Latest News

Greater Manchester unveils ambitious vision for new homes, enhanced green spaces and revitalised town centres

Nine Greater Manchester districts have set out Places for Everyone, their long-term plan for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth ahead of final consultation.
You can read the full press release CLICK HERE

You can read the plan and supporting documents in full CLICK HERE

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Salford City Mayor,
Paul Dennett held a press conference on Places for Everyone on 12th July 2021. You can watch the press conference CLICK HERE

You can read a summary of the press conference on Twitter CLICK HERE

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RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 21st – 25th July 2021

Our Chair Judie suggested that Altrincham Station should have a large poster advertising this event. Here it is being installed:

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Active Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester

Harrie Larrington-Spencer & Dr Graeme Sherriff, Healthy Active Cities, University of Salford

Watch the YouTube video about Graeme and Harrie’s findings from their jointly funded research (TfGM and University of Salford, HEIF) on the implementation of Active Neighbourhoods in the region, with a focus on case studies in Salford, Manchester, Bury and Stockport. The research takes a qualitative approach to understanding lived experiences of Active Neighbourhoods amongst residents and potential residents in order to develop more nuanced understandings than are produced on social media or through news reporting. Using walkalongs, their research found that primary mode of transport for local journeys was an important factor in perceptions of Active Neighbourhoods, with those who walk less likely to perceive benefits in their implementation compared to residents who both walk and cycle. Those who walk considered the benefits of

Active Neighbourhoods to be limited if pavement conditions were not improved – which remains important even if

motor vehicle traffic on the roads is reduced. Whilst social media and news reporting commonly divides people who

walk and cycle, in reality everyone who participated in the research, irrespective of whether they cycled or not,

wanted improved pedestrian conditions.

https://youtu.be/W1DyKUv9YmA

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Funding for Older Persons Community Project

Do you have an idea for a community project for older people?

Supporting Ageing in Place are looking to fund groups and organisations working with communities to deliver projects in specific neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester. You might want to buy more equipment, improve your venue, run an activity or hold an event for older people.

We want to help you make places more age-friendly and encourage older people to spend time with others, especially those from marginalised and low income communities.

The second round of funding for Supporting Ageing in Place is now open to deliver projects of up to £2,000. We want to fund what older people in your area want. Projects we have funded in the past include: A sensory gardening project for local older people, An online ‘Brew & Natter’ group for marginalised older women, Developing the outside space of a local Community Centre to increase its accessibility, An IT skills development project for men aged 60+ with physical and mental health needs. Installing benches in the local area, A ‘Rainbow Walk’ walking group for LGBT older people, A local ‘dementia café’ group for older people and their carers.

Deadline to submit your proposal: midday, Monday 26th July

To find out more please visit this website: https://www.ambitionforageing.org.uk/supporting-ageing-place

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Dunham Massey Welcomes Back Children and Young People

Dunham Massey, our very popular local National Trust site, is committed to championing and empowering children and young people as tomorrow’s leaders for change of the natural environment. They are now opening up their spaces and listening to ideas and concerns from young people to enable them to take action on what they believe in. The aim is to help them become passionate about the environment, to learn new skills, to prepare for employment or education, and take their enthusiasm out into their communities. This is being done through partnerships with school groups, young volunteering opportunities, activities during school holidays and wider engagement with the natural world.

Volunteering Opportunities for 14-18 Year Olds:

Youth Ranger – They will be working as part of a group assisting the ranger team to deliver practical outdoor conservation tasks, both in the parkland at Dunham Massey and beyond the borders. Tasks might include balsam bashing, bracken bruising, tree planting and clearing. Sessions take place on Fridays during school holidays.

Redbrook Rangers – Young people can make a real difference in their communities by getting involved with a new exciting conservation project in Partington. They will get hands on experience of practical outdoor conservation work on the Redbrook Trail with expert guidance from the National Trust. Sessions will take place in Partington one weekend day a month.

How to Apply – visit: http://nationaltrust.org.uk/find-an-opportunity

Email Enquiries: Milly.McArthurGreenall@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Hospital

Minor Injuries at Altrincham Hospital has re-opened, weekdays only 8.00am to 8.00pm .
The service was moved to Trafford General during Covid and has been much missed.
If you need to use it please let us know how you found the experience.

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Strategy for the future of Community Town Centres

NALC The National Association of Local Councils has produced a report on the Strategy for the future of Community Town Centres.

The report can be read by clicking on the link below:

Future of Community Town Centres

Note: There is a short summary from page five on the conclusions of the report, before continuing to the main detailed report.

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A Warm Welcome to our New President

We are delighted to announce that our new President is Mrs. Patricia Kovach.
As a long standing local resident Patricia is a member of Altrincham History Society and Altrincham Court Leet. Passionate about local history and the future of our town, she supports Altrincham & Bowdon Civic Society, Bowdon Conservation Group and other local organisations in their quest to preserve local heritage for future generations.
We are certain Patricia will be a great asset to the Society and look forward to working with her on many local issues.

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Broadheath Partnership Reconvened

Paul Huxley (Pictured left), Chair of the Partnership, said he was pleased to announce that the Broadheath Partnership had resumed after an enforced ‘covid break’ and are now looking for more stakeholders to join them.

Paul said ‘The challenges of Covid and the economic and social impacts it has brought can only be overcome if we all work together. Our focus at the Partnership is to make Broadheath a better place for everyone; business and residents alike.

If you would like to join us please do call me on 07952 495137 or email me at paulgforce@outlook.com.

I am confident that if all parties join forces we can make Broadheath a more cohesive, healthy and happy place for everyone’.

The Partnership is planning to hold a community celebration Funday (following the easing of lockdown) on
Friday 16th July from 4pm to 7pm and all are welcome to come along. If you would like to be involved please get in touch.

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Why not try our Altrincham Heritage Crossword.

For the Crossword CLICK HERE

For the Answers CLICK HERE

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Voluntary Sector North West

We are pleased to announce that the Society is now a member of the Voluntary Sector North West Organisation (VSNW)

VSNW is a membership organisation that connects to the region’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector through infrastructure organisations, equalities networks and large regional and national providers.

Through local infrastructure organisations and equalities networks they look to support grassroots community organisations that constitute the vast majority of the 30,000 plus groups working in the North West.

Core to their work is their partners and members. They have a membership of over 80 full members and 40 associates who support and engage with VSNW and their mission.

VSNW facilitate key partnerships working in the sub-regions wherever and whenever they can. This includes VS6 operating across Liverpool City Region, the emerging Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE health and wellbeing Leadership group and the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group.

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Barrington Green’s new poetry board

Kindly sponsored by Barrington Dental Care, Barrington Green’s new poetry board is up showing the sponsors logo and also displaying the ‘Dentists’ poem by Pam Bradshaw. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

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INFORMATION FROM THE TBC COMMUNITIES OFFICER

TRAFFORD COVID VACCINATION HOTLINE

We appreciate that over the last couple of weeks, the amount of patients getting in touch with GP surgeries has risen substantially.
To support practices with the increase of calls and emails, a designated phone number and email address has been set up to direct some of the vaccination enquiries away from practices.
If the enquiry relates to the COVID vaccination, patients can now leave a message with the new
COVID Vaccinations Hotline (0161 912 1299).
The hotline will be monitored by NHS Trafford CCG colleagues who will aim to answer all enquiries within 24 hours.
An email inbox has also been set up so that patients can get in touch with their questions on the changes to the rescheduling of doses.
If you feel your practice would benefit from this service, please could we ask that you include the following message on your website or social media channels.
If your enquiry relates to the rescheduling of COVID vaccinations, you can now leave a message
with the new COVID Vaccinations Hotline (0161 912 1299).
The hotline will be monitored by NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group colleagues who will aim to answer all enquiries within 24 hours.
You can also email any questions related to the rescheduling of vaccinations to trccg.covidvacs@nhs.net
Before getting in touch please see if your question can be answered on our frequently asked questions page as this may resolve your issue much more quickly. Click on this link: frequently asked questions page

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Electric vehicle charging network Britain’s EV charging network is not keeping up with growth in the sales of electric vehicles. Last year (2020) 108,205 EV were purchased, an increase of 186% on the year before.

By contrast, a total of 4,270 new public charging points were installed in the same 12 months, just a 26% increase.

Britain needs around 12,000 new public fast chargers per year to maintain current ratios to new vehicles. By 2050 an estimated 25 million charging points will be required.

Electric vehicles form a crucial part of the Government’s plan to wean the country off diesel and petrol vehicles. The Government has committed £1.3bn to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure, ensuring people across the country benefit from the electric car revolution but there is, as yet, no signs of where, when, and how that money will be spent.

The Government has just unveiled a new £50m scheme to increase the number of charge points in rural areas. Under the EV Homecharge Scheme, small businesses, landlords and leaseholders can get up to £350 in state funding to install a charge point. Planning permission should not be required provided they are inside the property boundaries. The Government has also pledged to simplify payments at the charge points and also force operators to provide a 24/7 helpline for drivers.

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Help save Stockport’s iconic Grade II* listed Railway Viaduct

Sign the petition to help save Stockport’s iconic Grade II* listed Railway Viaduct from more concealment by the cumulative impact of high-rise apartments as part of the Weir Mill redevelopment. The mill can be reused and saved by enabling development, and the rest of C&C’s proposals have merit. But not at the expense of the iconic viaduct’s concealment. We want the developers to devise a revised scheme without a tower; and the council and corporation to provide compensatory development land to the west.

For full details and to sign the petition click on the link below:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/don-t-hide-our-viaduct

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LEISURE CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT – Update

The Society feels the shift to refurbishment rather than a brand new centre is really disappointing, though we understand the financial pressures TL is under. Obviously a lot will depend on what the refit plans look like. They need to be ambitious because the report sees this as the solution for the next 25 years! We’ll particularly want to know if the centre will be closed for the work, and if so for how long.

The report also deals with wider Trafford Leisure provision, so our Planning Lead Paulina will be raising again the lack of wheeled sport provision locally.

We believe Trafford have promised a review of the use of Altrincham Golf Course. Our feeling is that there is space there for improved outdoor leisure facilities alongside the golf, and that this could be a great location for Paulina’s suggested skate park. It is easily accessed by lots of local communities, but away from residential properties who might object.

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REGENT ROAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

As the planned open day for the Regent Road Archaeological Dig cannot take place,

click on the link below to see the footings of Chapel Street & associated area.

Archaeological Dig LINK

Norman Redhead, Heritage Management Director (Archaeology) at the Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service, University of Salford has been in touch with the society. He will be inviting Archaeology England to give a presentation on this excavation for the
GM Archaeology Day in November.

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TACKLING AIR POLLUTION

The A56 passing North-South through our town has a very poor record for air quality. Air pollution has been linked to a range of serious health problems. The Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan aims to tackle nitrogen oxide emissions from the most polluting vehicles.
The GM Clean Air Plan seeks to upgrade the region’s buses, HGVs. Taxis, and van fleets. There will be an expected £116 million behind the upgrade.
More information can be found at cleanairgm.com.

If you have any comments or suggestions about any of the above, please get in touch via the
CONTACT US page, we would be pleased to hear from you. Or contact your local councillor directly and copy us in.