News in Sandbach

Fiona Bruce has sought to explain why she was one of more than 300 Conservative MPs who voted to block plans to extend free school meals for the most vulnerable children in society in the House of Commons.

Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford has been putting pressure on the Government to support the issue following his own experience as a child.

The Christmas light switch in Sandbach is going virtual this year as the Coronavirus restrictions continue to cancel in-person events.

The issue was discussed at Thursday's (22 October) meeting of the town council, where it was agreed a virtual event was the next best solution.

Firefighters in Cheshire are urging people to think twice before they light a bonfire or have a firework display in their garden this year.

Due to Covid-19 and the current restrictions, and the fact that all professionally organised bonfires are cancelled, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is concerned that the spike they saw in garden fires at the start of lockdown may repeat itself around Bonfire Night.

A café is offering free meals to children on Sandbach market days during the half term break in support of Marcus Rashford's school meals campaign.

Jo Rock's Café made the kind offer following last week's government decision to vote down the extension of free school meals during the holidays.

Cheshire East residents are being invited to comment again on the second part of the borough's Local Plan, ahead of its submission for examination by an independent planning inspector.

Following feedback on the previous draft in late 2019, the council's cabinet has now agreed changes to the site allocations and development policies document (SADPD), taking on board a wide range of comments from the public.

Cheshire East Council has announced they will be providing supermarket vouchers for families who need them over the half-term break.

The move comes after the government rejected calls from England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford MBE to extend free school meals to cover holidays.

This weekend is Cheshire's second under tier 2 coronavirus restrictions, and despite a long, and occasionally arduous road to this point, the battles over the future of the county's Covid response are still ongoing.

However, round two is not over restrictions — it's about support.

More than 500 children in Cheshire East are cared for by the council, new data shows.

A freedom of information request to the body reveals 535 youngsters are designated 'looked after children' by CEC, with 269 aged 12-plus.

The director of public health in Cheshire East has called on residents to observe two metre social distancing following a sharp rise in cases locally.

The borough is currently in tier 2 of restrictions and neighbouring areas in Greater Manchester will move into the 'very high' tier 3 today.

Cheshire Constabulary is urging residents to work together to help in the continued fight against Coronavirus.

In recent weeks there has been a steady increase in coronavirus cases across the county, which has resulted in the introduction of a number of restrictions under the new three-tier system.