Community News Archives - Page 3 of 21

April 15, 2020

Creative kids get crafty in lock down

EASTER bonnets, arts and crafts, gardening and picnics were just some of the activities youngsters across Uttoxeter have enjoyed this week. It's the school Easter holidays and the sun shone over the weekend, prompting many families to come up with home-based activities.

Online quiz for kids in lock down

AN ONLINE quiz for children has been launched to help map Uttoxeter’s wildlife. The ‘Covid-19 lock down garden quiz’ was launched last week by Uttoxeter Nature Recovery Network (UNRN). The entrant with the highest score could win a deluxe hedgehog house for their school or care facility.

U-turn on funding amid pandemic

A MEDICAL funding body has made a u-turn on scrapping funding for a Moorlands charity – amid the current coronavirus situation. The Times & Echo reported earlier last month that following a review by the North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Clinical Commissioning Group, an annual grant of £70,000 which is awarded to Moorlands Home Link was under threat - along with additional funding for five other similar organisations in Stoke-on-Trent. Moorlands Home Link, which is a not for profit elderly care charity based in Cheadle, has received this funding for over 20 years for its Day Centre in Cheadle and the organisation's Outreach Groups across the Moorlands and the current funding had been guaranteed until June 2020.

Town centre building recommended for community asset approval

AN HISTORIC building on a high street in a Moorlands town has been recommended to be approved as being registered as a community asset. The Friends of the Royal Oak recently lodged a community asset bid to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) for the Royal Oak Hotel located on Cheadle High Street, with the aim of making the venue somewhere that can be used by the public. In October 2019, David Gough Investments submitted proposals to build 12 one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat at the former hospitality venue.

Family get creative online

A MOTHER and her children have created an online video giving youngsters and parents ideas as to how to keep kids entertained while still being educated during the homeschooling period. Many students started learning from home recently following the Governments decision to close all schools amid the coronavirus outbreak. Only the children of parents who are classed as 'key workers' are permitted to attend their respective education centres.

Appeal as small team continue to care for rescue dogs

A RESCUE centre for dogs in the Moorlands is appealing for support amid the current coronavirus situation. Due to the current Government lockdown restrictions, just three staff are working hard around the clock at the Luosko German Shepherd Dog Rescue in Cheadle to look after 40 dogs as no rehoming can take place, nor can any volunteers be allowed to help out at the centre. Rescue Coordinator and Senior K9 Technician at Luosko, Stuart Harvey, told the Times & Echo: “Unfortunately we have had to cancel all ‘in person’ events for the foreseeable future, which in turn means no income, no volunteers, no adoptions and no intake, unless extremely urgent ie police or RSPCA involvement.

‘Stay safe’ urges Town Mayor

TOWN Mayor, Cllr Sue McGarry has praised community spirit in Uttoxeter and urged townsfolk to stay safe in the face of the coronavirus Covis-19 pandemic.

Getting creative to enhance community spirit

YOUNGSTERS are playing their part in the effort to keep community spirit alive in the town of Cheadle through this surreal time we are all currently witnessing.

Creative extravaganza for town is cancelled

A LARGE scale creative event has been cancelled amid the current coronavirus situation. This year’s Cheadle Arts Festival had set to take place during the month of June, and plans were in place for an enhanced programme to previous years including: an Open Arts Exhibition, a High Street Gallery, and Arts & Crafts Market, a host of participation and learning events, and a full ‘fringe programme of events, to name but a few. However, the volunteer organising team has now taken the difficult decision to cancel the creative extravaganza due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Council closes all public toilets amid coronavirus fears

A COUNCIL has decided to close all its public toilets in an attempt to quell the spread of coronavirus. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) said it was taking heed of Government advice by implementing the closures. A spokesperson for SMDC said: “In line with the Government’s advice for people to stay at home due to the coronavirus situation, public toilets across the Staffordshire Moorlands district were closed until further notice on Saturday, March 21.”

“Help keep our village clean”

A VILLAGER, who is part of a group that helps keep her area clean, is encouraging residents to join in with the tidy-up as the community aims to achieve a Best Kept Village award. Alison Pooler, of Kingsley, is part of a group of residents that meet on one Sunday a month to go around the village and spruce it up. Stemming from an initial idea a few years ago, the initiative now attracts around seven members per meet-up and now, starting in mid-April, the group will be coming together on Wednesday evenings too in order to both keep the place in good nick and also strive for a Best Kept Village award.

“I’ve lost everything” – retired nurse says she is “devastated” after freak house fire

AN ELDERLY lady says she is “devastated” after a fire ripped through her home last month, leaving her having to find a temporary home. 83-year-old Margaret Keane, of Cheadle, was out shopping with her son on the afternoon of February 16 when her bungalow on Robina Drive caught fire, reportedly from lightning amidst Storm Dennis. The retired nurse of 37 years said she had just spent £1,800 of her savings on decorating the Your Housing property following what was supposed to be her “final move” in March 2019.

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