Play areas in Biddulph are to get £180,000 to update and improve over the next 4 years.

The money comes from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council as part of their Play and Outdoor Sports Facilities Investment Plan.

The play areas that will benefit are Church Road play area, which will receive a total of £110,000, and Biddulph Valley Park play area which will receive £70,000. 

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It’s been a really busy time for the Trustees planning the reopening of Kidsgrove Sports Centre. 

We are still awaiting a handover date from the contractor, however given the progress, we are fairly confident there won’t be too long to wait now. 

We have been really busy ensuring that the centre will be operationally ready to open. This includes; recruitment of the centre manager, Crowdfunding to help equip the centre, arranging the supply of gym equipment, conversing with sporting bodies and organisations; finalising booking systems and marketing, just to mention a few of the tasks being undertaken. It has certainly been a hectic period. All of the Trustees share the desire of our community to get the centre reopened as soon as possible.

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The new footbridge is open and the long awaited lifts will be commissioned very soon.  NSCRP also looks forward to seeing plans for the proposed Town Deal-funded refurbishment of the station building. 

Train timetables are still partially reduced so please check times before you travel at nationalrail.co.uk

The station’s Spotter Tea café reopened last month, selling drinks and snacks at very reasonable prices (cash only at the moment).  Open 7 – 10am Monday to Friday; 8 – 12 noon Saturday.  All welcome. Why not come and say hello to Kath when you’re next there?

If you see any antisocial or suspicious behaviour at the station we urge you to text the British Transport Police non-emergency number on 61016. (In an emergency call 999.)

If you would like to join our lovely group of station volunteers, Friends of Kidsgrove Station, please email: northstaffscrp@stoke.gov.uk.  or simply call by for a chat – they meet roughly every other Thursday morning.

Plans to modernise parking facilities across the Moorlands have been approved by the District Council.

Key changes to be introduced include:

· The introduction of short free parking periods at some car parks to support quick trips into town

· Increasing the options for payment, including contactless digital payments such as Pay By Phone, in addition to coin only methods

· Reviewing the permits currently available to offer more flexibility for customers and creating a tourist pass

· Developing an electric vehicle strategy to look at suitable locations and types of chargers provided in the Moorlands alongside joint working with the County Council on a wider strategy to encourage greater use of electric vehicles

As part of the review, industry experts Parking Matters were appointed to carry out public consultation last year. Over 770 online responses were received from members of the public alongside views from interest groups, including councillors and tourism and business organisations.

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Dementia Action Week will be held from 16^th to 22^nd May, the week is a national event led by Alzheimer’s Society. 

During this week, we encourage everyone to think about ways in which they can support people affected by dementia and their carers.

Alsager became a Dementia Friendly Community in 2017 and each year we invite businesses in the town to display our blue and yellow bunting, so look out for it this May and think about some small thing that you might do to support someone with dementia.

Maybe you would like to become a dementia friend and join over 3,500 dementia friends in our area? Details below.

This year the theme is Diagnosis and it is really important to seek advice if you have any concerns about your memory. There is a lot of support available for anyone who receives a diagnosis of dementia and help to access that support.

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Cheshire East Council has announced plans for the extended Platinum Jubilee bank holiday celebrations to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 70-year reign.

Her Majesty The Queen is the first British monarch in history to celebrate a platinum jubilee, having acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father King George VI, when just 25 years old.

To help with the celebrations across the borough, Cheshire East Council is providing a community fund to allow residents to apply for up to £120 for street parties or similar community events.

More information and how to apply for the Queen’s Jubilee community fund can be found on the council’s website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/queensjubilee along with guidance on managing events safely.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council’s committee chair for communities, said: “This Platinum Jubilee is an amazing milestone and one which marks 70 years of unparalleled public service by Her Majesty The Queen.

“Whether you are attending a local street party, planting a tree for the Jubilee as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy or involved with the Platinum Jubilee Beacons, it really is a once in a lifetime celebration and opportunity for all of our residents and communities to come together to mark this historic occasion.”

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