United Utilities aims to carry out major sewer works to tackle flooding problems along the main A530 in and out of Nantwich.

And they say this could involve Wellington Road being closed for almost all the school summer holidays, from Station Road to the junction with Parkfield Drive.

They plan to lay a new major sewer running from the A530, across part of Brookfield Park and down to Shrewbridge Road.

It is also likely to disrupt several allotments at Brookfield Park, and may close part of the park off itself.

A spokesman for Nantwich Town Council said: “United Utilities will be undertaking a major drainage scheme during the summer to alleviate drainage problems being suffered by properties in Wellington Road.

“Most of the work will take place over the school summer holidays with a start planned for the last week of term in July.   The work will last for about eight weeks.

“Wellington Road will be closed between Station Road and Parkfield Drive.

“It has major implications for the southern part of the town.”

Diversions will send traffic into town via Peter de Stapleigh Way, Ellwood Drive and London Road.

No specific dates for the closures have yet been announced.

“The work will affect several allotments on both the Wellington Road and Brookfield sites. Allotment holders have been consulted,” added the council spokesman.

A United Utilities spokeswoman said 17 homes will be taken off the flooding National Risk Register as a result of the work.

Carrying out the work in the summer holidays should minimise disruption to local residents, she added.

United Utilities is to hold an exhibition to outline the plans, including the alternative route, on Friday June 21 at Brookfield Hall, Shrewbridge Road between 11am and 7.30pm.

The route runs from Tipkinder Park in Crewe, around Queens Park and King George V playing fields to the Rising Sun Inn.

Then it feeds west through fields along the A530 Middlewich Road to Barony Park, ending at Beam Street in Nantwich.

It is designed to give pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists a traffic-free route between Crewe and Nantwich.

The western section from the Rising Sun Inn to Barony Park has been designed to accommodate horse riders.

A ribbon cutting ceremony by Councillor Peggy Martin (Mayor of Crewe), Councillor George Walton (Mayor of Cheshire East Borough) and Councillor Arthur Moran (Nantwich Town Council) took place at the ‘Portrait Bench’, located by the entrance to Alvaston Hall.

The ceremony was also attended by walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders.

The Portrait Bench features life-size sheet steel effigies of a Roman Soldier, a Civil War Roundhead and a Railwayman

The route was funded by the Big Lottery Fund, constructed by William Pye Ltd and promoted by Sustrans (sustainable transport charity).

Several centimetres fell across Cheshire overnight and continued this morning. Forecasters say it will return later today and tomorrow (March 23).

Major roads like the A500, A51 and A530 are passable but slippy in places, say Cheshire Police.

The motorway network is passable with care but delays are to be expected. Please check the Highways Authority website for more updates.

Cheshire East Highways say all main routes were gritted at 11pm last night (March 21)

On Twitter, Highways say: “The Met Office has currently issued an Amber warning for Cheshire East.

“We will be continuously monitoring the conditions and further treatments of the network will be organised if required.”

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: “Only drive if essential and with care as forecasts suggest further sleet and snow will arrive during the day.”

Bus users are warned that many services today will be delayed because of the road conditions.

For advice call Cheshire Traveline 01244 972666 for the latest information, service disruption and delays.

Police say only make journeys that are absolutely necessary, ensure cars are fully defrosted with full visibility, stay well back from vehicles in front, and avoid sudden braking.

Councillors, campaign groups, community leaders and the public will attend the opening alongside the A530, near Alvaston Hall.

A portrait bench,  a feature of Connect 2 routes across the country, will also be unveiled.

The Crewe-Nantwich bench will feature a railwayman for Crewe, a roundhead civil war soldier for Nantwich and a Roman soldier indicating the earlier history of this part of Cheshire East.

Wednesday’s opening marks the end of several years of work to create a 4km rural corridor between the towns alongside the A530 Middlewich Road.

It is hoped the Greenway will increase the amount of people walking and cycling in South Cheshire by offering a traffic-free way of getting between the two towns.

It provides a link to shops, schools and employment areas within Cheshire East, increasing health and environmental benefits.

Mayor of Cheshire East Cllr George Walton and Cllr David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of the environment, will be at the event along with residents, councillors, community group leaders, Sustrans representatives and active travel groups.

Local groups who have all chipped in to help create the corridor include Greenspaces South Cheshire CIC, Reaseheath College, Rotary Club of Crewe & Nantwich Weaver, Wistaston Conservation Group among others.

The ceremony takes place at 2pm on Wednesday (March 20)

Refuse teams are battling to catch up with bin collections across the region after snow and ice caused a backlog.

Many collections due on Friday were hit by the heavy snow, and more snow overnight could have knock-on effect today (January 21) and tomorrow.

Rural areas around Nantwich were hit, with no collections made in areas like Bridgemere and Hunsterson.

Cheshire East Council officials say residents who should have had collections on Friday were advised to bins back out today.

“Crews will do their best to catch up with the backlog today – but this may not be possible and some collections may fall into Tuesday,” said a spokesman.

“If your bin has not been collected by Monday evening leave it out for collection on Tuesday. However, this will be dependent on weather conditions over the next few days.”

Recycling collections will not be possible today in Hunsterson and Bridgemere because of current weather conditions, and crews hope to get to these tomorrow.

The borough’s main roads such as the A500, A51, A534, A530 and A49 are running ok after gritting was carried out overnight.

But some country lanes and minor roads on housing estates remain treacherous with fresh snow falling on compacted ice overnight.

“Vast majority of road network coping well,” said a Cheshire East highways spokesman.

“Some rural roads are untreated so take extra care. Less snow is expected over coming days but ice still an issue.”

There are no reports of school closures in the Nantwich area today, but parents are advised to check with individual schools.

Meanwhile, plenty of families took advantage of the snow at the weekend, with parks like Joey the Swan in Wistaston teeming with youngsters enjoying some sledging fun.

(pictures by Jonathan White)

The swan had become distressed after a freak incident involving a dog being walked around the lake on the A530 Park Road.

It’s believed the dog’s lead became entangled around the bird’s neck.

Fire and rescue crews and local RSPCA workers were called to the scene yesterday (January 18).

They used specialist equipment to cut through the icy waters and reach the swan in a bid to revive it.

Onlookers and residents looked on as the rescue operation took place at around 4pm.

The owner of the dog said on Twitter: “My dog got it’s lead caught round a swan’s neck at Nantwich Lake, and two fire engines and RSPCA have come out to try and revive the swan.

“My dad and crowds of people are there watching this poor swan try and survive! Everyone was shouting at my dad!”

It’s unclear if the swan survived. Nantwichnews is awaiting a reply from the RSPCA.

Some readers questioned the scale of the operation to rescue a bird.

One tweeted: “A swan with a damaged wing, three fire engines and RSPCA, cost a lot of money, resources?”

Initial plans for 43 houses in Aston were rejected by Cheshire East, but developers are appealing against the ruling.

Now Cheshire East wants to set down a series of conditions under a Section 106 agreement in case the appeal is upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

Developers who want to build on open farmland say the proposals would enable funds to be used to carry out renovations to nearby historic Combermere Abbey.

The abbey is high on the list of priority buildings at risk, according to English Heritage. Funds would be “enabled” by the Aston scheme to help pay for repairs to the abbey’s crumbling North Wing.

Now council chiefs want to ensure, if the Aston scheme goes ahead, that residents benefit from a number of conditions laid down in a Section 106 agreement.

These include completion of the Abbey work, a £30,000 contribution to local education provision, opening the Abbey for 40 days a year for public guided tours, and six days a year opening public access to gardens.

It will also include allowing Newhall Parish Council and Dodcottcum-Wilkesley Parish Council to hold local events in the Abbey or gardens each year, a £10,000 grant towards recreation facilities for Aston and Wrenbury, and £8,000 towards a speed reduction scheme on the A530 through Aston.

In a report, Cheshire East planners state: “It is important to stress that the agreement would only come into force in the event the appeal is upheld and planning permission granted.

“By entering into the agreement, the council would not in any way prejudice its case in defending its refusal of planning permission.”

The report is to go before the council’s Strategic Planning Board tomorrow (Wednesday October 24)

A decision on the appeal is due to be made by the Planning Inspectorate next month.

PC Iain Condliffe, based at Nantwich Police Station, has put together Operation Elderflower to reduce collisions and educate drivers.

The operation across Nantwich and surrounding rural areas, is using high profile liveried and unmarked motorbikes and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipped vehicles.

Officers will be speaking to motorists and offer advice or enforce any offences spotted, and highlighting the operationa at cluster meetings with parish councillors.

PC Condliffe and colleagues are targeting roads that statistically involve the highest number of collisions and complaints.

Motorists spotted offending will either be warned, referred to a driver safety course or issued with a ticket.

On the first day of the operation focused on the A529 into Audlem from Hankelow, and the A530 from Nantwich to Combermere and the A525 from Combermere to Buerton.

Three drivers were put on a speed awareness course and five were issued with tickets resulting in points and a fine.

A further 38 motorists have been dealt with since then.

Insp Dave Smithers, head of Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, welcomed the initiative.

“Operation Elderflower will continue to be run over the summer period and for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“It aims to make the Nantwich area a safer place for all users who utilise the road network in our area.”

Additional specialist officers are being drafted in to provide visibility in Nantwich town in support rural operation times.

It happened at the Wrenbury Road junction with the A530 Whitchurch Road on Sheppenhall Lane in Aston, Nantwich.

The accident involved two vehicles, a grey Volvo S80 and a blue Vauxhall Insignia.

Paramedics, police and fire crews attended the scene at around 7pm last night (July 22) and the road was closed for a short period to allow for treatment to casualties and clearance of wreckage.

The dirver and passenger of each vehicle received minor injuries and were taken to Leighton Hospital.

The cause is unclear. Any witnesses can contact Cheshire Police in 101.

Peter Jolly’s circus will stage performances for five days at Alvaston Business Park, off the A530 Middlewich Road.

The circus, which will feature animals and performers, starts on Wednesday from 6.30pm.

There will be shows on Thursday and Friday at 6.30pm, and afternoon performances on Saturday and Sunday July 14 and 15 at 2pm. There is also a 5pm show on the Saturday.

It’s not the first time Peter Jolly’s has set up in Nantwich after other successful visits.

Car parking is free and tickets start at £7 for children and adults.

For more details contact 07850 687503 or visit http://www.peterjollyscircus.moonfruit.com/

The accident happened when a car and HGV lorry collided on the A530 Whitchurch Road.

The 37-year-old woman driving a silver Ford Mondeo away from Nantwich suffered serious head injuries and is in a serious by stable condition in North Staffordshire Hospital.

Her two passengers, an 18-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy suffered minor injuries. They were also taken to North Staffordshire Hospital.

All three of the injured are from Shrewsbury.

The incident, which happened at about 5.30pm last night (June 21), forced police to close the road in both directions while emergency services recovered the casualties.

Diversions were set up from the Park Road end of the A530/A529 junction in Nantwich, causing disruption in the town during peak hour.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should contact Eastern Operational Support Unit on 101 quoting incident number 773 of 21 Junes 2012.

The main A500 nantwich bypass between Peacock (Crewe Road) and Sainsbury’s (Middlewich Road) roundabouts has been closed today (June 21) for resurfacing.

Cheshire East Council says the works should be completed tomorrow.

Meanwhile, other roadworks on the A51 near Reaseheath College and on the A530 Middlewich Road have compounded the problems.

There are traffic signals in place along Millstone Lane, Hurleston, both ways between Welshmen’s Lane and A51, with speed restrictions of 30mph between Henhill Bridge and Reaseheath roundabout.

This is to allow for repair works to the carriageway, and is due to end on June 29.

And along Middlewich Road, there are two-way traffic signals in place near Hollows Bridge to allow for footway works to be carried out.

These works are due to continue until July 12, according to Cheshire East Council.