Cheshire Independent Issue 212

APRIL 2026 2 To advertise call 07767 840274 NEWSINBRIEF LOCAL MP Tim Roca held a Big Advice Drop-In event at St John’s Church Hall in the Macclesfield West and Ivy Ward which involved organisations including the local policing team, Citizens Advice, NHS Care and Community Support Team and the Family Hub. Ward councillors also took part. PLANNING is well underway in Macclesfield for this year’s 1261 Festival. The town council has opened applications from community organisations for funding. And the ArtSpace organisation has been commissioned to organise the parade taking place on June 20. It is inviting local groups and people to get involved. MORE than 220 Cheshire Police officers took part in a month‑long organised immigration crime and night‑time economy safety operation. A CONGLETON man has been sentenced following a number of thefts from a Home Bargains store in the town. Tobias Bennet, 25, appeared before Crewe magistrates and was given a community order, electronically tagged and required to undertake drug rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay compensation for the stolen goods. EDITOR: GedHenderson ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com ADVERTISING: RobinAtkins 07767 840274 robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk CLASSIFIED: JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk 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. 01204 478812 CONTACT US WORKERS at luxury car maker Bentley have been left stunned after the firm announced up to 275 job losses at its Chesh- ire plant. The manufacturer, based in Crewe, has announced plans to cut it workforce after operating profits plunged to £187million in 2025 – a 42 per cent fall on 2024’s figures. Kaaren Lewis, GMB union organiser, said: “These cuts have come out of the blue and the workforce is stunned. “Trump’s tariff’s have hit Bentley hard and the com- pany is still feeling the effects of the covid lockdown. “GMB will stand side by side with members in POLICE are urging people to stay vigilant following reports of scammers tar- geting people in Chesh- ire East. Its officers in Chester and Cheshire East have received several reports from con- cerned people who have been approached by an unknown woman claiming to represent a disability charity. In one incident, reported in November 2025, the woman approached a member of the public in a supermarket car park in the Mill Lane area of Chester. She was carrying a card reader and asked for a dona- tion of five pounds. However, the device had been set to £5,000. Fortunately, the trans- action was declined. More recently, on Monday March 2, Cheshire Police were contacted after reports that the same woman had been seen asking for donations in the London Road area of Holmes Chapel. The caller reported that the woman was carrying a sign stating she was deaf and was asking members of the public to withdraw cash for her from nearby cashpoints. The caller approached her, challenged her behaviour, and advised that he would contact the police. Fol- lowing this, the woman then left the area. She is described as being around 25 to 30 years old, approximately 5ft 7in tall and with auburn hair. Detective Sergeant Jordan Trentini said: “Fraudsters are extremely convincing and per- sistent, and they often target the elderly or vulnerable, some- times resulting in the loss of thousands of pounds. “As well as tracing those responsible, we urge everyone to spread aware- ness and remind people to remain vigilant. “With that in mind, I would like to ask anyone who has any information regarding the identity of the woman believed to be involved in these incidents, or who has been approached in similar circum- stances, to please contact us. “If you have any informa- tion, please use the reporting tools on our website or call 101. Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestop- pers on 0800 555 111.” THE historic transfer of powers fromParliament to Cheshire and Warrington has been confirmed. People will elect their first mayor in May 2027 and through the transfer of key transport, economy and skills powers fromWhitehall, the new combined authority is set to unlock at least £650mil- lion in funding over the next 30 years. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the gov- ernment’s devolutionminister, has written to local leaders confirming the establishment of the Cheshire and Warring- ton Combined Authority. She said: “I am delighted that we have delivered devo- lution for Cheshire and War- rington, which will give local leaders the tools, funding and freedom they need to deliver on key local priorities, create new jobs, improve transport and enhance the local skills offer for their communities.” As the combined authority is set up over the next 12 months, it has set out its aims to attract investment, create better jobs, and improve public transport – transforming the area into the UK’s “healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and fastest-growing economy” by 2045. The combined authority will represent more than one million people. Sup- porters of the deal point to the success of neighbouring Greater Manchester. Its high-profile mayor Andy Burnham has widespread powers and a £13bn, 10-year growth plan. The city-region is getting £1bn of investment a year as a result of its devo- lution deal. Supporters say Cheshire and Warrington now have a chance to build on the oppor- tunities that devolution pre- sents – with a seat at the table on northern, national COUNTY’S LANDMARK MOMENT New era as devo deal is confirmed United leaders: Councillors Hans Mundry (Warrington) , Nick Mannion and Michael Gorman (Cheshire East) and Louise Gittins (Cheshire West) Charity scam alert Bentley workers face the axe Bentley to ensure the mini- mum redundancies and the maximum pay outs.” Bentley said the move was part of “overall efficiency activities”, which would affect management, agency and non-manufacturing employ- ees, but investment would con- tinue at its Pyms Lane site. The company is one of the biggest employers in Cheshire East, with workers travelling from across the area to the Crewe operation. Professor David Bailey, a motor industry expert at Bir- mingham Business School, told the BBC US President Trump’s tariffs had affected sales in the US – Bentley’s biggest market – while the firm was also facing chal- lenges in China. He said: “The UK car indus- try is in a low-volume crisis. Output is at something like a 70-year low.” He pointed to the company’s £2.5bn invest- ment in the Crewe factory, announced in 2022, as a pos- itive sign for its future. Bentley chief executive and chairman Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser said the company was investing in its factory “at unprecedented levels” but needed to make “some diffi- cult decisions” to ensure its long-term competitiveness. He added that the job cuts and investment in its sites would “ensure Bentley remains financially resilient, strategically focused and well positioned for the next genera- tion of luxury vehicles”. And he said: “I want to express my sincere appreci- ation to those affected – we are committed to supporting each individual with care, guidance and assistance throughout this transition.” and international platforms. The Cheshire and Warring- ton Combined Authority will hold its inaugural meeting in April. Its board will be made up of the leaders and dep- uty leaders of Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and War- rington, before a mayor is elected in May 2027. Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Ches- ter, said: “This is a land- mark moment for Cheshire and Warrington, marking the transfer of powers from Westminster to our region. The economy of Cheshire and Warrington is strong, and by making the most of what devolution offers, we can build on this platform and establish our place in the world – working along- side mayors in Greater Man- chester and Liverpool City region to unlock investment, jobs and opportunity for local people and businesses. “We stand ready to play a leading role in creating pros- perity across our region, the North and UK plc.” The leader and deputy leader of Cheshire East, Nick Mannion and Michael Gor- man, said: “Devolution will bring a new approach to the region’s skills agenda and the opportunities we can offer to local people and businesses. “We want to make Chesh- ire and Warrington the best place for businesses to invest and find new talent, and give local people the opportunities to find work, improve their skills and thrive. “We want to support the rural economy by developing transport links, promoting the dairy industry and mak- ing the case for digital con- nectivity. This will make our region an even more attrac- tive place to live, work, invest and visit.” Minister for Devolution, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “This is a fantastic step for Cheshire and Warrington, marking a milestone in this government’s mission to shift power out of Westminster and into the hands of the people who know their com- munities best. “With over £650m in investment unlocked through devolution, I have every confi- dence that the region will go from strength to strength.” The announcement fol- lows news in January that the combined authority has appointed former Chief Executive of Homes England, Nick Walkley as its interim chief executive. Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has been named as Labour’s candidate to become the first mayor. He has been PCC since 2024 and his role will be abolished as part of gov- ernment reforms in 2028. Businessman Ben Fletcher has already been named as the Conservative candidate for the election. Opportunities: Devo supporters say the deal will unlock major funding for Cheshire