S I T TI BI

COMITUM

SANCTA COMORS

Registered at the Post Office as a Newspaper Est. 1893

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THURSDAY, 4th FEBRUARY, 2010.

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INSIDE: OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY GUIDE FEATURING LOCAL ESTATE AGENTS

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Havannah inquiryReaders' Views Pages 24-26Page 9

Page 19

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 31-32

Valentine's special

Pages 22-23

Staff cuts will harm adults in need, social workers claimBy Lyndsey Telford

‘Wildlife reserve’ owner vows to carry on fi ght after enforcement order

Social workers whose obs are on the line have contacted the “Chronicle” to claim that the cost cutting could cause vulnerable adults to suffer.

According to the whistlelowers Cheshire East Council plans to cut as much as 75% of its qualifi ed adult services to save money.

Qualifi ed staff with years of experience have been offered a voluntary redundancy package and some are to be given the chance to transfer to children’s services — but that would be at the expense of adults who need help.

One supervisory care worker in Congleton explained that part of the cost-cutting plan was to replace senior social workers with lower grade social care assessors.

She said: “These people don’t have the qualifi cations or the experience that many of those losing their jobs do. All they need is an NVQ in care and basic computer skills.

“They will keep the cheap, inexperienced staff and get rid of those they consider to be more expensive — the most valuable with years of experience.”

She explained that the role of the

A Valentine gift....

social care assessors involved them being sent off with laptops to collect data about people on benefi ts, enter details and establish whether they were receiving the right amount of money.

“This could result in people having essential care taken away from them,” she said.

“The council’s personalisation plan could see adults receive a direct payment care package based on their needs. People will be able to choose which services they require, such as day care and transport. • —Turn to back page.

Double discount: Aldi reveals West Heath store plan

After a two-year battle with two successive councils, Leo Deen was told to shut his Timbersbrook nature reserve last week. He is holding the enforcement notice informing him that he must obey or go through the appeal procedure. The full story is on the back page. (“Chronicle” photo. 511/10).

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Business is so brisk at Aldi in Congleton that bosses have revealed plans to build a second one — just 1.4 miles up the road.

The cut-price supermarket chain has set its sights on West Heath Shopping Centre.

And the proposal was discussed at a meeting of Congleton Town Council at Congleton Town Hall on Thursday.

Councillors heard Aldi wants planning permission to build a new 1,303sqm food store attached to Shaad Indian restaurant — a space currently used as a 55-bay parking area.

If granted, the company said the new store would be open for business next year, and create up to 12 jobs. It said the Mountbatten Way store would remain open.

A retail assessment included with the planning application said that the Mountbatten Way store was doing so well that a second shop would help meet demand at the other end of Congleton.

It stated that West Heath was currently the only suitable site, since plans for the town centre Bridestones 2 scheme had stalled.

Councillors were told the new store’s proposed opening hours would be 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Aldi assured the council that the proposed store would not grab trade from smaller town centre shops, but instead from the town’s larger retailers. It stated: “It will draw the majority of its trade from existing large food stores within Congleton, particularly Tesco and Morrisons.

“It will clearly draw trade away from the existing Aldi store at Mountbatten Way as existing customers switch allegiance to the more convenient store.

“Consumers generally use other shops and stores as well as Aldi in order to fulfi l their grocery shopping and local service needs. Aldi is therefore complementary to the existing pattern of trading.”

• —Turn to back page.

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