Community Governance Review Consultation

Cheshire East Council is consulting on proposals to amend the boundary of Gawsworth and move the Gawsworth Moss area and a number of fields into Macclesfield Town.

The borough-wide Community Governance Review is looking at governance arrangements for the parishes across Cheshire East and can consider a range of matters including the boundaries of parishes, number of councillors and warding arrangements.

The proposals for Gawsworth are:

• To move the Gawsworth Moss area into Macclesfield Town Council
• To move a number of fields, including the LPS15 development, into Macclesfield Town Council
• To retain a total of nine parish councillors with no need for warding arrangements

The proposals also state that if the area is not transferred, warding arrangements could continue with three councillors for Moss and seven for village (an increase of one).

You can view a map of the proposed area to be removed from Gawsworth and the explanatory report here: Extract from Cheshire East Council Consultation Documents.

The proposals being consulted on go against the suggestions made by Gawsworth Parish Council in the early stages of this review. Gawsworth Parish Council proposed that the warding arrangement should be removed and should this not be possible that:

• The Moss Ward be extended to cover all of LPS15 and LPS19 which is currently in Village Ward
• Residents of Moss Ward should have opportunity to agree a new name for the ward which better fits that community
• The council should retain nine councillors but five should be assigned to Village and four to Moss.

The Parish Council had presented Cheshire East Council with survey data showing that the majority of respondents to a survey of Moss Ward residents want to remain in Gawsworth parish. This was dismissed by Cheshire East Council.

The Parish Council strongly urges residents in both Village and Moss wards to make their voice heard in this consultation. If there is not a strong voice from the residents of Moss ward then it is likely the proposals will go through.

To respond to the consultation you can:

• Complete the CEC Consultation Survey here: https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/CGReview2/
• Email your views to: communitygovernancereview@cheshireeast.gov.uk
• Write to Cheshire East Council, Community Governance Review Consultation, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ

The consultation closes on 28th November.

Rebrand for Gawsworth Shop

During the coming months you will see some exciting changes in our community facility.

We will rebrand our Community Shop and Hub under a new banner

Why are we making this change?

Today, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, both past and presents, and with the support of the whole community, we are more than a successful community shop.  

Gawsworth Hub “Serving our community” was chosen as our new name and strap line as we felt that it encapsulates who we are and what we stand for.

Gawsworth Hub is situated in the heart of the village, and it offers a wide range of activities owned, and run, by the community for the community.

Gawsworth Hub includes a

• Successful community shop, wherever possible, offering local-sourced products and always giving friendly service 
• New warm and welcoming space for us to
• meet, and/or make new, friends
• take refreshments (pick up a Drinks Loyalty Card)
• join champion-led activities and services, e.g. “Chit & Chat”, assist residents to order items/services on-line, etc.
• attend pop-up surgeries, e.g. PCSO, Parish Council, etc.
• take part in fun events or mark special days
• support local charities’ initiatives
• etc., etc,  

• Accessible toilet and baby changing facility
• Free WiFi

Community Shop Chairman to stand down

9 July 2021 – Ray Shaw, the longstanding and acclaimed Chairman of Gawsworth Community Shop, is to step down from his role. A new chairperson will be appointed later this year and the recruitment process to find Ray’s successor is now underway.

In the interim period, Ray will assist the Board to implement a new IT infrastructure comprising electronic point of sale hardware and software and a modern website to help the shop run more effectively. Ray’s wife, Val Shaw, will also relinquish her director’s position on the community shop’s Board as the pair prepare to enjoy retirement following their outstanding contribution for the people of Gawsworth parish.

“I have achieved everything that I set out to do five years ago and feel that now is the right time to handover to a new chairperson to deliver the Board’s vision for the next phase. I look forward to working with them to ensure a smooth transition”, said Ray Shaw.

Following a background in IT consultancy Ray Shaw has given ten years of dedicated volunteer service to Gawsworth Shop fulfilling several roles, including Company Secretary and Deputy Manager shortly after the shop opened in March 2011. In 2016, Ray became Chairman and has played a leading role in preserving the future of the last remaining shop in the Gawsworth community.

Under Ray’s guidance, Gawsworth Community Shop celebrated its tenth anniversary in March. More recently, the shop has been transformed into a community hub with a bright future ahead which will deliver a wide range of new benefits to the local community. The hub will formally be opened later this year.

“Transforming a village shop into a community hub has been a complex and hugely challenging project. It has also been an immensely rewarding one, not just for me personally, but because it provides facilities that many communities lack,” explained Ray Shaw.

“It has required an enormous team effort from the start. I want to thank all our volunteers, employees, directors, shareholders and funding organisations for their support, commitment and effort, as without them, it would not have turned out to be the success it has been,” continued Ray.

The search has begun to appoint a new chairperson for Gawsworth Community Shop by the end of this year. Interested candidates should email volunteering@gawsworthshop.co.uk with a covering letter outlining their suitability for this volunteer-based role, or contact HR coordinator Daryl Williams for an initial discussion on 07967 408865. The closing date for applications is 31 August.

Structural Patching – Congleton Road

Cheshire East Council will be carrying out structural patching along Congleton Road, Gawsworth and will take approximately 13 days to complete, commencing from 13 October 2020.

The scheme has been carefully planned to minimise disruption to local residents, businesses and members of the travelling public.

When it’s happening

The works are programmed to begin from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 29 October 2020 between the hours of 09:30 – 16:30 (excluding weekends). Please note that occasionally the works have to be changed at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather conditions or logistics.

Under current Health & Safety legislation and for the safety of our workforce and members of the public, it will be necessary for a road closure to be in place during the works.

Every effort will be made to maintain vehicular access to residents and businesses, but there will inevitably be some inconvenience. For enquiries contact Cheshire East Highways on 0300 123 5020.

Highway Safety Concerns on the A536

In March 2019 the Parish Council submitted a detailed report on the community’s concerns about highway safety on the A536. The report, available below, highlighted that between October 2012 and May 2017 there were 64 personal injury accidents on a 12km stretch of the A536 between Congleton and Macclesfield.

The report contained suggestions to improve highway safety. This report was submitted to Cheshire East Highways Officers – no response was received.

The Parish Council has continued to chase Cheshire East for a response, but to date none has been recieved.

Gawsworth Highway Safety Report.

Newton’s Dairy on the BBC

Doorstep delivery of milk and more by Heather, Dennis and Danny has been something Gawsworth residents have valued for very many years.

The Newton family are going to extraordinary lengths to keep us supplied during the crisis. They have over 200 new customers and now serve almost 1000 households.  Danny did a great job for Newtons and for Gawsworth when he was interviewed on BBC North West recently.  

We are all so grateful and so proud of the Newtons Dairy team.

Follow them on Facebook and meet the cows that make your milk.

New Bus Service

D&G are running a new hourly service in conjunction with the hourly service provided by Arriva North West

This means that in effect it is now a half hourly service  during the middle of the day. New timetables have been posted on the bus stops.Read more

Cheshire East Council Elections

Elections to Cheshire East Council were held on Thursday 2nd May. The Gawsworth Community elects three councillors, two forMacclesfield South ward which covers the Penningtons Lane

Read more

Cheshire East Council Elections

Elections for Cheshire East Council are being held on Thursday 2nd May. Residents of Gawsworth will head to the polls to choose their new borough councillors for the 2019-2023 term.Read more

Conductor required for Community Choir

Gawsworth Community Choir is a mixed ability ladies choir with approximately 20 members. It was formed 8 and a half years ago and sings a variety of music in 2 or 3 parts including lightRead more