Latest news with #Middlewich
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Middlewich: Long-awaited Cheshire bypass gets green light
A key new bypass in Cheshire that has been in the works for almost a decade has been given the final go-ahead by the Department for Transport has confirmed funding for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass as part of various road and rail projects.,The case for the bypass was made in 2017 with planning permission granted two years later but the scheme stalled after the government rejected the council's previous business case for the Cooper, the Labour MP for Mid Cheshire, said the decision meant the "tide is turning in Middlewich" after a 40-year campaign for the road. The bypass is due to be a 1.6 mile (2.57 km) single carriageway road which would include new bridges over the Trent and Mersey Canal and the nearby railway has previously been estimated the road would cost about £95m, with the Department for Transport asked to contribute about half the costs. Preliminary work had already started when the business case was rejected in 2024, amid concerns about value for local MP Andrew Cooper previously said he "remained hopeful" about the plans, and a new revised business case was prepared and Cooper said this decision followed "an awful lot of meetings and lobbying" as well as a campaign with fellow Labour MP Sarah Russell to change Treasury rules on infrastructure spending."The campaign to build the bypass has been running for over 40 years," he said."We may have got this over the line, but this victory belongs to everyone who wrote a letter, signed a petition, and campaigned hard for so many years to get this on the government's agenda."The tide is turning in Middlewich, the forgotten town no longer." Russell, MP for Congleton, added: "For the sake of our residents and the connection between our two constituencies I'm glad we can finally confirm that the project is happening."I appreciate every conversation that I've had with residents regarding this, and to everyone who campaigned long before I was elected MP. This is in no small part down to you."The government said it had approved the scheme to support local journeys and that the bypass, along with other schemes, were "vital to connecting and growing communities".Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "These vital investments are long overdue, will transform local communities and improve living standards across the country." See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The Original Factory Shop is shutting EIGHT stores today after launching 80% off closing sales – is your local going?
We reveal which other stores are set to close in coming weeks SHUTTERS DOWN The Original Factory Shop is shutting EIGHT stores today after launching 80% off closing sales – is your local going? THE Original Factory Shop is pulling down the shutters on eight of its high street branches today, with up to 80% off in massive closing down sales. The budget retailer, which sells everything from fashion and fragrance to homeware and gifts, is shutting up shop at locations across the UK as part of a major restructuring effort. 1 The Original Factory Shop is closing eight stores today, Saturday 28 June Shops in Pershore, Shaftesbury, Kidwelly, Arbroath, Normanton, Chester Le Street, Peterhead and Perth will all close for good by the end of today, Saturday, June 28. Here are all the ones closing down today: Perth Chester Le Street, County Durham Arbroath, Angus Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire Pershore, Worcestershire Normanton, West Yorkshire Peterhead, Aberdeenshire Shaftesbury, Dorset It comes just days after the Milford Haven branch in Pembrokeshire shut on Thursday, with three more stores already lined up to go next month, including the Staveley in Cumbria, Cupar in Fife, and Middlewich in Cheshire. Massive clearance sales have been launched at affected branches with prices slashed by as much as 80% on stock like beauty, pet products, jewellery and shoes. Shoppers at the Middlewich site have spotted some of the steepest discounts, while customers in Normanton and Pershore have also snapped up huge savings ahead of closing time. One local, reacting to news that the Arbroath store is among the latest to go, said: 'Another one bites the dust on the high street. "Going to be a ghost town soon enough.' Another said the Pershore closure marked 'the end of an era.' The wave of closures follows a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) launched earlier this year after private equity firm Modella Capital bought the chain in February. Modella, which also owns Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops, is trying to renegotiate rents on 88 stores to keep the business afloat. River Island confirms which 33 stores are shutting as a further 70 at risk in huge shake-up – is your local going? But The Original Factory Shop has warned that a 'number of loss-making stores' would have to shut to secure its future. A spokesperson said: 'Closing stores is always a tough decision… but this is dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business.' The Original Factory Shop has already closed more than a dozen branches since the start of the year, including sites in Harwich, Bodmin, Chepstow and Taunton. The three stores that are set to close in coming weeks are: Staveley, Cumbria – July 12 Cupar, Fife – July 27 Middlewich, Cheshire – TBC HIGH STREET STRUGGLES The Original Factory Shop is not the only retailer suffering across the high street. The high street has faced a tough run in recent years, with online shopping booming while in-store sales slump and operating costs soar. In 2024 alone, more than 13,000 high street stores were shuttered for good, according to the Centre for Retail Research. It is also predicting the number of store closures to rise this year, blaming the increase on a hike to employer National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. The Centre has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash This year, Beales, one of Britain's oldest department stores, launched a closing down sale before shutting its last remaining shop after more than 140 years. The company shut its branch in Poole's Dolphin Centre last month. Beales chief executive Tony Brown blamed the "devastating impact" of the rise in national insurance contributions and the higher minimum wage for the store closure. Meanwhile, high street fashion chain New Look has closed stores as it scales back its UK footprint. It is understood to be shutting nearly a quarter of its 364 shops.s. Reports suggest that the company has been forced to accelerate the pace of store closures due to tax changes in the Autumn Budget. Meanwhile, Huttons in London shut its store in the Putney Exchange due to excessive energy costs. The gift shop became a local icon after it opened in the 1990s.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Reports of no water across area on one of hottest days
A LARGE part of the area around the two towns of Middlewich and Winsford is without water on one of the hottest days of the year. United Utilities received reports of an issue in the CW7 postcode area and the CW10 postcode area in the early hours of today, Saturday. To start the cause was not confirmed but, in an update later in the morning, the cause was confirmed as a burst on Brookhouse Lane. United Utilities are working on the issue on what is one of the hottest days of the year with temperatures in touching distance of 30°C. A spokesperson said: "We are sorry if you are experiencing no water or low pressure. "We are on with it and our team will be in the area as soon as possible to get this fixed." For information on United Utilities incidents go to
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Middlewich Town Council regains control over its cemetery
A town council has reclaimed full control of its cemetery following a long-running legal has been run for many years by a committee that the local authority said "had managed to separate" from the Town Council said the board had "surrendered" its control of the representing the Middlewich Cemetery Board said their client did not wish to comment. Legal proceedings between the council and the board have been ongoing for several this year, a town council investigation into the cemetery was looked into how the board had become separated from the town council, along with outlining the details of the legal report said the dispute had led to residents' council tax bills being also said the investigation had "uncovered numerous significant findings that have had financial, governance and potentially criminal repercussions for individuals, both past and present, who have held public office".Middlewich Town Council said it had submitted an urgent interim injunction application to take control of the cemetery's bank added it would "address any concerns relating to the issues and irregularities uncovered" by the also said the cemetery board had asked for a "drop hands agreement", which is where both parties agree to drop claims and pay their own council said it "simply cannot consider [this as it] is a matter of public interest". 'Historic irregularities' Under an interim arrangement, Cheshire East Council will be responsible for the administration and daily operation of the town council will manage the grounds, maintenance and mayor Simon Whittaker said: "We've had to put in place an urgent interim management plan which has meant that we bring in professional officers to assist us during this challenging period as there are many historic irregularities including financial and compliance issues."In a statement, Cheshire Police said: "Middlewich Town Council referred themselves to Cheshire Constabulary following an internal investigation report. "The report's findings were that there were financial, governance, and potentially criminal repercussions for individuals, both past and present, who have held public office. "Civil litigation remains ongoing and therefore it is not appropriate for Cheshire Constabulary to comment further at this time." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Original Factory Shop launches closing down sale at another store – see the full list of locations at risk
THE Original Factory Shop is set to call time on another store with a number of sites at risk of closure. A branch in Middlewich is now the latest store to be marked for closure. 1 A closing down sale has been launched with up to 50% off some lines in the store. Locals have branded the closure in the Cheshire town as "another blow" for the high street. A concerned shopper warned there would be "nothing left" in the area as "everything is closing down". While another said: "Your store was a highlight of my days during a really tough time when I lived in Middlewich." And a third added: "This shop will be greatly missed." The exact date of when the store has not been confirmed yet. but The Sun will update this piece when we find out more. Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria . Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale. The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords - making it unclear whether these shops will remain open. It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result. Why are shops closing stores? A spokesperson told The Sun: "Closing stores is always a tough decision, and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future." They added: "These negotiations are commercially sensitive and so we cannot comment on which stores are affected.' You can see the full list of store closures here: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 Perth - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Middlewich - TBC The following stores are also up for sale: Nairn Market Drayton Troon Blairgowrie Castle Douglas What's been happening with The Original Factory Shop? Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. It said at the time: "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future." The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
