Chester

City Council

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF CHESTER DISTRICT

P3 Experts poised to uncover new amphitheatre secrets
P4 Improved disabled access at Blacon Nature Park
P5/8 Best Value Performance Plan summary
P9/11 Chester TOGETHER – tackling anti-social behaviour
P12 Riverside walkway breathes new life into Old Port
P13 House of Fraser joins Northgate quarter
P14 Chester website clicks with internet judges
P15 Booklet spells out Chester’s 20 year vision
P16 Charity women’s race set to return to city
P17 VIP guest joins Chester Food & Drink Festival
P18 Cabinet responsibility – who does what?
P19 What’s On in Chester – your daily guide
p20 Direct line to your service

House of Fraser to anchor

£280m Northgate scheme
– see page 13

OAll Human Life – The Kaleidoscope

of Victorian Painting, showing at
the Grosvenor Museum on May 24
(see What’s On guide, page 19)

O Star chef set to make Food & Drink Festival a sizzling success – see p17
 Chester News 3

History
A
RCHAEOLOGISTS there to watch the
are gearing entertainment. Fast
up for a food Roman style!
second season of O Tantalising clues
excavations about the use of the
following last year’s amphitheatre in the
successful dig at the period after the
amphitheatre. Romans. For example,
The site has been one of the main
covered during the entrances was certainly
winter months to walled up – perhaps to
protect it from the maintain the
weather, but amphitheatre as a
archaeologists have fortress?
been working hard O The discovery of
behind the scenes on medieval artefacts,
the wealth of artefacts including a bone hair
and information comb, a complete
unearthed. pottery jug and a
This has led to a parchment clip.
number of exciting O Over 40 musket balls
insights into the unearthed. These
amphitheatre’s past, probably date from
both during and after the siege of Chester in
the Roman occupation. 1645, when the English
Civil War was at its
We found height.
There were many
evidence of other fascinating finds,
including the Roman
fast food – sword handle featured
in last autumn’s
Roman style edition of Chester
News.
Findings include: Why not check out
O Evidence that there Chester Visitor Centre,
were actually two located opposite the
amphitheatres built on site, to learn more
the site. The first was about the exciting
impressive, but it was discoveries being
dwarfed by the later made?
building, which had a The building now
massive 2.7m wide includes an
sandstone foundation. interpretation centre
O Evidence of external with special
stairways otherwise information kiosks,
known only at displays and
Pompeii. This makes exhibitions that bring
Chester a very the project to life and
important site for the provide details of all
study of the the findings to date. A
architectural computer-generated
development of movie can also be public get a close-up try logging onto the The amphitheatre is
amphitheatres viewed on a large view when the new website the focus of a three
throughout the Roman screen, providing a dig begins in May. This www.chesteramphithe year project involving
Empire. vivid picture of how year’s excavations will atre.co.uk the city council and
O A large proportion the amphitheatre hopefully help shed The website is packed English Heritage. The
of chicken bones and developed. new light on the early with information and findings will be used
beef ribs, implying that The specially post-Roman period of is linked up to a web to draw up a plan for
snacks were sold to constructed gangway Chester’s history. camera so you can the future
spectators who were over the site will also If you can’t get down watch the dig over conservation of the
let members of the to the amphitheatre, the internet. site.
4 Chester News

IMPROVEMENTS that landfill operator Waste

will give disabled Recycling Group Ltd,
people greater access administered by
to a popular park have environmental body
been welcomed. WREN (Waste,
The city council has Recycling and
resurfaced the Environmental
pathways in Blacon Network).
Nature Park to allow The Lord Mayor
better wheelchair said: "The park has
access. To mark the always proved very
improvements, the popular with the local
Lord Mayor of Chester, community and the
Councillor Terry Ralph, Friends of Blacon
recently took part in a Nature Park do some
tree planting terrific work to help
ceremony along with preserve, maintain and
local schoolchildren, run the site.
councillors and "These resurfaced
residents. pathways will help
The park was first ensure that everyone
opened in 1989 and is can enjoy what the
run by the city council park has to offer."
with help from the Richard Smith,
Friends of Blacon WREN area project
Nature Park group. manager said: "We are
The site includes wild delighted to have
flower meadows, a been involved in the
pond and woodlands. access improvements
The £14,000 at Blacon Nature Park.
improvement scheme, This valuable
which involved community resource
resurfacing the can now be used by all
pathways with and we hope it
bitumen, has been continues to be well
funded by the landfill used for years to
tax credits of local come."

OLord Mayor Cllr Terry Ralph escorts resident

Sandy Lyth around Blacon Nature Park
 Chester News 5

Auditors give
us top marks
GOVERNMENT inspectors have
How we’ll take on
the big issues
praised Chester City Council for
the way it handles its finances.
In its annual letter to the council,
the Audit Commission says the
authority is continuing to deliver
quality services while setting an
"WELCOME to our spring 2005 We’re also redeveloping the
example for other councils in
Best Value Performance Plan Gorse Stacks and Delamere
areas like financial management.
The letter says the council has
Summary where we set out some Street and will improve transport
built on the ‘excellent’ of the work we have been doing amenities such as a new coach
Comprehensive Performance and outline the projects and reception facility and toilets at
Assessment (CPA) rating it tasks ahead in the coming the Little Roodee car park.
achieved last year, and is a OCouncil Leader months. We are working with partners
"source of good practice for Cllr David Evans This special edition looks to improve Chester Railway
other authorities." ahead to some of the big issues Station and its links to the city
The council is also praised for we’ll be dealing with, while the centre.
the way it proactively plans for results of our recent performance Your council already provides
and manages financial issues like as your council are also laid out concessionary travel discounts
Single Status. for you to examine. above the minimum set out by
Councillor Paul Roberts, Chester Like local councils all over the central government, but this year
City Council’s cabinet member country we face many challenges we will consider how we can
for resources, said: "The letter and city councillors, officers and make these discounts more
from the Audit Commission
our partners in the community generous and ensure public
shows that we are continuing to
have been working hard to find transport is more accessible to
build on our excellent CPA score,
the right solutions. older people.
and that our approach to
financial planning is a particular Our research shows that safer, In 2003, the government
ODeputy leader cleaner communities are a top judged Chester City Council an
strength.” Cllr John Price priority for many people. We excellent local authority – the
have decided to introduce only excellent district council in
Safer Communities community wardens patrolling the North West.
streets and parks to help tackle In 2004 the Audit Commission
Issues of crime and community safety come out as the top priority anti-social behaviour such as said that Chester: "….has built
in almost every resident’s survey we do, despite relatively low
littering, dog-fouling or noise on its excellent Comprehensive
crime levels in the Chester District. In fact, people see low crime
as the most important factor in making somewhere a good place
nuisance. Performance Assessment rating,
to live – whether it’s in the city centre, the suburbs or the Improved public spaces, becoming a source of good
countryside. The main offences residents want to see tackled are regeneration and better practice for other authorities."
burglary, youth nuisance and dangerous driving. transport facilities are also key to However, we know that there
a better quality of life. We’ve is always much more to do.
What we are already doing to help: already secured £280m of We are determined to learn
O extending the network of CCTV cameras across the city centre investment for new shops, from the best practice of other
and district, supported by a 24 hour CCTV command centre with homes, a library, theatre, bus councils and we’ll continue
direct links to the police station and modern market as working to improve and to
O Improving activities for children and young people part of the Northgate provide top quality services for
O providing burglary prevention training Development. the people of Chester.”
O controlling the consumption of alcohol in the street

What we plan to do: YOUR TOP SIX PRIORITIES

O extend CCTV coverage across the city centre and key outlying
centres such as Kingsway Parade in Newton We listen closely to your views These are the six areas that
O invest in mobile CCTV which can be quickly moved between to ensure that the priorities residents told us were
hotspots across Chester District and used in rural areas where we set accurately reflect your important you:
permanent cameras would stand out concerns. We do this through O safer communities
O build youth shelters, so that young people have somewhere regular consultation and O affordable housing
where they can hang out together events such ‘Ask the Audience’ O the environment
where 100 local people spent a
O travelling around Chester
Last year we said we would: day with councillors and senior
O a strong economy
O undertake a comprehensive audit of crime and disorder to officers discussing the issues
inform a new Community Safety Partnership strategy and a three facing Chester District. O children and young people
year action plan - we completed these projects
6 Chester News
Best Value Performance Plan summary
So what exactly do
we do..?
What does the council do?
Sometimes it’s the things that
are all around you that you are
least likely to notice. You might
just be surprised at the range of
services that Chester City
Council offers. Some you might
use everyday, some once in a
lifetime, others you may benefit
from but have never stopped
and wondered who provided
them.
Chester by numbers
Every day
O around 370 people visit the
council offices
O the CCTV control centre
maintains 24 hour surveillance of
the city centre
O more than 200 people visit the
Northgate leisure centre
Every week
O we empty bins from 53,800
homes
O almost 21,000 park and ride
journeys are made into the town
centre
O benefits are paid to 840
Chester residents or landlords.
O we process an average of 44
planning applications ranging
from loft conversions to multi-
million pound schemes such as
the Northgate Development
O We cut 341,000 square metres
of grass in the summer
O more than 600 residents have
the opportunity to tend their
council allotment
O we empty more than 200 dog
bins
O around 430 people use the
dial-a-ride, rural ring-a-ride or
women’s safe transport services
Every month
O over 440 tonnes of household
waste is recycled – the equivalent
weight of nearly sixty double-
decker buses
O our food hygiene team
inspects 50 food premises
O nearly 7,000 people visit the
museum
O all 40 city council play areas
and skate parks are inspected
O Chester Crematorium caters
for 18 burials and 170 cremations
O 48 people get married in
Chester Town Hall.
O we collect council tax from
53,800 households on behalf of
Chester City Council, Cheshire
County Council, the Police and
Fire Service
O we collect business rates from
4,200 businesses
O we conduct 275 land searches
for house buyers
Every year
O we receive almost half a
million phone calls
O more than 1.25million people
contact our tourism information
service
O we maintain 60,000 square
metres of shrub beds and
rockeries
O we provide 50 affordable
homes
O our licensing team processes
more than 100 hackney cab
licences and over 500 private hire
taxi drivers licences
O your council secures hundreds
of thousands of pounds of
external funding from
organisations such as the
National Lottery or European
Union
O your local area holds four Area
Committee meetings to inform
and consult you about what is
happening where you live
O 2,700 local people are
surveyed to help us set priorities
and find out what residents
think of the services we provide
O last year a survey on housing
needs went to a further 15,000
households

Best Value Performance Plan summary
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing means bringing homes within
the reach of people who can’t afford to either rent
or buy on the open market. In the past year house
prices in Chester District have risen by over 20%,
with the average terraced house now costing
£140,000. To successfully apply for a mortgage for
`
that amount you would need a household income
of almost £47,000 per year.
What we are already doing to help:
R working with local housing associations like
The Chester and District Housing Trust which provides
more than 6500 local affordable rented homes
countryside R securing extra funding to build houses
and built As a council we demand that 25% of all new
environment homes built in our area are affordable. In other
words, to be allowed to build and sell 40 new
play a huge luxury flats, developers must build 10 affordable
homes. This currently brings around 50 new
role in affordable homes a year for Chester, but new
restrictions on house building in the North West
making the will mean fewer new houses, so we need to look
elsewhere for next year’s affordable homes.
District a
What we are planning to do:
pleasant R increase investment in affordable housing
place to live R provide more affordable homes to rent
R look across the District to find sites where new
and we are affordable houses can be built
`
committed to
maintaining
them.
R work with the owners of empty properties to
bring them back into use
R provide grants and support to homeowners in
need who want to improve or adapt their homes
rather than move
The Environment
The countryside and built environment play a
huge role in making the District a pleasant place to
live and we are committed to maintaining them.
In a recent survey of residents, cleaner streets
were identified as a top five priority for
improvement.
Chester News 7
What we are already doing to help:
R street cleaning
R maintaining public spaces and parkland
R using planning rules to protect historic Chester
and public spaces
R improving the standard of the public toilets that
we provide
R providing kerbside collections of recyclable
waste
R we have piloted doorstep collection of glass and
batteries for recycling
R managing our environment for the protection of
our residents
What we plan to do:
R improve the quality of street cleansing through:
– more frequent street washing
– removing chewing gum litter
R increase recycling opportunities
R review the way we provide grounds
maintenance services
Last year we said we would:
R introduce a pilot recycling collection scheme for
glass and batteries – we did
R increase the frequency of rural street cleaning
– we did
Travelling around Chester
In a recent survey residents set out ‘….being able
to travel around Chester easily’ as a priority for
improvement and as one of the five most
important things that makes somewhere a good
place to live.
What we are already doing to help:
R our older residents are entitled to a 50%
discount on bus journeys starting or finishing in
Cheshire
R offering ‘door to door’ accessible transport
through dial-a-ride
R providing shop mobility services and Blue Badge
parking
R more than one million people a year use the
Park & Ride service, reducing the numbers of cars
driving into the city centre
R as a part of the Northgate Development we are
building a new bus station and a new coach
terminal at the Roodee
R we are working with partners to improve
Chester railway station
What we plan to do:
R this year we will examine how we can extend
our Concessionary Travel Scheme, making it even
more generous and ensuring that our older
residents are able to travel around the county
R consider how we can offer extra ‘accessible
transport’ options for rural areas.
8 Chester News
Best Value Performance Plan summary
A strong economy
Chester has a healthy economy with
below average levels of unemployment,
although there are pockets of higher
unemployment. The priorities of local
residents as set out in the Community
Plan include more job opportunities and
employment for all.
What we are already doing to help:
Employment
R attracting new investment
R working with expanding businesses
R supporting self-employment
R providing a grant scheme for rural
businesses
Regeneration
R working with partners to improve the
area around Chester Railway Station
Shopping
R redeveloping and improving the
Northgate area
R organising and publicising events and
festivals
R offering shopping discounts through
the Charisma Card
R promoting Chester as a
tourist destination
What we plan to do:
Employment
R buy land and build
workshops to rent
R target new business
sectors
R offer help to those
looking for work
R provide young people
with training in new and
traditional skills
R offer a grant scheme for
the whole of the District
R help people start
businesses
R develop more IT
Resource Centres
R work with
neighbouring councils to spread R giving grants to organisations that
employment opportunities work with young people
Shopping What we plan to do:
R promote distinctive shopping R create more sports and leisure
R market Chester more effectively as a facilities
tourist and shopping destination R reduce costs to increase participation
R refurbish and bring empty shops back
into use Last year we said we would:
R develop a city centre street warden R spend £90,000 on improving play
service areas - we did
R spend £5,000 on providing disabled
children with access to play areas – we
Children and Young did
People R ask children and young people what
issues they want to see dealt with – we
Chester District is home to almost 22,000 did
people under 16 years old, who make
up 18.5% of our residents. In a recent What do you think?
survey you identified improving If you have any comments or questions
activities for teenagers as your fourth or would like more information on any
highest priority for the District. of the projects set out in this summary
please contact:
What we are already doing to help:
Morgan Jones, Performance Officer,
Chester City Council, The Forum,
R providing safe, cheap places to hang
Chester, CH1 2HS
out, including youth shelters which
Morgan.jones@chester.gov.uk
provide a purpose built place where
Tel: 01244 402 123
young people can meet at a time that
suits them and at no cost
R supporting for Blacon and Lache
adventure playgrounds which offer safe OThe full Best Value Performance Plan will
play environments for children be published in July and contains more
detailed information on the council’s
R talking to young people to find out
performance. It will be available in local
what they want
libraries, at www.chester.gov.uk or from
R supporting schools in delivering the
Morgan Jones at the above address.
national curriculum
 TER Chester News 9

HES
C
Chester Community Safety Partnership brings together
Chester City Council, Cheshire Constabulary, Cheshire Fire
Service, Cheshire County Council, Cheshire West Primary
Care Trust, Connexions, Cheshire Youth Offending Team,
National Probation Service and a range of community and
voluntary organisations to tackle crime, anti-social
behaviour and the fear of crime.

“The Government
has chosen
Chester among
only 50 other
towns and cities
in England as an
Action Area for
combating crime
and anti-social
behaviour.
Action Area status recognises how
Chester Community Safety
Partnership under the "TOGETHER"
campaign, is dealing with anti-
social behaviour in the District.
The Action Area status also
recognises how the partnership is
leading the way in targeting repeat
offenders.
The Home Office has awarded
significant funding to Chester
Community Safety Partnership to
TOGETHER will
assist future initiatives and to
support Chester’s Action Area
status under the "TOGETHER"
campaign.”
addressing anti-
social behaviour
Cllr John Price
Chairman of Community Safety
Partnership
Community needs
are our priority...
OUTLINE OF THE PROJECTS
"TOGETHER" is a national campaign that will take a stand against
anti-social behaviour, putting the local community’s needs first.
Chester TOGETHER will deliver a co-ordinated and targeted approach
towards addressing anti-social behaviour in Chester District.
The project will:
O Engage with local communities to ensure that people who live or
work in Chester are fully involved with the project.
O Recruit a case worker to co-ordinate all the work relating to the
development and enforcement of the Anti Social Behaviour Action
Area status.
O Establish an Anti-social Behaviour Hotline as a single point of contact
for people in Chester who are experiencing anti-social behaviour.
O Develop a marketing strategy to ensure that all who live or work in
Chester are aware of the actions being taken to address anti-social
Chester
behaviour across the District.
O Identify, implement and monitor a range of actions designed to
address anti-social behaviour in Chester.
deliver a
co-ordinated
AIMS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO:
and targeted
approach
towards O Increase public confidence in the capability of local partners,
working with communities to tackle and reduce anti-social behaviour
in Chester.
in Chester O Raise awareness of the actions taken by partners and local
District. communities, to tackle and reduce the incidences of anti-social
behaviour.
Page 10 Chester News Chester News Page 11

The Chester "TOGETHER" campaign is about taking action. Action Lines

Wardens on patrol By working together, we can deliver change in our community.
For environmental anti-social
behaviour such as abandoned
vehicles, noise nuisance, littering,
fly-tipping, graffiti and dog fouling,
A NEW team of
community safety
wardens will soon be
patrolling local
communities
throughout Chester
holder for Community
Safety, Councillor Bob
Rudd (pictured)
welcomed the
introduction of the
district wide service
Delivering change contact:

Chester City Council

01244 402477
Email:
helping to tackle anti- which is scheduled to 1. To reduce the number of HOW ?: callcentre@chester.gov.uk
social behaviour, be rolled out around reported incidents of anti-social O control on street drinking
monitoring the local Chester starting in If a crime is being committed,
behaviour. O closure of properties dealing
environment and being April. contact:
with drugs
a re-assuring "friend He said: "Anti-social HOW ?:
on the street" in behaviour and O reduction in aggressive Chester Police
O greater public involvement begging
neighbourhoods across reduce the fear of environmental crime is 01244 350222
the District. always a difficult nut O reduction in alcohol related O increase in number of
crime. Email:
The city council run to crack and is anti-social behaviour successful Anti-Social Behaviour
By making targeted PublicContact@cheshire.
service will work powers available to overwhelmingly the O reduction in noise Orders
closely with the those working to public’s number one nuisance O increase support to young pnn.police.uk
council’s own improve community priority for us to O access to single contact people through Acceptable
environmental tackle. This is an reporting system It’s your call!
safety, the police Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)
protection and CCTV accreditation scheme exciting new service O increased support for
teams as well as the for Chester which will We need you to play your part,
will allow wardens to targeted young people 4.Increase the level of public so pick up the phone
police, fire service and deal directly with low expand the whole
through a range of satisfaction with Chester and let us know what’s going on
other key partners to level nuisance ‘policing family’ and
diversion projects District public spaces such as in your neighbourhood.
help combat the range problems and save help us all deal more
of ‘crime & grime’ effectively with these parks, city centre, canal areas
valuable police officer 2. Reduce the FEAR etc. "TOGETHER" we can tackle
problems which blight time. problems. anti-social behaviour and make
people’s everyday lives. "The introduction of crime.
An important role our communities cleaner, greener
The wardens will be of the Community HOW? :
for the new wardens and safer.
a uniformed, highly team will be to work Safety Wardens will O Ensure quick and effective
trained professional with the more help reduce crime collection of drug paraphernalia
service working in the vulnerable sections of and the fear of crime HOW ?: from public spaces
local community and our community, and improve the O increase awareness O reduction in dog fouling
will be given special especially children, quality of life for around anti-social O reduction in graffiti and fly
powers to deal with young people and the everyone in Chester. behaviour issues and posting
low level nuisance and elderly, and provide This initial service is what is being achieved
environmental crime just the start of bigger O reduction in fly tipping
increased re-assurance O increased coverage
such as graffiti, and better things with O reduction in litter and gum
and protection in our with CCTV
vandalism, abandoned communities and more investment O improvements to the care
vehicles, dog fouling planned for future O implement a new and maintenance of our open
public spaces.
and litter. years and a continued Community Safety spaces
The initial team of
Cheshire Police are drive to re-engineer Warden Service linked to
twelve staff will focus
also working with the on existing ‘hotspot’ existing budgets where Police and Community
city council to develop and known priority it is sensible to do so. Support Officers
a Community Safety areas and be deployed "Working closely
Accreditation Scheme through consultation with Superintendent 3.increase feelings of personal
which would give the with Area Committees, Ian Hopkins of Chester safety in specific and named
wardens additional Parish Councils, the police, the scheme will parts of the District.
powers to address anti- Police and Fire Services. be expanded over the
social behaviour and Cabinet portfolio- next three years"
12 Chester News
Dee-lightful
walkway
begins to
take shape
WORK on a new riverside walkway
is well underway as the
regeneration of Chester’s Old Port
continues apace.
The pedestrian and cycle route has
been under construction since mid-
September and is due to be finished by
contractors Harry Fairclough
Construction Ltd by the summer.
It will act as a link between the
existing walkway built as part of the
Watkin Jones development, and a
further section that may be constructed
if the proposed residential element of
the development of the Old Port by
David McLean Homes is given the go-
ahead.
The aim is to create a continuous
route along the entire length of the
River Dee in the Old Port, and to
improve existing flood defences.
Councillor Jim Latham, cabinet
member for development, said: "The
particular section of walkway under
construction at the moment will run
along the riverbank fronting Crane
Warf, the TS Deva building and the
electricity compound.
"Some sections of the wooden
boardwalk are suspended over the
historic river wall using a cantilever
structure, while others are actually
suspended over the water itself, helping
to create a pier-effect. There are also
viewing platforms that will allow people
to take-in the beautiful scenery along
this stretch of the river, which will be
accessible to the general public for the
first time in over 200 years."
The project is being driven by the
city council, with additional funding
from WREN (the landfill tax credits
body), West Chester Regeneration Board
and the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), which
has contributed £840,000 to the project.
Chris Koral, NWDA area manager for
Cheshire, said: "The NWDA is pleased to
support the regeneration of Chester’s
Old Port, culminating in a riverside
promenade.
"Comprehensive access to the River
Dee will enhance the historic value of
the area and boost Chester’s tourism
offer. Increased flood protection will
also unlock derelict and underused land
for further regeneration."
The promenade in the Old Port will
eventually link to two similar walkways
along neighbouring stretches of the
Dee, creating an uninterrupted route
from the Groves in Chester to
Queensferry in Flintshire.
Plans for a walkway stretching from
the Groves were given the green light
by the city’s planning board in
December. The scheme is being part-
funded with European money under the
Water in Historic City Centres
programme – a partnership project
involving cities in Belgium, the
Netherlands and Ireland.
At the same time, the other end of
the Old Port section will link to a
riverside route being planned in
partnership with Flintshire County
Council, stretching from Queensferry to
the Welsh-English border at the edge of
the city.
This will eventually create one of the
longest and most impressive riverside
promenades in the country, helping
people get greater access to and
enjoyment from the Dee by providing a
practical, green journey route for
pedestrians and cyclists.
 Chester News 13

Licensed to
get rid of
drink louts
PUBLIC safety, anti-social
behaviour and general
nuisance will be major
considerations as Chester City
Council begins considering
licensing applications this
spring.
In February we took up our
new responsibilities under the
Licensing Act 2003, which
used to be dealt with by
magistrates, with full
responsibility from November
this year.
The activities covered by
this new Licensing Act are the
sale of alcohol, public
entertainments and late night

Retail giant boosts

refreshments.
These will now be covered
by a range of new "premises"
and "personal" licences. The
Act also allows applicants to
apply for longer hours to sell

alcohol.
We will consider all licences
and applications against the
four main aims of the Act:-
O The prevention of crime
and disorder
O Public safety
O The prevention of public
nuisance
O The protection of children
from harm
We will also consider them
against our own Licensing
Policy Statement.
Cabinet portfolio holder
for health and wellbeing,
councillor Mia Jones said: "We
have had an excellent
response from the licensing
trade and other interested
parties to our consultation
carried out towards the end of
last year.
"This new law imposes
important obligations on the
city council and we are
determined to exercise our
responsibilities correctly.
"Pubs, clubs and
restaurants are vital to
Chester’s social life and public
image, but we won’t be afraid
to use the powers to tackle
any antisocial and public
safety issues surrounding the
sale and consumption of
alcohol."
The council’s Licensing
Policy Statement is available in
full on the council website
www.chester.gov.uk or a copy
or additional information is
available from the licensing
team on 01244 402138 or
e-mail at
liquorlicensing@chester.gov.uk
shops development
LEADING retailers, House of Fraser,
will form the lynchpin of the
redevelopment of the Northgate
quarter of the city when it sets up
shop as part of the £280m scheme.
House of Fraser has taken a 35 year lease
on the 160,000 sq ft anchor unit located to
the northwest of the site which comprises a
further 60 units, including three major
stores.
The overall development of Northgate
will provide 440,000 sq ft of shop space, a
new performing arts centre, library, market
hall, bus station, council offices, several civic
squares, as well as 112 new residential
apartments.
The scheme, undertaken by Northgate
Limited Partnership, part of ING Real Estate
Development UK, will replace the Forum
shopping centre and Gateway theatre and
relocate the central library and market hall.
Chester City Council leader, Councillor
David Evans and deputy leader, Councillor
John Price said: "This is great news. The
House of Fraser name and the new retail
provision will complement and enhance the
existing shops in the city, making the city
centre much more attractive for shoppers
across the region."
Steve Hibbert, operations director of
House of Fraser said :"We are pleased to
have secured such a significant unit in one
of the most exciting retail led mixed use
schemes planned for the UK. Northgate will
provide the flexible shop area we need and
which was not previously available in
House of Fraser
to form hub of
Northgate plan
Chester’s historic shopping area. "
Siep Hoeksma, joint managing director of
ING Real Estate Development UK said: "We
are delighted to have attracted one of the
top retail names to the city for the first
time.
"This important step forward sends a
message to local people that we are
committed to making Northgate a reality."
The plans for the substantial
redevelopment of an under-utilised area of
Chester city centre comprises a site fronting
onto Northgate Street and behind
Watergate Street and encompasses much of
the northwest quarter of the city inside the
Roman walls. The historic town hall will
remain untouched at the heart of the
development, along with all other buildings
of architectural and historical importance.
An open style streetscape will be
reintroduced based on the historic street
pattern lost more than 30 years ago. The
new quarter will integrate with the city’s
historic townscape, with modern buildings
providing two level ‘rows’ of shops.
Work should be completed in 2008.
14 Chester News

All aboard for the sight-seers’ Safari tours

A NEW series of sight-seeing excursions
takes to the road in March thanks to Rural
Safari Bus Tours.
The tours will take residents and visitors
on exciting trips into the Cheshire,
Shropshire and North Wales countryside.
Departing from Chester Visitor Centre by
the Roman Amphitheatre (and by Chester
Cathedral on Sundays), the tours will
explore the secret delights and hidden
treasures of the surrounding area.
A full tour programme is currently being
developed including Land of the Red
Dragon, Chomping around Cheshire, Secret
Gardens, Haunted Cheshire, Border Battles
and River of No Return.
Other trips in development are
excursions to off-beat events like Bawming
of the Thorn, Erddig Apple Festival,
Carriage Driving Contests and World Worm
Charming Championships and Sing with a
Welsh Choir.
Mainstream events will also be covered
including crowd-pullers like Holly Holy Day
Civil War Battle, the Motorbike Mania of
Thundersprint 2005, the massive Inland
Waterways Festival sailing into Preston
Brook next August and Pontcysyllte 200 –
the bicentenary of Britain’s biggest sail-in-
the-sky aqueduct in November!
Full details of the tours are to be
featured in What’s On in Chester and the
new visitchester.com web-site where
people can book on-line.
Tickets will be on sale at the Town Hall
Tourist Information Centre and Chester
Visitor Centre.
The new £205,000 project is being
funded by Cheshire Rural Recovery
Programme and Leader+ England and
Wales and co-ordinated by Chester City
Council Tourism. It runs until September
2007.
Contact: Gerald Tattum, Tourism
Development Officer
Tel: 01244 402150 e-mail:
g.tattum@chester.gov.uk

Site nets top praise

A NEW Chester website
re-launched at the end
of 2004 has been rated
as one of the best in its
field in the entire
country.
At the time of going to
press Chester City Council’s
new website was ranked 13th
out of 460 council websites by
Site Morse, one of Britain’s
leading automated website
testing organisations. Trafford
Metropolitan Borough Council
was first while Doncaster MBC
was at the bottom of the
table.
Rankings are based on how
the website functions, how
accessible it is, how it performs
and on technical points of
design.
The city council’s site scored
highly thanks to a "content
management system," which
allows staff throughout the
council to update and manage
the content.
Many of the improved
features were driven by public
comments. The website now
includes:
O a completely new search
engine, structure and A-Z
system, making it even easier
to find information
O text-only and print versions,
which are easier to read
O a design for use with screen
reader technology, which helps
visually impaired users
O more information and
advice for dealing with
emergencies, health and
education matters and a
‘news and views’ section
O a webcam covering the
summer Chester Amphitheatre
excavations and two more
planned - one of them
focusing on the Town Hall
City council portfolio
holder for e-government and
deputy leader councillor John
Price said: "People can get a
great deal from the new
improved site. From telling us
about graffiti that needs
removing to viewing stray
dogs in need of a new home.
Residents can use it to pay
council tax while tourists can
book hotels online. Anyone
can read our press releases or
the latest issue of our
magazine Chester News.
"The website is there to
help people contact us, find
out about council services and
get general advice. It has been
ranked in the top 10 district
council websites in two out of
the last three years, so to be
13th in comparison with all
councils in the UK - district,
county, unitary and
metropolitan, is a marvellous
achievement by our dedicated
web team and shows the
council’s commitment to e-
government "
To check out the new
website log on to
www.chester.gov.uk

Cash aid to
improve
play zones
WE have recently invested in
improvements to three
children’s play areas across the
District bringing them up to
standards laid down by the
Disability Discrimination Act.
Chester City Council set
aside £25,000 for playground
improvements split between
sites run by the council, parish
councils and local
management groups.
Up to £14,000 was ploughed
into works at Grosvenor Park,
Sandy Lane and Alexandra
Park which were completed in
the New Year.
Grosvenor Park
O A flush level roundabout so
children or carers can get on
to the roundabout without
having to step up to the
platform. This makes it easier
for children with mobility
problems to play together
with other children.
O Two new spring mobiles
with upper body supports for
children who need them to
help them play.
Sandy Lane
O A dish roundabout that
provides access for children
whatever their abilities.
O A 'talking bob' - an
interactive stand alone play
item that 'talks' to the user
through a wind up
mechanism.
Alexandra Park
O Music pipes and small
seating area.
O A 'talking bob'.
Chester News 15
OChildren from Dorin Park School help the Lord Mayor open the new play area at Grosvenor Park
Booklet spells out 20 years of development plans
the
Big Picture...
SCORES of development schemes Project Chester is an attempt to put our
that will literally shape Chester contribution to that plan into one
District’s future for the next 20 years comprehensive document to stimulate
have been outlined in one easy to discussion between the partners.
In a joint statement city council leader,
read booklet for the first time.
Project Chester is a 57 page illustrated Councillor David Evans, deputy leader,
guide to a series of exciting programmes in Councillor John Price and leader of the
and around the city, piecing together the opposition, Councillor Margaret Parker
jigsaw of development, regeneration and said: "With our partners Chester City
improvement schemes earmarked or already Council is delivering a challenging agenda
and Project Chester now illustrates this big
underway.
The book outlines the city council’s "big picture that is unfolding all around us, in
picture" which covers culture, tourism, the the city and rural areas.
economy, sport and leisure, enterprise, "Chester is being transformed, but this
wildlife conservation and Chester at night. transformation is based upon the people of
It also highlights how we and our partners Chester, its culture and its distinctive
character. We aim to make Chester a city of
are successfully tackling "crime and grime
world stature and we are asking residents,
issues."
Following extensive consultation in 2001 businesses and all organisations here to
the city council and leading partners join us in our endeavours"
launched a community plan known as Project Chester is available in hard copy
Chester’s Way Ahead, a long-term or on disc from Elaine Penlington on 01244
blueprint for action on social and economic 402218 or
issues facing the District. online www.chester.gov.uk/projectchester
Don’t lose your voice – make democracy work
CHESTER City Council’s O employs more than 300 staff If you are not registered to
electoral team make it possible to work at the various vote you cannot vote in any
for you to have your say in all locations on polling day election.
elections- Parliamentary, O produces and processes There are no Chester City
European, Chester City Council, 54,000 registration forms so Council elections in 2005.
Cheshire County Council and people can be registered to There are Cheshire County
Parish Council. vote Council elections and
The busy team: O organises the counting of possibly a General Election.
O books up to 98 premises for the votes and declaring the Make democracy work - use
polling stations results your vote.
16 Chester News
Ladies first as
‘Race for Life’
returns to city
THIS summer Cancer
Research UK's Race for
Life, supported by Chester
City Council and Tesco,
will be returning to
Chester for the eighth
time. The popular 5km,
women-only fundraiser
will take place on June 8
at Chester Zoo.
In 2004, more than 2,500
women in the area raised
£136,000. This year, Cancer
Research UK is hoping to top
that figure with a fundraising
target of £150,000 for women
taking part in the Chester race.
In total, Race for Life is aiming
to raise £23million.
The money raised provides
much needed funds for Cancer
Research UK’s continuing work
to cure cancer.
The latest figures show that
more than 31,000 people in the
North West are diagnosed with
cancer every year. More than
one in three people in Britain
will develop cancer at some
point in their life and one in
four will die from the disease.
Former Blue Peter presenter
Sarah Greene is patron of Race
for Life and has participated
every year since it began. She
said: ‘I have taken part in
around 50 Race for Life events
now, and while each has been
different, the atmosphere at
every one has been
unforgettable.
"I encourage anyone who
hasn’t taken part in Race for
Life before to try it this year.
Not only is it a hugely
enjoyable experience, it also
contributes to a cause that
touches most of our lives in
some way. Those that have
taken part before will, I am
sure, need no encouragement
to do so again.’
James Dunphy, Race
Organiser, said: ‘Every single
woman who takes part in and
raises funds through Race for
Life makes an invaluable
contribution in the fight
against cancer. Huge advances
have been made in cancer
research since Race for Life
began in 1994, due in part to
the £70 million that the past
events have raised.’
Cancer Research UK's Race
for Life is a series of 162
fundraising walks or runs open
to all women across the UK.
For more information and to
sign up for this event and
other similar events taking
place in Chester please visit
www.chester.gov.uk/sports or
phone 08705 134 314
As always, spaces in Race
for Life are strictly limited, so if
you want to raise money for
Cancer Research UK, why not
sign up today? Last year’s race
was extremely popular with all
places filling up nearly six
weeks before the closing date!
The event is open to women of
all fitness levels.
Car crime
campaign
steps up
a gear...
MEMBERS of the public
are being urged to help
mark the cards of car
criminals in Chester and
Ellesmere Port.
The campaign to
encourage the public to
provide information
about people who
commit car crime enters
its second phase this
month as part of a joint
initiative involving the
local councils, police and
fire service.
Posters, leaflets, signs
in car parks and news
stories are just some of
the tactics being
employed to get the
message across that
providing information
about car criminals can
help catch offenders and
reduce the amount of car
theft, car break-ins and
vandalism.
The publicity follows
on from last year’s
campaign to encourage
people to be more
security conscious when
leaving their cars parked,
for example by making
sure they lock their car
properly, park in a well-
lit spot if possible and
avoid leaving anything
on display.
Project Autocrime is
an ongoing initiative
supported by Chester
Community Safety
‘Every single Partnership. In addition
to the awareness
woman who campaigns, the initiative
also involves special
takes part policing operations
targeting the few
makes an persistent criminals that
commit the majority of
invaluable vehicle crimes in Chester
and Ellesmere Port.
contribution in If you have any
information about car
the fight crime, or any other
crime, call Crimestoppers
against cancer.’ on 0800 555111.

OSAY CHEESE: competitors enjoy the traditional cheese rolling contest in Eastgate Street
Celebrity chef aims to cook up a spring treat
Sizzling success
CELEBRITY chef Gary Rhodes will be
among those showing off their
culinary skills at the Chester Food
and Drink Festival this spring.
Chester will host its fourth Food and
Drink Festival from Saturday March 26 to
Sunday April 3 to coincide with the school
Easter holidays so families can enjoy the
food, drink and special events in and
around the city.
The 2005 festival, with a substantially
increased programme of events, celebrities
and celebrations will be centred on a
massive marquee in the Crown Court car
park next to Chester Castle.
Marquee events include a large
producers’ market from Bank Holiday
Monday March 28 to Wednesday March 30,
which will act as a showcase for the
district’s impressive variety of top quality
produce, from cheeses, meat products, fruit,
vegetables, ice cream, shrimps, salmon and
cider to homemade chocolates and
preserves.
The marquee will also hold celebrity chef
demonstrations throughout the festival,
and the Gala dinner on Thursday, March
31.So far, celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes,
Simon Rimmer and Andrew Nutter have
signed up to the event. There will be special
offer meal deals and events at top venues
across the region with a new focus on
regional and local retailers and producers.
The festival is run by a committee of
representatives from the local food and
drink sector chaired by Stephen Wundke
who has extensive experience and is
involved with city restaurants Pastarazzi,
The Globe and the historic Boat Inn at
Erbistock in north Wales.
He said: "Our region has an amazing
wealth of fine foods and produce, as well
as many fantastic eating and drinking
venues. The aim of this festival is to
encourage all the different sectors to work
together to produce an event befitting this
historic and exciting city, its residents and
visitors.
"The marquee will be a venue for a host
of different events such as wine tasting,
cookery demonstrations and a cocktail
competition. It will add to the special offers
at eating and drinking venues around
Chester and Cheshire that proved to be so
popular in 2004 and the key events like the
cheese rolling competition on Wednesday,
March 23, the ale assize and the medieval
banquet on Saturday, April 2.
"It all adds up to an extra special reason
for residents and visitors to be out and
about Chester during Easter Week."
For more information check out:
www.chesterfoodanddrink.com
Chester News 17
Grant scheme
to give new
firms a lift...
A NEW grant scheme to help
local businesses in Chester has
been given the go ahead.
Grants of up to £3000 could
be available after Chester City
Council approved a scheme that
would see the rent income from
one of its own properties
ploughed back into the
community to help new and
existing businesses and social
enterprises across the District set
up or develop a project.
To qualify applicants must be
based in the Chester District,
employ fewer than 50 people,
have an annual turnover of less
than £2.5m and have a viable
project. They must also be up to
date on council tax or business
rates and have the necessary
planning consents.
Standards
The city council, which will
administer the scheme, hopes
the new initiative will enable
smaller businesses to grow while
at the same time meeting its
own aims of raising
employment, environmental
improvements and quality
standards.
Applicants will be encouraged
to take a work placement, agree
to a free environmental audit
and demonstrate a commitment
to social or community contracts.
Any grant would not exceed
75% of the cost of the project
with the applicant meeting at
least 25% of the cost themselves.
Cabinet portfolio holder of
the economy, Councillor Reggie
Jones said the scheme
demonstrated the council’s
willingness to back the local
economy with significant
resources.
He said: "This grant regime
will harness the knowledge and
experience of those involved in
the city centre, the rural areas
and those developing the
neighbourhood renewal strategy
for Chester District.
"It provides support for
existing businesses and offers an
incentive for the development of
social enterprises essential to
stimulate economic activity. This
in turn will foster business
growth and create job
opportunities."
18 Chester News

Maintaining our
YOUR council has a committee
that looks at the standards of
public life and public service we
provide.
The committee aims to promote high
ethical standards in the organisation so
residents and others dealing with us
can continue to rely on the good name
of Chester City Council and its
councillors and have trust in the
democratic process.
The Ethics and Standards Committee
Standards
has seven councillors and three non-
councillor members selected following a
public advertisement and an interview.
There is also a parish council
representative.
The committee’s first annual report
declared that it was satisfied that the
council has been acting ethically. You
can view the annual report on our web
site at www.chester.gov.uk
Nationally, the Standards Board for
England seeks to promote high
standards in public life and will
investigate any conduct that appears
not to reach nationally set standards.
You can contact the board on
www.standardsboard.co.uk or Tel:
0845 078 8181.
Councils must appoint a ‘Monitoring
Officer’. At Chester, this is Charles
Kerry, solicitor to the council, who can
help answer any queries.
He can be contacted on 01244
402118 or via e-mail on
c.kerry@chester.gov.uk

YOUR CABINET
How the
Cabinet
works
FULL Council
appoints the
cabinet, which
is made up of
the Council
●Cllr David Evans, ●Cllr John Price, ●Cllr Ann Farrell, Leader, Deputy
Council Leader and Deputy Leader and culture Leader and
community leadership e government & Portfolio
technology
Holders.

The cabinet
meets once a
month and
must make
decisions
within the
council’s policy
framework and
budget.

●Cllr Paul Roberts, ●Cllr Bob Rudd, ●Cllr Mia Jones,

resources community safety health and well-being

●Cllr Jim Latham, ●Cllr Ruth Davidson, ●Cllr Reggie Jones,

●Cllr Rob Jordan,
development people, performance economy
environment
and improvement