The Chairman's Christmas Message

As 2021 draws to a close we once again look back at the past year, one which started in a lockdown that lasted some two months. During this time the support and care which was so evident in our community last year endured - which is a credit to Willaston. This sense of community has been prominent throughout many years in Willaston. Mrs. Edith Ridgway is a testament to this with her incredible 80 years of volunteering and fundraising, which was celebrated with the award of Honorary Freewoman in the summer.

Despite the pandemic, fundraising has continued in Willaston this year, with Cheerbrook Farm Shop raising £10,000 for Nantwich District Nurses, White Star FC Bonfire Night raising £1,500 for St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice and The Friends of Willaston School Association raising over £3,000 at their Firework Extravaganza and £1,800 in the lead up to Christmas. This is our community of which I am very proud.

For the Council the year has been an eventful one, seeing the completion of work to the play area on Lettie Spencer Playing Field and full resurfacing. In September we dedicated Maurice’s Maze to long standing former councillor Maurice Jones, and in November we were able to hold a well attended Act of Remembrance at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Last Thursday the Community came together once again for Carols on the Green. What a fantastic turn out it was, and so lovely to see so many people enjoying the festive atmosphere.

As we now look forward to next year, we do so amidst concerns over the omicron variant and the efforts in getting everyone fully vaccinated and boosted over these coming weeks. We are fortunate to have a vaccination centre in Willaston at the Acacia Suite, which I visited on Tuesday for my booster. I encourage everyone who is able to do so to get boosted to help us all in fighting Covid-19.

The Council has several projects planned for next year, part of which will see £10,000 earmarked for community facilities improvement, as well as continued investment in existing well used facilities.

Next February will see Her Majesty The Queen pass a milestone of a remarkable 70 years as sovereign, which will be celebrated in June with a four day bank holiday weekend. The Council’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Committee is busy planning for this special occasion and they will be sharing details of the planned celebrations in the coming months, which I am sure we will all be looking forward to.

And now all that is left for me to do is wish you a very Happy Christmas.

Cllr Craig Bailey
Chairman of the Council

23 December 2021.