THURSDAY, 14th JUNE, 2012.

Food bank in demand

Bus cuts threat Readers'ViewsPages22-25 Page 7

Page 31

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 18-21

Station mast plan

Page 56

Rules broken in council’s rush to build waste plant

By Chris Young Cheshire East Council broke both its own rules and those of the European Union when it pressed ahead with plans for a new waste treatment plant.

An audit into the process stated officers felt rules could be breached because there would be no consequences.

So far the council has spent more than £800,000 on the aborted plant at the Lyme Green depot in Macclesfield, which was intended to deal with waste from the north of the borough, including parts of Congleton.

It was scrapped this year after the council made a string of mistakes and policy breaches.

In February a planning application, submitted after construction had started, was withdrawn, and it has been revealed that the council had suggested the planning application be “fast tracked”.

Following the withdrawal, then council leader Wesley Fitzgerald and chief executive Erika Wenzel ordered an independent audit to find out what had gone wrong.

It was released last week, and will be discussed at a council meeting today (Thursday).

Breaches in council policy had been considered “tolerable” because officers did not think there would be any adverse consequences.

Some of the recommendations made to stop the situation happening again included better communication between council departments, mak

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www.congletonglass.co.uk ing sure there were more severe consequences for transgressing council rules and using more flow charts.

Among the council’s transgressions was the intention to “fast track” a planning application to start building before permission was granted and failing to put contracts out to tender.

• —Turn to back page.

Police ask for help in town centre sex attack investigation

Police are appealing to people who were in Congleton town centre early on Sunday morning to come forward after a woman was sexually assaulted in the town’s community gardens.

The attack took place sometime between 4-6am and police were called at around 7am after a 27-year-old local woman

Motorbike and car in collision

A 24-year-old man was taken to hospital on Sunday following a collision between a car and a motorbike on Canal Street in Congleton.

Police were called to the scene at 5.50pm. The man was taken to hospital with an injury to his shoulder. He was discharged following treatment.

Flaming rubbish

A small rubbish fire broke out near Congleton Leisure Centre on Monday evening.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Worrall Street at 8.14pm and put the fire out.

reported the incident.

The victim is being supported by specialist police officers and enquiries into the circumstances are underway.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Congleton High Street and Lawton Street, possibly after a night out, who could assist the investigation.

Anyone with information can contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident 281 of 10th June or alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

High Street closed

Congleton High Street will be closed from 7.30am to 6pm on Sunday for Congleton Food and Drink Festival.

There will be no access to the High Street from Market Street, Canal Road or Moody Street. However, access remains to Morrison’s and the car boot sale in the market.

For the story on the festival, turn to page 13.

We are the champions! Team Hotdog smashed the competition when “It’s a knockout” came to Congleton Park on Sunday. Teams braved water, foam and embarassment to be crowned the town’s top team. Ther fun afternoon was organised by Team Congleton, and some contestants have already asked for the event to be repeated next summer. For the full story and pictures turn to pages 28 and 29. (“Chronicle” photo. 2417a/12).

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