Handbridge.com

Revised plans and information have been submitted for the proposed West Cheshire College motor vehicle workshop at their Chester Campus in Eaton Road, Handbridge. The revisions address most of the concerns expressed by residents.

The new building is to be rotated at 90 deg so that the workshop doors will now face the main building and the parking bays are back to back with existing parking. The office and ancillary space will be relocated to the western elevation fronting Eaton Road and the bund surrounding the building has been removed from the plans.

By applying these changes both the encroachment into the greenbelt and visual impact from Eaton Road has reduced significantly.

Handbridge resident Ron Sutton has sent us another excellent photograph: Dawn on the River Dee January 2012.

You can see more of Ron's photographs of Handbridge in the Chester gallery of his website www.ronsuttonimages.com

Have you taken a photo of Handbridge recently that you would like to feature as our big picture? If so, please contact us using the link above and we will be in touch.

A Handbridge pub will be holding its Feb Fest Beer Festival shortly which landlord Chris Wood promises will be "the biggest ever".

The regular event, which attracts real ale drinkers from across the region, will offer a great range of 17 cask ales and ciders. This year all beers will be served on hand pump for the first time.

Pub owners, Manchester based Hydes Brewery, are brewing their famous 6% "Carlton Crippler" specially for the event, and Saltney based Chester Ales, of which Chris is one of the directors, are providing a special ale called Vespasian, a 7.4% heavily hopped IPA.

The festival runs from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 February and features a hog roast on the Friday and Saturday. There will be live entertainment every evening from the best local talent in Chester including Topped Up, E.O.T., Dave O'Connor and many more.

Update 13:28 18/01/12: We have been advised that problems with Cheshire West and Chester Council online planning system persist so we we have made all the relevant documents available on this site. The links are further down this article.

West Cheshire College have submitted a planning application to build a motor vehicle workshop at their Chester Campus in Eaton Road, Handbridge.

The proposal is to build a standalone facility, to the south side of the  main building, comprising 5 workshop bays, a 'mock reception' adjacent to the main entrance, an open plan office, toilet facilities, a store room and battery charge area.

The building will be located within a secure compound enclosed by 'Paladin' powder coated fencing matching that of the existing service area in the main college building.

Additional landscaping, including a 1.2 metre earth mound around the facility, and tree planting is included to minimise the visual impact to Eaton Road is included in the proposals.

APOLOGIES from PCSO Pendrey - the date advertised was incorrect - it is actually Sunday 22 January.

More people in Chester are being offered free security marking for their bikes as part of a wide-ranging police campaign to reduce bike-thefts.

As a result of this initiative several hundred cycles had postcodes or other identity numbers etched on to the frames last year.

Now Police Community Support Officer Jo Pendrey has organized another bike marking and advice session at at St Mary's Church Hall in Handbridge on Sunday 22 January 2012 from 2pm to 4pm.

Your are urged support this event, the Police will be more likely to be able to return your bike to you if it is stolen.