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Welcome to the Poynton Town Council website. Here you can find all about the council, community news, meeting agendas and minutes, Covid-19 and flooding advice, adult health and well being classes and advice and much more ....
A Big Community Thank You
Poynton can be very proud of the amazing response which has been offered to vulnerable residents and neighbours as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More details here.
Poynton Pledge
Town Mayor, Cllr Lee Podmore, launched the 'Poynton Pledge' - a community themed initiative encouraging people to Support Local and Think Green. More details here.
Poynton Park and Pool
Our town's picturesque park with a pool, ancient trees and wildlife, including great crested grebes, mute swan and tufted duck, dragon and damselflies. Read more about Poynton's interesting places to visit on our local information page.
Covid-19 and supporting vulnerable residents in Poynton
We are aware there may be some clinically extremely vulnerable residents who do not have support systems and Poynton Town Council will do what we can to support. Full details here..
A Message from the Mayor
See Poynton Town Mayor, Cllr. Lee Podmore's, message of thanks to residents, discover details of his role during the Covid-19 pandemic and read his New Year message further down this page.
Poynton Park & Pool
A popular walking spot. A picturesque park with a pool, ancient trees and wildlife, including great crested grebes, mute swan and tufted duck, dragon and damselflies. More walks on our Visitor Information page.
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Poynton News
View the latest Poynton Update and News (also know as the PUN) below or click here to download a PDF version.
To subscribe to the Poynton Update and News, or un-subscribe, use the newsletter sign-up form or e-mail office@poyntontowncouncil.gov.uk.
Archive editions of the PUN (PDFs) are also available.
Poynton Town Council precept for 2021/2022
The Town Council sets an annual precept as part of the Council Tax to help pay for the many local services we provide. This has been a particularly challenging year for the Town Council with a significant loss of income following the closure of the Civic Hall in March due to Covid restrictions. Although the Civic Hall opened to some hirers between August and December, many were unable to return because of the restrictions imposed by government.
The Council has worked hard in difficult circumstances to keep the precept low and made savings wherever possible. The Town Council’s precept for 2021/22 is £491,795, an increase over the current year of £2,531, a decrease of 0.73% for a Band D home. The annual precept for a Band D home is £82.60 for the year, or £1.59 per week. We believe that this represents good value for money when measured against all the additional services in Poynton which are provided by the Town Council. These include:
• Support for the community during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Christmas tree and Christmas lights
• Hockley and Brecon Close play areas
• The majority of Lady’s and Prince’s Inclines
• CCTV monitoring – 5 cameras in the centre of Poynton
• Graffiti removal
• Coppice Road allotments
• The Civic Hall, owned and maintained by the Town Council, is home to an increasing number of local voluntary organisations and clubs and needs maintenance and improvements. It is currently being used as a vaccine centre
• Funding for the Citizens Advice service
• Financial support for community events including Higher Poynton Summerfest and the Christmas Fest if they take place this year
• Supporting voluntary and community organisations including Poynton in Bloom, Friday Morning Shoppers and Time out Café
• The Town Council acts as Poynton’s voice on many issues, including defending the Green Belt and protecting the environment
• The Town Council employs three Community Support Officers who are a visible uniformed presence in Poynton. They provide an ‘eyes and ears’ service aimed at reducing the fear of crime for residents and improving their quality of life. Their remit includes dealing with environmental crime issues, such as littering, fly tipping and dog fouling and reducing incidents of low level crime and antisocial behaviour.
• The Communities Co-ordinator promotes health and well-being initiatives for both older and younger people, working with voluntary groups and service providers to ensure Poynton is a strong and resilient community. Poynton is officially a dementia friendly town and it became the first Town Council in Cheshire to achieve the bronze NHS Self Care Award. Other work includes supporting the Poynton Area Community Partnership and the scheme to lend out mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
• The Operations Manager and Village Ranger have a key role working with Cheshire East, pushing for road and footpath repairs, drain clearance and lighting improvements; dealing with residents’ enquiries and litter problems; supporting the Pick and Tidy group; emptying bins and similar jobs maintaining Poynton’s infrastructure.
Town Councillors receive no form of salary, attendance or other allowances and give freely of their time.
Covid-19 - Town Council Supporting Middlewood Partnership
Poynton Town Council are proud to be supporting Middlewood Partnership with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination clinics at the Civic Hall by co-ordinating volunteers to manage patient parking at the Civic Centre Car Park and ensuring patient experience into the clinic is as smooth as possible.
More information about how the community is working together can be read in the recent blog from Middlewood Partnership website here.
Additionally to this staff are still working during lockdown serving our community. The Council Community Support Team continue their reassuring patrols and responding to resident enquiries regarding the current lockdown rules and other community issues.
As a team we are working closely again with key organisations to respond to vulnerable residents who need support.
For additional Middlewood Partnership COVID Vaccination updates please see their Blog here.
Local Business Survey
Following the business survey conducted in the autumn, local business owners, the Mayor and Town Council staff met on Tuesday 12th January to discuss what support local businesses need.
If you are in business, no matter how big or small, we would like to hear from you. We are keen to hear your views on what you would want from a business network, what other support would be useful, how easy is it to find up to date, trustworthy and relevant information, would you be interested in supporting a business network through your skills and experience – what are you able to offer.
Please complete the short business survey here or send your views to the Town Clerk at haf.barlow@poyntontowncouncil.gov.uk.
Census Day is coming!
Households across Cheshire East will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
It will also be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.
Census Day will be on Sunday 21 March, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.
The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said: “A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed.
“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
For more information, visit https://census.gov.uk/ or contact the local census engagement manager Mike Cash directly at michael.cash74@feild.census.gov.uk
Macclesfield railway maintenance - March 2021
Network Rail have informed us about a new investment programme to maintain railway tracks in the Hope Green area. The work involves renewing the stone (ballast) beneath the railway tracks and will help to keep trains running safely and reliably for passengers. They have written to residents who live near the worksite as overnight work will take place in March this year. A copy of the letter can be found here.
The photos show a ‘High Output Ballast Cleaner’ which is a specialist train used to maintain the railway.
Cheshire East lifts time restrictions on bus pass users
Cheshire East Council has lifted timing restrictions on travel for holders of concessionary bus passes. The move is to help support the Covid-19 vaccine roll out for elderly people and disabled residents. From 21 January, all English national travel concessionary bus pass holders are allowed to travel free of charge before 9.30am each day. All bus operators have been told about the change and asked to inform their staff.
In line with government guidance, all residents need to reduce non-essential travel as much as possible to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and save lives. If you do travel by public transport, it is a legal requirement to wear a face covering. Think: hands, face, space. For bus service details visit Cheshire East Council’s website.
New Year's Honours
Congratulations to Poynton resident, Julie Cawthorne, Assistant Chief Nurse for Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for her outstanding contribution to patient safety over a 40-year career in nursing, as well as her vital role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more details of this wonderful achievement, please click here.
Poynton Relief Road
Work has now commenced on the Poynton Relief Road. Information on the project can be found at: www.graham.co.uk/poynton-relief-road and you can also sign up for project updates.Businesses who can provide food to residents
An initial list of local businesses who are open, can provide a takeaway service or can deliver food/provisions to Poynton residents can be found on a PDF here.
If your business can provide the above and would like to be added to the list please call the Civic Hall during office hours on 01625 872238.
Council Community Support Team News
Scam awareness
The Council Community Support Team has been visiting residential facilities in Poynton providing older people with vital updates on current scams that are operating in our area. The scams awareness poster has been produced in conjunction with Age UK Cheshire East.
https://bit.ly/3rz1Mt2
Domestic abuse awareness
It has been identified there is a need to raise awareness for carers / those living with Dementia and domestic abuse. There is strong evidence that Domestic Abuse occurs within this group, especially with carers who are supporting their loved ones living with dementia, but it can often go unrecognised.
If you are worried about yourself or someone else, please do not ignore it. Listen carefully and make a note. Find more details on the poster here or telephone Cheshire East Council on:
• 0300 123 5010 (8:30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 4:30pm Friday)
• 0300 123 5022 (at all other times including bank holidays)
Let's Do This!
Now more so than ever, it’s important for us to look after our health and well-being, and there’s support out there to help. There are lots of small steps we can take to improve our mental wellbeing like staying connected with our friends and family.
To learn more ways to look after your mental wellbeing get a free NHS Mind Plan from Every Mind Matters by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ and find out ways to help yourself.
Whether it’s a little or a lot, getting active is also great for your physical and mental health. See the link for more information on how you can get active including videos for exercising at home, Couch to 5k and simple tips to move more. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/
Support for people experiencing domestic abuse
See Cheshire East Council webpages on keeping safe or getting help if you are experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence.
Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Hub (CEDAH) is a 24 hour point of contact for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or anyone concerned for others.
CEDAH provides information, a helpline and onward referral for any family member - adults who are harmed and those who are hurting others, as well as children and young people. People are assessed according to risk and need and the right combination of services put in place for the whole family.
This is a central telephone, text and email service covering the whole of Cheshire East. Contact CEDAH on Mobile: (text number only) 07777 941464. Telephone: 0300 123 5101 or email: ce-dah@cheshireeast.gov.uk IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL 999.
If you have urgent concerns about a vulnerable adult or a child call our safeguarding teams. During office hours for adults safeguarding call 0300 123 5010 or children's safeguarding call 0300 123 5012 (option 3). For out of hours support for adults or children call 0300 123 5022.
Community Grants
Did you know that the Town Council has a small annual budget allocation for community grants, and a number of awards are made each year to support community events and Poynton-based voluntary organisations or societies? For further information and to apply for a grant for this financial year (end March 2021) please contact the Town Clerk. haf.barlow@poyntontowncouncil.gov.uk
Poynton Library news
Order and Collect service - Monday -Friday 9.30-1 and 2-4.30, Saturday 9-12.30
Poynton Library is offering an Order and Collect Service. Please email or phone the library to let staff know what genre, author or subject you would like, and give your library card details and a contact number or email address.
Staff will choose up to 8 books and issue them to your library card, please note the selection will be limited to what is on the shelves. Specific book requests and reservations cannot be made at this time. Staff will give you a time to collect your items in a covid secure way. You can also return books when you collect. Please wear a face covering.
Please do not come to the library without an appointment. poynton.library@cheshireeast.gov.uk 01625 374818
Exciting photo opportunity
Poynton Town Council are looking to create a new fresh council website this year and would like to ask residents to submit images, that they have taken and own the copyright of, that we could use. These may be of Poynton landmarks or features, seasons or views of the centre of Poynton or just local landscape images.
We ask that there are no identifiable people on the images. If your image is chosen we will need you to fill in a consent form.
Please share your photos to this email address: office@poyntontowncouncil.gov.uk
A Message from Poynton Town Mayor
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well after what has been an extremely challenging year for everyone. I would like to pass on my thanks to the many keyworkers in Poynton who have supported the wider community during this time and to the Street Champions who helped their fellow residents during lockdown.
In a year dominated by coronavirus the role of Mayor has been significantly impacted, with many events and functions cancelled and groups that I would usually support not being able to meet. I have however been busy in the background and you can read what I have been up to here.
Following the government announcement on new national restrictions further challenges lie ahead. I know that as a community, the people of Poynton will continue to look out for each other during this period knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel with the rollout of the vaccination programme.
Finally I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year!
Cllr Lee Podmore (Mayor)
Haf Barlow, Town Clerk
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@poyntontownclrk |
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Poynton Town Council |
Tel: 01625 872238
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