STRONGMEN from across Europe will convene in Northwich on Bank Holiday Monday for a spectacular test of strength.

Qualifiers have been held up and down the country ready for the UK Strongman North final at Moss Farm, at 11am.

The event forms part of the Northwich Festival, which takes place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Mark Preece, a former strongman who has organised the festival final for the past five years, said: “If you’ve ever watched Strongman on the telly it’s exactly the same. They do the same events as on the TV, such as pick up a car and walk with it and pull a wagon.

“During the past five years, it’s got bigger and bigger. It’s become a nationwide competition that’s grown from Cheshire’s Strongest Man, but it’s still part of Northwich Festival.”

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TRANSPORT in Northwich will be transformed when the Northwich Nipper comes to town.

A free shuttle bus service will link the railway station with the town centre and bus station when the scheme is piloted next month.

It will begin its six-week trial on September 20, running every weekday from 8.30am to 4pm continuously.

The Northwich Nipper shuttle bus pilot is one of the first projects initiated by the new Regenerate Northwich partnership and is being funded by Northern Rail, Northwich Town Council and the Weaver Valley Partnership Board.

Organisers also plan for it to provide a free drop off and pick up service at all of Northwich’s major supermarkets.

Mike Cooksley, chairman of Regenerate Northwich, said: “When the partners came together to form the partnership our intention was to get things done and make a difference in the town.

“This is the first step to doing exactly that – hopefully getting Northwich back on its feet and to be followed by a number of further initiatives and projects that will kick start the town’s regeneration.

“This initiative demonstrates, even at a time of financial constraint and difficulties, what can be done with the support of local organisations, local people and businesses working together.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone concerned. Not only is there a direct benefit to the town’s businesses but a real tangible benefit to commuters, visitors, shoppers and local communities.

“Hopefully it will assist in tackling the problem of congestion and issues around the environment by providing a quick, convenient and free public transport service.”

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SAINSBURY’S in Northwich is encouraging its customers to try to recycle something new, in this case, mobile phone chargers.

Customers will be able to transfer their long-forgotten phone chargers in the back of drawers to the new recycling banks in Sainsbury’s.

The supermarket chain is hoping to recycle 150,000 chargers by August 28, with around 20 million chargers estimated to be discarded in people’s homes.

Sainsbury’s Northwich is looking for people help the company to reach the target, the weight of which would equate to about five double-decker buses.

Neil Sachdev, Sainsbury’s property director, said: “By running this campaign, we hope to raise awareness of charger recycling facilities, while at the same time preventing nearly 40 tonnes of waste from going to landfill.

“The initiative was originally suggested by Sainsbury’s colleagues, who are passionate about engaging customers and making to lead more environmentally friendly lives.”

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A CAMPAIGN is being launched to save mid Cheshire’s courts.

Northwich Magistrates’ Court and County Court, both based at the court house, in Chesterway, are facing the axe under Ministry of Justice proposals.

Northwich Town Council is writing to all town and parish councils in the area in a bid to save it.

Clr Bob Robinson said: “This is not just Northwich court but mid Cheshire’s court.

“Winsford doesn’t have a court and Middlewich doesn’t either.

“We should be fighting this as a mid Cheshire’s court and that should not be closed.”

Clr Robinson told the council that he worked at the court the last time it was threatened with closure, about 10 years ago.

He said asbestos was the first argument used to close the court house, then lack of usage was raised as the issue.

Campaigners joined forces then and the council hopes they can do so again.

Clr Arthur Neil said: “We should write to Middlewich Town Council and Winsford Town Council and make sure that they are aware of this and ask them to join with us in opposing this closure.”

As well as writing to the councils, councillors will also contact the three MPs, Graham Evans, Stephen O’Brien and Chancellor George Osborne, and the Vale Royal magistrates’ bench.

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Northwich Town Centre May 7/8 - 2011
Free Admission and Free Parking
www.thundersprint.com

Cheshire’s Income £6.4 Million From the Northwich Thundersprint

In 2009, an Economic Evaluation survey undertaken by Visit Chester and Cheshire on behalf of The North-West Development Agency, showed that the Thundersprint brought £4.37 million to the region in the form of participant, trader and visitor expenditure.

This year, a similar survey indicated a rise to £6.4 million

Not only did Northwich, and its surrounding districts, benefit from what is now a two night and two day event but Thundersprint visitors were filling hotels throughout the region - and beyond. In fact, visitors are now complaining at the distance they have to stay from Northwich such is the shortage of bed space in the area during the Thundersprint weekend.

84% of participants, and 65% of traders, interviewed at the event indicated that they were staying overnight in the region, their average stay being 2.5 days.

Better still, the Thundersprint was given as the main reason for visitors coming to Northwich and fans then stayed on in the area. 68% of respondents said that the Thundersprint was the only reason for them to visit Cheshire.

Customer satisfaction with the Thundersprint was incredibly high. 64% of those interviewed had been to the event before and 35% had attended four times or more. The survey reported that: “…the findings indicate a very strong and loyal customer base for the event.”

Cllr. Mike Jones, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The Thundersprint is one of the region’s success stories both in terms of the amount of revenue it generates but also in the way that it provides an event which the whole community can enjoy.

“The Thundersprint is also very important because it puts Northwich on the map and is a key driver for the local economy, being one of the major events in Cheshire West and Chester.”

Thundersprint organiser, Frank Melling, was just as enthusiastic: “The Thundersprint is a huge credit to Cheshire West and Chester Council without whose support the event would not happen. For me, the most exciting thing is that with the help of the Council we are able to provide a world class event which has free admission, free parking and free grandstand seating. This means that the whole community can enjoy the Thundersprint instead of being excluded by the high admission fees prevalent at many other events.

“The interest in next year’s Thundersprint from riders, traders and the public is already incredible and we are looking forward to making Thundersprint 2011 the best ever.”

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