News in Frodsham

On Sunday 23rd May, Hob Hey Wood Friends Group reaches its third birthday. Yes, our group is three years' old. It all started at a meeting, called by Frodsham Town Council, asking people if they would like to be 'A friend of Hob Hey Wood'.

In those early days, most of the volunteers knew little about ancient woodland, not much about woodland management and, in my case, had few practical skills. It seemed a monumental task to take on.

The Marshes Community Benefit Fund (MCBF) has named the local projects set to benefit from the ninth round of funding since the Fund was established in 2016.

Six initiatives and organisations from Frodsham, Helsby and Alvanley have been awarded a total of £44,000 from the annual £120,000 allocated by Frodsham Wind Farm Limited to community-led projects.

Have you ever wondered why Frodsham is emblematised by a bee?

Well, this symbol was chosen in honour of the Rev. William Charles Cotton, an expert beekeeper who was appointed vicar of Frodsham in 1857.

This week saw the launch of a new Castle Park Arts Centre exhibition from The Eddisbury Artists: Inside Outside.

The Eddisbury Artists have been meeting in Castle Park Arts Centre for the past 25 years, in which time they have held regular exhibitions at venues including Halton Hospital, Theatr Clwyd and the Bank Quay Gallery, Warrington, for members of the public to enjoy.

Frodsham Town Council has been found to be in breach of Financial Regulations over the procurement of last year's Christmas tree.

In an internal audit of the Council's accounts, auditor JDH Business Services Ltd noted that: "Council purchased a Christmas tree at a cost of £2,145 (excl VAT) and whilst we have seen evidence that the payment was approved retrospectively by Council, we have not seen evidence that the awarding of the contract in the first place was approved by the Events Committee as required by the Financial Regulations (FRs).

There are many events taking place in Frodsham, Helsby and the surrounding villages, which you can find on our recently revamped What's On section.

To keep you up to date with everything that is going on, we've decided to post a regular 'Event of the Week' article with details of an activity occurring in the local area.

At 8:51pm last night (Wednesday), firefighters were called to a fire in the back garden of a house on Queens Drive in Helsby.

One fire engine attended from Powey Lane to find a barbecue which had spread to a fuel can. However, the fire was out by the time they arrived.

Newly formed litter picking group, the Frodsham Wombles, is set to represent the town in the Great British Spring Clean, which will take place in communities across the country between 28 May and 13 June.

The 'Frombles' were asked to take part by the Environment and Communities department of Cheshire West and Chester Council, who will provide any relevant supplies and transport for Frodsham's keen litter pickers.

In the week before indoor socialising was allowed to return in England, coronavirus case numbers remained largely stable in Frodsham and Helsby.

The seven days leading up to 13 May saw three new cases recorded in Frodsham, which marked a slight rise from the 'suppressed' Covid rates of the previous month. The rolling infection rate now sits at 32.7 per 100,000.

Frodsham Town Council Planning Committee have been considering a controversial planning application to erect a 60-foot 5G mast and equipment cabinets on the grass verge opposite The Willows estate on Fluin Lane.

The planned development, which forms part of the government's vision to roll 5G connectivity out across the country, has been put forward by telecommunications company, Three UK.