News in Frodsham

It has been discovered that the number of books borrowed from Frodsham Library decreased by nearly 20% between the years 2015/16 and 2019/20, while its budget increased.

In response to Freedom of Information requests by Frodsham Nub News, Cheshire West and Chester council reported that, year on year, withdrawals from the town's library fell steadily from 75,384 to 61,602, with the value of library fines also dropping from £3,424.18 to £2,099.03.

Helsby Community Sports Club's new £4.5 million clubhouse is now entering its final stages of development, and is set to open in early 2021.

Duncan Cowley, of Helsby RUFC and Helsby FC, said: "I was given a tour of the site today by Councillor George Randles and the size of the place took my breath away. The 6 changing rooms are huge, the snooker room is immense then we have the massive bar, lounge and sports bar.

For Clipped-in, the group of artists behind Castle Park Art Centre's upcoming exhibition, Beyond Landscape, this has been a very strange year.

The five friends and colleagues, who work across a variety of media, from textiles to ceramics to charcoal, are united by their love of mountaineering, an activity which inspires many of their pieces.

Castle Park Arts Centre are now taking entries for their 35th annual open art exhibition, which will run from November 7th until December 22nd.

Both amateur and professional artists, young and old can submit up to three pieces of their original work, ranging from paintings and prints to textiles, jewellery and sculpture. The items judged to be most artistically impressive will appear in the final exhibition.

From September 16th, Castle Park Arts Centre will play host to an exhibition and workshop event by artist Jackie Sumerfield, who will be sharing her passion for producing visual journals.

Since 2005, Jackie has been keeping her own journals, full of sketches, paintings, text and clippings, which evoke the events and emotion of everyday experience.

For Clipped-in, the group of artists behind Castle Park Art Centre's upcoming exhibition, Beyond Landscape, this has been a very strange year.

The five friends and colleagues, who work across a variety of media, from textiles to ceramics to charcoal, are united by their love of mountaineering, an activity which inspires many of their pieces.

Even with new government restrictions on social gatherings coming into force next week, there is still a huge range of activities to enjoy around Frodsham this month. Here are some of them:

• Beginners' Belly Dancing – Frodsham Community Centre – Tuesdays at 7pm

An Ellesmere Port man has been jailed for stealing a car in Frodsham and attempting to take two other vehicles.

Stephen Prior, of Moorland Road, who was described as a "prolific offender" by the police, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a person, vehicle interference, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

The government's new Covid-19 restrictions, which were announced last night and which come into force on Monday (14th), have cast doubt on the legality of various types of social gatherings, including Parkruns.

On Monday (7th), Parkrun's Global CEO, Nick Pearson, announced his plans to reopen all English Parkrun events by the end of October, after agreeing with the government that the public health benefit of its weekly runs outweighed the low risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Following a six month hiatus, the Frodsham Players are back with At Last...The 2020 Show!, a collection of eight sketches, monologues and short plays, to be performed in Castle Park Art Centre's courtyard.

After a successful winter performance of A Christmas Carol, which saw the Players garner nine nominations at the Cheshire Theatre Guild Awards, the group were forced to cancel their spring play, Visiting Hour, due to the Covid-19 lockdown.