S I T TI BI

COMITUM

SANCTA COMORS

Registered at the Post Office as a Newspaper Est. 1893

INCORPORATED WITH THE CONGLETON AND MACCLESFIELD MERCURY

THURSDAY, 18th MARCH, 2010

Price 55p

INSIDE: OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY GUIDE FEATURING LOCAL ESTATE AGENTS

Judge slams police

Councillors under fire Readers' Views Pages 21-25 Page 56

Page 28

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 18-20

You've been Googled!

Page 7

Rival firm has new plans for town centre By Chris Young

‘Love food — hate waste’

campaign bears fruit

Two building firms will be in competition to determine which one is to change the face of Congleton town centre.

Plans for Bridestones Centre have been in the ipeline for several years, but this week the “Chronicle” was exclusively shown alternative lans for the redevelopment of Congleton.

The CWC Group, which own the town’s Capitol Walk shopping arcade, has designed a “comprehensive” £50m scheme to rejuvenate the town centre.

The Jameson Group, which is promoting the development, will unveil its plans to the public next weekend, but the “Chronicle” was given a first look on Monday. So far only Congleton Town Council, the chamber of commerce and the “Chronicle” have been shown the plans.

Car parks They include a “super surgery” built on the Princess Street car park and a supermarket on the site of the existing library, police station and former council offices complex. Both would have large, underground car parks.

Congleton’s outdoor market would be moved to the current bus station site, and the YMCA charity shop on High Street would be converted into a “Covent Garden style” indoor market.

see more CHERISHED minis.

Blue BELL crewe 100% Approved Used MINIs www.bluebellmini.co.uk

A bus interchange would be built on Market Street, a new library and café incorporated into the supermarket building and public gardens dotted around the town centre. CWC hopes the developments would encourage someone to buy the long-empty Bossons Mill and convert it into a hotel.

The group, owned by developer Charles Clowes, claims the plans would benefit the town more than the current scheme to extend the Bridestones shopping centre, originally submitted by developers Modus but now being run by Scarborough Developments.

Scarborough’s plans are for Bridestones to be expanded with a new food store, hotel and public square. • —Turn to back page.

‘Slap head’ insult kicked off a mass brawl outside pub

Bottles were hurled and glasses were smashed in a “riot” involving around 30 people from Congleton and Stoke on Friday.

It began in the Beat Route pub and spilled outside onto West Street, Congleton, leading to several assaults including an attack on a woman bystander and a man being thrown through a shop window.

Eight police cars were seen at the incident and the road was cordoned off.

On the night, the pub was host to two Stoke-on-Trent bands, The Rivalry and Acid Sunshine. Fans arrived on a coach that had set off from Chell Heath, near Biddulph.

Beat Route co-owner Jim Cessford claimed that those music fans chased Congleton revellers out of the venue soon after the bands had played their sets at around 11.20pm.

He said that the police had told him the had broken u a art in West Heath minutes before and the same partygoers had headed to the Beat Route.

Mr Cessford said staff members checked under-18s were not drinking alcohol and did not allow people to take drinks outside but he saw people who had brought their own drinks, consuming alcohol outside the venue.

He said a boy from Congleton, between 18 and 19-years-old started a fight by the pool table and it quickly descended into chaos.

Mr Cessford claimed: “Apparently, someone from Congleton slapped one of the Stoke people round the back of the head saying, ‘slap head’ and that’s when it all started. I did not see who threw the first punch. I saw it was Congleton and Stoke people.

“Suddenly all the Stoke crowd, who had been watching the bands, chased the others outside.”

It was then that bottles and glasses were hurled and smashed. • —Turn to back page.

Smoothie operators Chloe Lever-Campbell and Billy Beach collect the ingredients to make a “berry” tasty fruit drink at Cheshire East Council’s “Love food - hate waste” roadshow on Friday. They were put through their paces by celebrity chef Richard Fox during the event at Tesco on Barn Road, Congleton. For the full story, turn to the back page. (“Chronicle” photo. 1126/10).

CONGLETON GLASS CO LTD Est 1968

• Family run business for 40 years

ROCK DOORS

from £799 inc. VAT fitted

YOUR LOCAL uPVC WINDOW, DOOR

& CONSERVATORY SPECIALISTS

NO VAT INCREASE for a limited period

• Energy saving recommended • A+ rated • Super insulating • Lead free profile • Secured by design • UKs first approved zero carbon window system

FENSA Registered Company

Royle Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1HR. Tel. 01260 274505

www.congletonglass.co.uk Email: congletonglass@btconnect.com