Annual Meeting
Joe Dempsey, who was a Councillor from 2021-2024 and was Chair of the Town Council for 2023-24 presented his annual report at the Annual Town Meeting. To view a copy of the annual report click here.
At the Annual Town Council Meeting held on Tuesday14th May 2024, Councillor David Ellis was elected as Chair of the Town Council for 2024/25 and Councillor Jacquie Sheridan was elected Vice Chair.
Birchwood Carnival
This year's Carnival will take place on Sunday 9th June 2024 at Birchwood Forest Park.
There will be a fancy dress procession, the theme of which will be Mythical Creatures.
There is a full programme booked, of varied entertainment and activities for local residents to enjoy as well as the fairground, stalls and refreshments.
Gypsies and Travellers
Throughout the year, Birchwood is usually visited by a number of groups from the Gypsy and Traveller Communities.
The Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team have published a Cultural Awareness Guide to help local residents understand cultural issues, traditions and various backgrounds relating to these communities, in which they explain:
"Gypsies & Irish Travellers are amongst the most disadvantaged groups who access our services. There are cultural and language/literacy barriers and individuals need as much help and support as any others who access our services."
To view the guide in full, click here.
As with all communities, including the settled community, sometimes there are people who find it difficult to get on with their neighbours.
Some Gypsy and Traveller groups who pass through Birchwood cause no substantial issues for the local, settled community.
However, there are occasions when a group may cause alarm or distress, in one form or another, to residents and the wider community.
A new Policing Bill has now come into law with the aim of, ‘Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments’ by introducing new legislation to change trespass from a civil to a criminal offence and/or strengthen police powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (CJPOA).
Royal Assent was granted by her late Majesty, the Queen on Thursday 28 April to the Bill, so it is now an Act of Parliament. The legislation in the Bill regarding trespass / unauthorised encampments came into law on 28 June 2022.
To view further information relating to this Bill click here.
Reduction in Grass Cutting
However, following feedback and complaints from Birchwood residents over the last couple of years, in 2024 there will be some changes to the services that the Town Council currently carries out in the area.
It has become evident that in some areas where BTC used to be pro-active, a lack of resources has meant that we have become reactive in a number of important areas, which happen to coincide with the grass mowing season.
For the 2024/2025 municipal year, BTC will not be undertaking intermittent grass cutting to enhance the cuts done by WBC. Resources will instead be used to concentrate on other important work.
The Town Council understands that there will probably be a mix of reactions to this reduction in grass cutting, but hopes that residents will understand the reason why this is being done.
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill