. AN early intervention programme looking to challenge and change young people’s attitudes to gang cultureandknifecrime isproving to be a success in Cheshire.Almost 30 schoolshavetakenpartsofar. ● Fullstorypagefour Challenginggang culture