THURSDAY, 14th APRIL, 2011.

Phone mast threat

Car hits house Readers'ViewsPages22-25 Page 56

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What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 19-21

'Cowardly' assault

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Plumbing firm fails after 57 years in town

Litter-busters clean up town’s act

By Chris Young A company that has been a familiar name in Congleton for more

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than half a century has collapsed.

The 12 staff at Alcock’s Heating and Plumbing heard on Thursday that they would lose their jobs the next day and were asked to return equipment and vehicles belonging to the company.

Company manager Adrian Foster, who joined the Greenfield Farm Industrial Estate-based firm in 1981, said he was informed of the job losses, which included his own, shortly before the rest of the staff.

He said: “It seems to be since February that things started to get worse. The phones weren’t ringing. Customers didn’t seem to be spending as much money on renovation work; work just wasn’t being generated.

“We were really busy with all the bad weather this winter, but it trailed off.

“There is not a lot of building work going on, and a lot of people are going self-employed. That is what we are up against; the competition is very keen.”

He said he felt sorry for his fellow workers and the loyal customers, adding: “I would like to thank the people of Congleton and Cheshire for all their support over the years.” • —Turn to back page.

Litter-busting Cubs, Scouts and Beavers joined volunteers across Congleton to c l ean up some of the town’s grot spots on Saturday morning.

As part of The Big Tidy Up, they spent two hours sprucing up areas including the community garden and war memorial on Lawton Street, the River Dane walkway, Antrobus Street garden, Moody Street and Mill Street.

The clean up (organised by Congleton Town Council and Congleton In Bloom) will help Congleton to sparkle at this year’s North West In Bloom and Community Pride awards.

Pictured above are Dane Valley Scouts Aaron Marshall, Dylan Massey and Jacob Ryan.

(“Chronicle” photo. 1516a/11).

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Closure threat for ambulance station

Congleton Ambulance Station off Manchester Road could close as part of a costcutting exercise.

Alan Stuttard, director of finance for the North West Ambulance Service said: “In the current financial climate, as a responsible public sector organi

Not the chairman

Our front page headline last week said “Independents lose chairman over expenses.” We would like to point out that Graham Goodwin was not chairman of Congleton First. Apologies for this error.

sation, NWAS must look at ways in which it can make efficiencies with minimum disruption to its frontline services.

“One area which is currently being reviewed is our estate.”

Congleton councillor Lisa Bossons, a former NHS nurse said: “I am opposed to any cuts of this kind and I am quite concerned about the changes.

“I think what is happening to the whole NHS service is terrible.

“No doubt they will tell us that parking an ambulance in a lay-by is a great way to cut overheads but it is really just the road to further privatisation.

The ambulance service said there was a possibility that some ambulance stations in east Cheshire could close, but no decision had been made. • —Turn to back page.

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