THURSDAY, 2nd AUGUST, 2012.

Milk price battle

Tricksters at large Readers'ViewsPages21-25 Page 30

Page 7

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 17-20

Olympic oatcakes

Page 11

Number of new businesses hits a historic high

Musical pupils know the score

By Chris Young The number of new usinesses set up in ongleton has reached historic high, giving ope of fresh prosperty round the corner.

Figures released on Sunday showed that that 30 new limited compa-

ies were set up from anuary to July — more han at any point since the 1800s at the height of the ndustrial Revolution.

From January to July last ear the figure was 150 and n 2010 it was 127.

“The figures reflect the ntrepreneurial nature of the own,” said Dave Watson,

chairman of East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, adding: “This is the way to come out of the recession.”

His own experience was an example: “I started a micro business when I was made redundant in the 1980s and it went on to employ 150 people.

“You aren’t going to get another Siemens come to Congleton, it isn’t going to happen. These micro businesses are the way out of the recession.”

Paul Bates, a member of the town’s chamber of trade, said: “A lot of these businesses are probably home workers who might have come out of regular employment and decided to start their own business.

“It doesn’t surprise me that many people are starting up and it doesn’t surprise me it’s happening in Congleton. Mediocrity isn’t

Life in 1912 Miners strike . . . The Titanic sinks . . . Fighting in the streets . . . Poachers shoot gamekeeper in Biddulph

Read all about it In our special 1912 edition of the “Chronicle”. News from Alsager, Biddulph, Congleton and Sandbach – in the days before the NHS, state benefits and health and safety . . .

On sale soon something we strive to achieve.

Peter Valaitis of Duport Associates, the UK company formation agency that compiled the encouraging figures, said: “All the positive work that has been done in Congleton has made it a great place to start a business. The increase in new companies being set up reflects the evolution of this growing town.”

Entrepreneurs could be attracted to a 10-acre site at the Radnor Park Industrial Estate Congleton, which will have business units after being bought by a Roman Lodge Estates, based at Dane Mill. • —Turn to back page.

Chief exec who fired all his staff comes to Cheshire East Council

A Cheshire East councillor has blasted the appointment of interim chief executive, claiming it was made on the basis of “no more than a chat”.

Independent Brendan Murphy said he was “far from satisfied” with the appointment and called for an emergency meeting of the staffing committee to stop it.

As we reported last week, Cheshire East Council’s former chief executive Erika Wenzel has left the authority “by mutual consent” with a £93,550 pay-out, following a period of sickness leave.

On Wednesday the authority confirmed her replacement would be Kim Ryley, who has been chief executive at Shropshire Council. His contract will run from 13th August to the end of November.

But Coun Murphy told the “Chronicle”: “There are far too many unanswered questions. The process of appointing someone on the basis of private chats is unlawful — the council constitution lays down very clear rules of procedure.

“Once again procedures have not been followed and that makes a mockery of the Lyme Green inquiry into mana erial conduct.

(He was referring to an aborted waste treatment plant at Lyme Green, Macclesfield, that squandered £800,000. Work began without properly consulting councillors and other staff.)

Coun Murphy continued: “In any event, I would have no confidence in a new chief executive whose first words are that he is ‘looking forward to well-earned retirement!’”

In a letter to council leader Conservative Michael Jones Coun Murphy said he was “disappointed” with the announcement of Mr Ryley’s appointment.

“You have been very eloquent on the subject of inclusivity and transparency but if the manner of this appointment is to be taken as a hallmark of how you intend walking the walk, it does not bode well,” Coun Murphy wrote.

He added: “You describe the appointment ‘as agreed with members Staffing Committee members’. But you know the matter was never put to the Staffing Committee, let alone approved by it. You might have spoken informally to chosen members but the decision to appoint was yours and yours alone. • —Turn to page 29.

Musical pupils at Mossley Primary School were given the keys to success recently during a visit from Alsager music education company Key Strings. Keith Mosedale and Keith W Mosedale delivered an Olympic-themed musical afternoon at the Congleton school, introducing the children to the string family of the orchestra. Pictured with the Key Strings duo are, from left, Sam Davies, (8), Harry Bowyer, (7), Hannah Lenton, (8), Cate Ling, (7), and Jonathan Clark, (7). (“Chronicle” photo 3043/12).

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