News in Sandbach

The prime minister has appointed Fiona Bruce MP as his special envoy to promote freedom of religion and belief internationally.

Mrs Bruce, who is a Christian, has pledged to champion the causes of persecuted groups like the Uighur Muslims in China and the Yazidis in Iraq.

Plans to relax pandemic restrictions over the festive period have been cut down and limited to Christmas day itself in Cheshire East.

Originally, up to three households were to be allowed to mix for five days between 22 and 27 December.

Rail enthusiasts have snapped up iconic Crewe Rail Station signs and helped raise over £2,000 for a Sandbach charity.

The eight signs were up for grabs during Railway Children's week-long Rail Aid fundraiser which included an online auction.

A fundraiser has been launched in an effort to build a new spectator stand at Sandbach United FC which will be dedicated to a club stalwart.

Andy Kimber, 60, died earlier this month and left behind "a void at the club which will quite simply be impossible to fill", said Mike Senior.

The leadership of Cheshire East Council has denied that councillors did not receive adequate notice about proposals for the bike lane on Old Middlewich Road.

Cllr Mike Benson, a Conservative member representing the Sandbach Town ward, raised issues with a perceived lack of consultation among councillors and local businesses.

Cheshire East Council has reaffirmed its commitment to ending bullying in the borough at a recent meeting of its full council.

The commitment was made when a motion proposed by Middlewich representative Jonathan Parry won unanimous support.

Cheshire East will remain in tier 2 over the Christmas holiday period, the health secretary has announced.

Rates of infection in the borough sits at 119 cases per 100,000 in the most recent data, which shows a rise on the week before.

An online petition to remove a recently in bike lane in Sandbach has attracted over 1,000 signatures.

The two-way lane was installed on Old Middlewich road as part of Cheshire East Council's raft of active travel measure.

Cheshire East councillors have voted to approve 'the principle of introducing 20mph speed restrictions, where appropriate' following farcical scenes.

Members debated the motion during the authority's final full council meeting of the year — the third to be held virtually — with discussions including three amendments, bitter words exchanged, and some councillors not being aware of what they were voting on.

Sandbach RUFC is celebrating its third consecutive year in partnership with their sponsors Swansway Jaguar Crewe.

The welcome news comes as sports teams up and down the country face precarious financial situations as a result of the pandemic.