Photos from the 2009 Cheshire Show are now online and can be viwed by clicking HERE.

THE wait is almost over for one lucky young person who will become the consort for the Mayor of Northwich, Clr Helen Burder.

This Saturday, the candidates will be put through their paces at a selection day to chose who will be escorting the Mayor to civic events.

The Mayor has teamed up with Connexions Cheshire and Warrington to find a young Mayoress or consort and the winner will be expected to take part in official duties and fundraising at various events across the town.

Clr Burder said: “I‘m really looking forward to working with a young person who can then bring a younger person’s perspective to the council.”

Read more at The Northwich Guardian.

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COUNCILLORS have given their backing to plans to store more chemical waste in underground bunkers near Northwich.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has given planning permission for INEOS Enterprises to build new underground pipes to allow distiller blow off (DBO) to be hoarded in empty brine cavities at Lostock Gralam.

CWaC's planning board met last Tuesday, June 9, when councillors were told the use of brine cavities avoided the need to use landfill and would also enable continued operation of the Brunner Mond works.

Permission was also given for the installation of machinery on the surface of Park Farm, Holford Brine Fields, to monitor the flow of the alkali waste.

Cllr Norman Wright told the planning meeting: “In the past there were brine bursts in the area, destroying crops. That’s all history now but we want an assurance that the pipes are going to be maintained.”

A statement from Cllr Mark Stocks opposing the plans was read out at the meeting, expressing his concerns over the potential for leaks.

But the board maintained the project would have a minimal impact upon the open countryside and would not adversely affect the character of listed buildings at Park Farm.

Read more at The Chronicle.

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A MAN who kidnapped a Northwich teenager 21 years ago has been named as the number one suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann by the toddler’s parents.

Raymond Hewlett, who was 43 at the time, was jailed for six years after he abducted a 14-year-old Cuddington girl from her paper round at knifepoint.

Hewlett, now 64, has been described by the McCanns as ‘one line of inquiry’ by private investigators into the disappearance of their daughter, Madeleine.

Madeleine, then three, vanished from a holiday apartment in the Algarve in May 2007.

Guardian archives recall how Weaverham High School pupil Claire Henderson was kidnapped on January 15, 1988 as she was completing her paper round.

Claire was snatched halfway through her paper round on the Valley Lane estate and had delivered 12 of her 24 papers when Hewlett approached her telling her he was a policeman.

She was then taken to a quarry 80 miles away from her home and threatened with a four inch knife, which police at the time said was similar to one used by fishermen.

In the aftermath of her disappearance an incident room was set up at Cuddington Scout Hut and officers spent hours knocking on doors of local residents to see if they had any information on Claire’s whereabouts.

Read more at The Northwich Guardian.

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A HARMONIOUS future looks set to bloom for a Northwich duo who shot to fame with their appearances on Britain’s Got Talent.

Floral Highnotes, a novel act combining opera and floristry, bowed out of the competition after reaching the live semi-finals, when they were beaten on the night by boy singer Shaheen Jafargholi and comedy father and son dance act Stavros Flatley.

Florist Ian Lloyd, who forms one half of Floral Highnotes, said: “Being on Britain’s Got Talent has been a real roller coaster of emotions but we would definitely recommend it and don’t regret a minute.”

He added: “In some ways we hoped we would win but we were quite realistic about it.

“Shaheen and Stavros were really great acts – Shaheen was a great singer and Stavros were lovely guys and very funny.”

Ian’s family founded a nursery and florists in Northwich in 1935 while the other half of the act, professional singer Helena Leonard, grew up at her parents dancewear and school uniform shop LJ Little, in Castle.

Read more at The Northwich Guardian.

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