Congleton Carnival is looking forSuperheroes and Villains to join in the grandparade on Saturday 7th July! Friends,

neighbours, local groups, organisations andbusinesses are all invited to add to the colourand spectacle of the 'Marvel-lous' parade.The Parade will be ready to leave at 11amfrom Bromley Road and snake its way aroundthe town finishing near the Leisure Centre.Parade forms can be downloaded fromwww.congletoncarnival.co.uk

The fun continues in the park from 11am -7pm with stalls, entertainment, food, musicand children's rides. Spaces in the park arebooking up quickly, so get your applicationsin to the Carnival team as soon as possible toavoid disappointment.

BBeaear r NecessiecessititiesWith News from Congleton Town Council & Community Groups

Spring 2018

Nearly everyone knows someone whose lifehas been changed due to developing or caringfor someone with dementia. As a town,Congleton is looking to create at least 250Dementia Friends this year. A Dementia Friendssession lasts around an hour, are free to attendand are open to all. The content is designed byAlzheimer's Society and run by traineddementia friend champions. By attending oneof the sessions you'll find out about whatdementia is and what it isn't, plus someguidelines on how to present a friendly face.

The Dementia Friendly Congleton Group isalso helping to spread the word aboutdementia friendly activities taking placeacross the town. These range from coffeemornings, to church services, swimming and arange of clubs.

To find out more about activities and friendsawareness sessions, contact Mike Smith on01260 270350.

Come down to Congleton Park on Sunday22nd April from 1.30pm to support localpeople taking part in the Congleton SprintTriathlon and raising funds for the TownMayor's charities. This year there is a youngperson’s Go Tri followed by the adult event.As Bear Necessities went to print, there wasstill a few spaces available.

If you fancy trying the 500m swim, 10km bikeride and 5km run/jog, either as an individualor as part of a team, then please contact:info@congletontriathlon.co.uk.

Support Congleton’sSprint Triathlon!

C ongleton Food & Drink Festivalwill be celebrating its 10thanniversary on Sunday June

10th. From 10.30am - 4.30pm thetown centre will be buzzing witharound 120 stalls selling a wonderfulrange of dedicated local produce. Thestall holders will be sharing theirpassion for their top quality, healthyand mostly locally produced food withthe thousands of visitors in town.

Congleton Cycling Campaign group will setup a free bike parking area to encouragecycling to the Festival. The Green Scenesupports Congleton Sustainability group,Food4free, Vale allotment produce, the

RSPB, Compassion in World Farming and theBath House and Physic Garden who will beselling their medicinal herbs. Plus thepopular Festival Fringe will have art stallsand activities in Cross Street.

The Festival is organised by CongletonCommunity Projects and a great team ofvolunteers. Together they add the extramagic with a range of music and streetentertainment which has helped to buildthe festival's reputation as a 'must visit'attraction for the North West.

If you'd like to be on the team or volunteeron the day, call 01260 270908 or contactjo@congletocommunityprojects.org orvisit www.foodandrinkfestival.net

Bear Necessities is produced byCongleton Town Council. The nextnewsletter will be delivered around25th June. All contributions shouldbe sent by 8th June to JackieMacArthur at Congleton Town Hall,High Street, Congleton, CW12 1BN.Tel 01260 270350 or emailjm@congletontowncouncil.co.uk

Calling ALL Superheroes & Villains!

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The last Saturday of the monthwill see the pedestrian areapacked with stalls as the MakersMarket comes to town! The firstmarket will be held on the 28thApril and is designed to offersomething different for localpeople as well as boost footfallto help Congleton's town centre shops andmarket. The Makers Market companyorganises monthly artisan markets in 14towns across the area and is really excitedabout bringing the offer to Congleton nowthat the public realm works are complete.

Managing Director VictoriaCrane said: "Stall holdershad a great time inCongleton at theChristmas market and wecan't wait to be able tooffer a regular monthlymarket. The local shops

were very positive when we consulted themabout on the right time to hold this marketfor Congleton and we really believeeveryone will benefit from this monthlyevent." For the latest information see:www.themakersmarket.co.uk

The much promised new Leisure Centre forCongleton took a big step forward in Marchwhen Cheshire East Council approvedfunding and a preferred bidder for the £8.8million project. The centre will remain in thesame location and will benefit from a brandnew pool hall incorporating a new learnerand main pool. There will also be a completeredevelopment and refurbishment of theremaining building, with much improved

fitness and gym facilities. The centre willcontinue to be run by Everybody Sport andLeisure and the aim is to keep as much of thecentre open as possible during the works.

Cheshire East Council will be entering intodiscussions with the preferred bidder torefine the final design details and agree on atimeframe for the pre-construction stage,prior to applying for planning approvals.

New Look Leisure Centre

The Congleton Partnership and CongletonTown Council are working on a project torefurbish the Cenotaph site on LawtonStreet Congleton. The current site is lookingtired, has poor access for anyone with adisability and more crucially close on 250names of the casualties are not recorded onthe plaque. To right this wrong we need toextend the site to include more plaques forthe names and at the same time improveaccessibility, appearance and general

aesthetics of the area. Plans have beendeveloped with the community and havereceived planning permission from CheshireEast (Application number 17/3982C).Congleton now has three years to raise thenecessary £230,000 to make the projectpossible. £20,600 is already in the fund. Everyamount large and small will help. If you wishto donate or have ideas of ways to raisefunds contact Partnership Officer MikeSmith on 01260 270350 ext 7

A Cenotaph Fit for Congleton

Makers Market Comes to Congleton

Congleton Police are keen to work evenmore closely with local communities toensure that their voices are heard andconcerns answered. Congleton's PCSOs holda number of surgeries where you can pop infor a chat Police Surgeries will be held at:

• New Life Church Café: Thursday 19th April,Tues 8th May and Thurs 21st June; 10-11am

• Stock at the Pavilion: 1pm on Saturdaythe 7th April, 19th May and 30th June

• Congleton Library: 11am-1pm, Saturday21st April

• Astbury Mere: 12-2pm, 8th April, Bike Marking.

Information received from the public - eithervia the 101, Crimestoppers tel 0800 555 111or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.orgprovides the Police with vital information. Ittakes a lot of evidence to build a case.

The lighter evenings often coincide with anincrease in the amount of Anti-SocialBehaviour. Tackling Anti-Social Behaviouroften involves many groups andorganisations in the local community.

• If threatened, intimidated or criminaldamage - Police on 999 or 101, dependingon if in-progress or reporting

• For noise nuisance - Environmental Health0300 123 5015

• For fly-tipping, dog fouling, andabandoned vehicles where there could bea prosecution - 0300 123 5021.

C = Conservative; L = Labour; UKIP = UK Independence Party

Know YourCouncillorCONGLETON is divided into two wards, Eastand West. As a rough guide East Ward coversBuglawton, Bromley Farm and Mossley. WestWard covers the Town Centre, West Heath,Lower Heath and Newcastle Road. Each ward isrepresented by 10 Councillors.All Councillors can be contacted through theTown Council and further details can be seen atwww.congleton-tc.gov.uk Your Councillorselected to serve until May 2019 are:

Larry Barker (C)

Bob Edwards (C),Council Leader

Anna Morrison (C)

Charles Booth (C),Town Mayor

George Hayes (C)

Harvey Richards (C)

David Brown (C),Deputy Leader

Sally Holland (C)

Glen Williams (C)

Peter Broom (C)

Andrea Armitt (C)

Robert Boston (L)

Geoff Baggott (C)

Amanda Martin (C)

Dawn Allen (UKIP)

Paul Bates (C)

Jean Parry (C) Maurice Walker (C) Elizabeth Wardlaw(C)

Suzie Akers Smith(C), Deputy Mayor

East WardCouncillors

West WardCouncillors

Police Surgeries

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Congleton's Old Saw Mill is going from strength tostrength. An Artisan Shop has opened, selling hand-made cakes, biscuits, jams and chutneys, plusCongleton apple juice and cider as well as local beer.The café also serves delicious Vegan choices and aSlimmer's menu.

There's a whole host of classes from pilates tocrafting, and a range of meeting rooms that can behired out by the hour or day. All profits from thecentre are used to enhance the lives of residents,particularly those who are socially isolated, or needadditional help and support to lead happy andfulfilling lives. The hub always needs more volunteers- pop in and see what you can do for the Old Saw Mill,and what the Old Saw Mill can offer you! Back RiverStreet, off Antrobus Street. Tel 01260 277658.

Lots of Reasons to Visit

News In Brief...

In the year that Congleton in Bloom celebratesits 20th anniversary, the town will also have theopportunity to shine on the national stage as ittakes its place in the National in Bloom finals.Congleton will be up against nine other towns,including Perth, Royal Tunbridge Wells and BurySt Edmonds for the coveted Best Large Town inthe UK. Judging is likely to be late July for NorthWest in Bloom and early August for Britain inBloom. The In Bloom competitions are about

community involvement and environmentalresponsibility as well as horticultural excellence.

To stand out in the competition we really doneed as many people as possible to getinvolved - you can help by:

• Sending In Bloom pictures of your favouriteCongleton front gardens

• Join in local area tidies - See Congleton inBloom on Facebook for dates, times andlocations

• Help out with the Canal Adoption Group onthe 4th Thursday of the month, 10-2pm; Tel07742 450068

• Help look after a small local area – Litterpickers provided

• Report in grot spots toinfo@congletontowncouncil.co.uk

Congleton Bath House and Physic Garden is holding its first 2018Open Day on Saturday May 12th. This historic and beautiful site isonly two minutes' walk from the Town Hall, in the former groundsof Bradshaw House, Lawton Street. History tours of the early 19thcentury listed Bath House will be running throughout the day andthere will also be tours of the garden with a medical herbalist.There will be other stalls, including one offering plants for sale.

Admission is free with the site open from 10 am until 4pm

Heritage, Herbs and Health!

Spring flower collages made bynursery children from Hilltop DayNursery can be seen in the publicMoody Street garden. The garden ishome to sensory plants, bird boxesand a butterfly sculpture, and is openfor all Congleton residents to enjoy.Children and staff from the nurseryare regular visitors to the garden andhelp to maintain the area by plantingnew bulbs and installing birdfeeders. For more information aboutthe nursery, based in Chapel Street,contact Gail Ollier on 01260 276 085.

Moody StreetFlower Power

The Congleton in Bloom team is on the lookoutfor stunning photographs of Congleton for a2019 calendar. If you're a keen amateur or just alittle snap happy the In Bloom team would loveyou to enter. The competition is open until theend of July and you can enter a maximum of 12pictures. The entries must be set in Congletonand need to be at least 1mb each in density.The creators of the 12 pictures chosen for thecalendar will each receive a gift voucher. The

judges will be looking for a variety of seasonsand locations across the town.

To enter, send your photos by email toinfo@congletontowncouncil.co.uk or in thepost to: CIB Photo Competition, Congleton TownCouncil, Congleton Town Hall, High Street,Congleton CW12 1BN. The works must be yourown. Details sent with the photo will only beused for the purposes of contacting the winners.

WANTED -Stunning Seasonal Photos of Congleton

Building Up for the National in Bloom Finals

MAYOR MAKING AND PARADE Congleton's next Mayor Making ceremony willtake place as part of the Annual Town Councilmeeting held in the Town Hall on Thursday17th May at 7pm. This meeting is open to alland is part of a long tradition of Mayors inCongleton. The Mayor's Civic Parade will beheld on Sunday 17th June, meeting at the backof the Town Hall at 2.15pm.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Congleton's Annual Town Meeting will takeplace on Thursday 26th April from 7pm -8.30pm. This is not a Council meeting but ameeting for residents where you can haveyour say on all matters connected toCongleton and is hosted by the Town Mayor.There will be a number of short presentationsfollowed by a chance to ask questions.

PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDERA new order has been passed to give Policeand Wardens extra powers to tackle anti-socialbehaviour in the Market area, Princess Streetand Victoria Street. New signs will be put up inApril and those breaking the order could risk a£100 fine.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Congleton Neighbourhood Plan should begoing to Regulation 15 this summer and toa referendum by the end of 2018. More canbe seen at www.mycongleton.org

LONGER TO WRITE SHORT STORYThe deadline for Congleton's 700 wordshort story competition about a Mayor hasbeen extended until April 16th to allow thefull use of the Easter Holidays to getcreative! The stories will be judged by threeauthors and prizes awarded at the Triathlonon the 22 April.

More at www.congleton-tc.gov.uk

DECORATING THE TOWN A series of public art workshops to createbunting to decorate the town for thesummer activities is being planned byCongleton Community Projects. If you areinterested in this project please contactjo@congletoncommunityprojects.org orcall 07833 742200 for further details.

BRASS ON THE GRASSThe 5th Annual Brass on the Grass concerthas been organised by Friends ofCongleton Park and will take place onSunday 17th June in Congleton Park. Theafternoon of free music starts at 1.30pmand continues until 5.30pm. This is the startof a summer of Sunday band concerts inthe park. The Concerts are from 2.30pm -4.30pm. See ‘Other Dates for Your Diary’ fordates and venues.

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Jazz & Blues Warm-Up Gig

Bear NecessitiesCongleton Paddling Pool in Park Road isgetting ready to open its gates for thesummer season, starting on Saturday 26thMay. The town's paddling pool will remainopen, weather permitting, from 10am -6pm daily until early September. Due toconcerns over safety, numbers may needto be restricted on the busiest, hottestdays. Last year this wasn't necessary. Ondays where more than 150 people wish toaccess the pool at the same time twosessions may be introduced and ticketsgiven at the gate to restrict numbers.

Residents are reminded that the pool isdesigned for primary school aged children

and all children must be accompanied by aresponsible adult. Alcohol, smoking/vaping,dogs and cycling are not permitted insidethe Paddling Pool area. Users are remindedto be respectable of local residents and toremember that Daneside Theatre Car Park isa private car park and cannot be used forthe pool. Town centre car parks are just ashort walk from the pool and park.

Paddling-PoolTime of Year!

April

7 Life Art Lessons, The Old Saw Mill, 11am7 Congleton Choral Society- Spring Concert, Congleton Town

Hall7 Easter Dance, St. John's Community Centre, 8pm10 Family Fun Festival, Congleton Leisure Centre, 1pm10 Craft-ernoon Tea, Congleton Library, 2pm12 CTC Council Meeting, Town Hall, 7pm- followed by Town

hall Committee20 NHS Blood Service, Town Hall, 1.45-4.15pm - 5.30-7.45pm20-22 Gawsworth Methodist Church Flower Church21 Life Art Lessons, The Old Saw Mill, 11am22 Congleton's 2nd Triathlon, Congleton Park23 Story & Tea for Grown-Ups, Congleton Library, 2.30pm24-28 Constellations by Congleton Players, Daneside Theatre26 Annual Town Meeting, Town Hall, 7pm

May

3 NHS Blood Service, Town Hall, 1.45-4.15pm - 5.30-7.45pm5 Hidden Places Theatre Day & Performance, 1pm5 May-We-Dance, St. John's Community Centre, 8pm6 Museum Walk "Throstle Nest by Tommys Brook", Congleton

Museum, 2pm8 Craft-ernoon Tea, Congleton Library, 2pm10-12 Wind in the Willows by Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre,

Daneside Theatre11 All Stars Cricket, Mossley Cricket Club, 5.30pm13 "Finding Your Feet" Film at Daneside Theatre, 7pm17 Annual Council Meeting & Mayor Making Ceremony, Town

Hall, 7pm19 Carnival Fundraiser- Soul Night, Congleton Town Hall, 7pm19 Ga Ga- A Tribute to Queen, Daneside Theatre24 NHS Blood Service, Town Hall, 1.45-4.15pm - 5.30-7.45pm25 Beartown Boxing, Congleton Town Hall26 Congleton Paddling Pool Opens for Summer26 West Coast Eagles, Daneside Theatre

June

2 Early Summer Dance, St. John's Community Centre, 8pm3 Museum Walk "Pub Crawl Through Time", Congleton

Museum, 2pm8 NHS Blood Service, Town Hall, 1.45-4.15pm - 5.30-7.45pm10 Congleton Food & Drink Festival- 10th Anniversary12 Craft-ernoon Tea, Congleton Library, 2pm17 Congleton Town Mayor Civic Service, Town Hall17 Congleton Brass on the Grass, Congleton Park20 NHS Blood Service, Town Hall, 1.45-4.15pm - 5.30-7.45pm24 Audley Brass Band Concert, Congleton Park25 Story & Tea for Grown-Ups, Congleton Library, 2.30pm30 Congleton Youth Orchestra Concert, Congleton Town Hall,

7.30pm

July

1 Museum Walk "Mill Walks and Industrial Yarns", CongletonMuseum, 2pm

7 Congleton Carnival and Fun Day in the Park 11am - 7pm7 One Act Playwriting Festival by the Congleton Players,

Daneside Theatre, 7.30pm8 Congleton Lions Club- Band Concert, Congleton Park, 2pmCongleton in the Regional and National In BloomJudging Competitions

Members of the public are welcome to attend Congleton TownCouncil (CTC) meetings – Anyone may ask questions during the 15minutes allocated at the beginning of the meeting. Please notethere could be items towards the end of the meeting, which bylaw, require the press and public to be excluded.For Daneside Theatre productions, contact Congleton TouristInformation on 01260 271095.For Congleton Town Council (CTC) contact 01260 270350. For moreevents, see www.congleton-tc.gov.uk

There's a chance to experience theatre atvenues across Congleton on Saturday 5thMay. Promenade Theatre Day will start at1.30pm with a kids performance of theirown play, followed by 4-5 short pieceswritten and performed by students fromManchester Metropolitan University.

For those aged 12-17 wishing to take partin the kids performance there is a chanceto help write, act, direct and create sceneryat workshops being held at the ElectricPicture House in Cross Street. Theworkshops are free but have limited places,they take place at various times on the 7th,9th, 10th , 21st and 26th April and 3rdMay.It promises to be lots of fun and a bitmessy. Please reserve your child's place by

emailing electricpicturehouse@gmail.comor Tel: 01260 270908. A packed lunch will beneeded on the full days.

In the evening of the Promenade TheatreDay there will be a professionalperformance at in the Electric PictureHouse at 7.30pm by Sam Brady and iscalled Things I Say When I Don't Say I LoveYou and was created as part of the Lowry's'Developed With' programme. It is apoignant and perfectly judged one-manplay about male relationships within onefamily when dealing with a life changingdementia diagnosis. This project issupported by Congleton Town Trust, andthe Inclosure Trust.

Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival gets that little bitbigger each year! In 2018 the Town Hall will bejoining in as a venue and things are starting earlywith a warm-up gig featuring some of the festivalfavourites - Robin Pierce Band, Heidi Browne andVavoom on Saturday 21st April. Doors open at 7pmfor what promises to be a super-dooper packed outnight. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the nightand are available from the Town Hall TouristInformation Centre and A&A Music. All proceeds willgo to the Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival.

The Medieval Banquet planned as part of the 700 Years of Mayoralty events,will now take place on Saturday, 22nd September as part of the calendar ofevents for the Congleton Heritage and Antiques Festival. It promises to be amemorable and spectacular evening in the Town Hall, so hold the date!

Medieval Banquet Planned for September

Promenade Theatre and Workshops

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