Midcheshire Independent Issue 185

FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER Follow us on Facebook: yourlocalinde ISSUE 185 • NOVEMBER 2025 YOUR LOCAL FREE MID CHESHIRE COVERING NANTWICH, NORTHWICH, WINSFORD, MIDDLEWICH, KNUTSFORD AND SURROUNDING AREAS MORE than 1,000 peo- ple have signed a peti- tion demanding urgent repairs to ‘unsafe’ streets in Northwich town centre. The petition was organised by Marbury councillor Lynn Gibbon who presented it to a full meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council. The petition is calling for ‘urgent action’ to make Wit- ton Street and High Street safe and accessible. Cllr Gibbon, the coun- cil’s shadow cabinet mem- ber for inclusive economy, regeneration and digital transformation, declared “enough is enough.” She says the petition high- lights a decade of neglect since the cancellation of the second stage of the town’s street refurbishment in 2015. And she adds that resi- dents believe the town’s main shopping streets have become “dangerous and discrimina- tory,” with broken paving, raised grids, tarmac-filled drains, and steep, uneven access points that fail to accommodate accessibility needs. The petition is also calling for urgent repairs to protect disabled residents, older people, and fami- lies with prams, following repeated reports of injuries and near-misses. Cllr Gibbon says that between 2018 and 2025, the ambulance service recorded 92 incidents in the town centre – roughly one every month – not including those who went to hospi- tal independently. She told the council: “Peo- ple are fed up with seeing lit- tle old ladies fall and smash their faces. My fellow coun- cillor, Norman Wright, is still recovering from concussion and a broken arm after a fall last December. “Other residents say that their own grandmother suf- fered a fall and never recov- ered. These are much more than statistics – these are people’s lives. “Northwich has the high- est number of emergency hospital admissions for falls in the borough – 728 – com- pared with an average of 245 elsewhere. “Despite this, the coun- cil’s own Falls and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment recommendations have not been implemented and pave- ment conditions continue to deteriorate.” “This goes directly against the council’s own Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which promises routes that are safe and cater for all users, including those with wheelchairs, mobility scoot- ers, and prams. Yet, Witton Street and High Street fall far short of that standard. Enough is enough.” The petition also says that £1.9m has been paid out in claims for injuries caused by road and pavement defects in recent years, with a fur- ther £2.36m pending, while the council has “failed to reinvest” £928,000 raised in parking charges from North- wich since 2018 into fixing the streets. Cllr Gibbon is calling for the petition to be referred to the Council’s Places Scrutiny Committee for urgent exam- ination, including how falls are recorded and monitored, so that a fully funded, long- term plan can be brought forward to make Northwich’s streets safe, accessible and welcoming again. Speaking after the meet- ing she said: “Northwich’s streets have become dan- gerous and discriminatory. Residents deserve a town centre that’s safe, accessible, and properly maintained – enough is enough. “This council finds money for car parks and empty offices, but not for safe streets. The cost of inaction is counted in broken bones, hospital beds, and shat- tered confidence. “People are seen falling almost every week. When older residents are scared to walk to the shops, some- thing has gone badly wrong – and it’s time the council put it right.” Speaking earlier this year council deputy leader Karen Shore, who is cabinet mem- ber for transport and high- ways, said both streets were inspected monthly as part of its code of practice for safety inspections programme. She said: “All actiona- ble defects are and will be repaired. We want to ensure we have safe and accessible town centres for everyone to use and enjoy.” And she added: This sec- tion of public realm would benefit from an improvement scheme like other areas in the town centre.” Cllr Shore went on to say that while not on a current maintenance programme, it was hoped that public realm improvements could be considered as part of any future town centre regenera- tion plans. Join the battle lines ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!’ More than 1,000 sign safer town streets petition ORGANISERS of the Battle of Nantwich English Civil War re-en- actment are looking for new recruits. They have launched a call for enthusiastic volunteers to join the team for the 2026 event. Full story andmore pictures page 3 Campaign: Cllr Lynn Gibbon