Midcheshire Independent Issue 164

3 APRIL 2024 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk A NANTWICH runner completed a double-mar- athon in the town’s Bar- ony Park to raise cash for a children’s hospital. Charles Boughton’s efforts have so far raised more than £1,600 for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The 27-year-old ran two consecutive marathons, covering 52.5 miles in an impressive eight hours and 14 minutes. He followed the same route used by ‘Dabbers Dash’ par- ticipants during their monthly event around the edge of the Barony Park and along Sand- ford Road. During the day local run- ners came out to support Charles and complete a few laps alongside him. In addition, Charles’ friends and family were also out to provide support, encourage sponsorship from the public and help him to keep his food and drink needs maintained whilst he was taking on his mammoth challenge. Charles ran to raise money to support the work of the hos- pital, which provides a wide range of health services to children and adolescents from across the UK. It has an international rep- utation in areas such as liver transplants, cardiac surgery and neonatal surgery. Pioneering developments SHAVINGTON Drama Group has been nomi- nated for a North West All-District Drama Awa rd by NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association). The nomination is for the group’s production of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’, which they performed at the Players Theatre in Nant- wich last July. NODA’s All-District Drama Award celebrates the wealth of talent shown in the many and varied plays performed in the North West region. Shavington’s production was watched by a NODA adjudicator who attended a performance at the venue, then wrote a comprehensive review including staging, performance, and direction. The Hound of the Bask- ervilles is one of the most famous and well-loved of all of the Sherlock Holmes sto- ries by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was adapted for stage by Catherine O’Reilly and Tim Churchill, and was directed by Debo- rah Cornock. The All-District Drama Award winner and run- ner-up will be announced at the NODA North West Gala Night at the Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom in Black- pool on May 5. A group spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this award. The nomination is made even more special as the drama group only became a member of NODA last year.” NODA has 2,000 society members and more than 1,000 individual enthusiasts staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and panto- mimes in venues ranging from the country’s leading professional theatres to vil- lage halls. Shavington Drama Group was founded in 1989 and has gone from strength to strength. The group is always looking for new peo- ple to join on and off stage. For more information visit: https://www.facebook. com/shavingtondramagroup PLANS to create a ‘world-class’ football facility in Winsford have been scrapped. The ambitious project would have seen an elite performance centre of excel- lence for women and girls’ football built at Knights Grange, along with plans for a hotel. When the plans were revealed in 2019 it was described as the first major facility of its kind in Europe. Profits generated from the site were to be re-invested back into grassroots foot- ball and the wider sport- ing community. Now, following the announcement that the devel- opment won’t be going ahead, Cheshire West and Chester Council has announced its commitment to “enhance grassroots sport and recre- ation” on the site. In a statement it said it would work “with a range of local stakeholders to ensure that Knights Grange remains a sustainable, multi-use com- plex for sport, recreation and nature conservation. “The site will be protected from housing and other com- mercial development and investment made to ensure that it remains an impor- tant community asset for the people of Winsford long into the future.” The statement added: “The project will support participation in grassroots sports such as football, ten- nis, cricket, athletics, and fishing through improve- ments to facilities. “It also aims to connect local communities to nature and the outdoors. Improved cycleways and footpaths will link the park with Weaver Valley and Whitegate Way. “New and improved wood- land, nature conservation sites and habitats will be created to encourage wild- life, improve biodiversity and help to combat the effects of climate change. Unused buildings on the site will be refurbished and redevel- oped for use as part of the wider complex.” The council said the project was part of its wider vision for Winsford. The first phase of the £22.5million regener- ation of the town centre is currently under construction. The council stressed Knights Grange was a key part of its sports facili- ties strategy. Over the past four years, Cheshire Football Centre Ltd has been working on the pro- posals for a new multisport facility and associated hotel at the site. It was to be delivered through a combination of commercial income and grant funding from national bodies. However, increased con- struction and borrowing costs, and the lack of availa- bility of external grant fund- ing, have limited the ability A marathon effort – at the double! Fundraiser: Charles Boughton (yellow top) completes another lap during his double-marathon Drama group takes centre stage SPECIAL REPORT Council commits to sporting future for Knights Grange Vision: An artist’s impression of the multi-sport facility which has been scrapped (Photo credit: Cheshire Football Centre) of Cheshire Football Centres, to progress the scheme. Terry Harrop, chair of Cheshire Football Centre, said: “It is with much regret that we are no longer able to deliver our ambitions for a multi-sports centre on the site. “Unfortunately, wider eco- nomic conditions and a lack of ability to secure signifi- cant third-party funding has meant that we and our part- ners Ion Developments are not able to make the project work, despite support from Cheshire West and Ches- ter Council.” Nathan Pardoe, council cabinet member for inclusive economy, regeneration and digital transformation, said: “Knights Grange is already a fantastic asset for the people of Winsford, but the council recognises it needs invest- ment and that the commu- nity needs certainty about its future. “Knights Grange will con- tinue to provide recreation opportunities for all of our residents, and its future is secure as the council will protect the whole of the site from inappropriate develop- ment such as housing.” Tim Ashcroft, chair of the Knights Grange Residents’ Steering Group, said: “The challenges of the last few years from Covid and many other factors have meant the original development plan proved to be undeliverable. “This is a fact of life we know that many other pro- jects and developments have had to face. We are pleased, however, to see that this has now evolved into a long term, more sustainable, and more deliverable vision and plan which puts Knights Grange at the heart of our community. “Knights Grange is more than just sports fields. It is a place where Winsford res- idents of all ages come for leisure, exercise, to meet, and to enjoy the outdoors and nature.” include the first ever suc- cessful paediatric triple trans- plant and a system which provides image-guided sur- gery for children with brain tumours. Donations are used to support the continuation of this important work. Charles said after his run: “It’s great to have the support of local groups and the wider community to support me.” Dabbers Dash founder Paul McIntyre said: “Charles’ efforts are simply fantastic so well done to him and his family. “I met Charles after he had done the first marathon and he was buzzing with positivity. I came out and ran for an hour during Saturday afternoon as Charles started his second marathon of the day!” Dabbers Dash was founded by Paul, from Nantwich, in February 2022 as a virtual Parkrun opportunity. Its aimwas to show Chesh- ire East Council that the park needs a perimeter path to encourage people in the area to take up running/walking/ wheeling in a safe place, as well as provide a traffic-free environment for people to learn to cycle and boost active travel. To add to Charles’ fund- raising total please visit his GoFundMe page: https:// www.gofundme.com/f/char- ity-double-marathon-baro- ny-park-24224