Dane Valley Improvements

Update, March 2012

The Partnership has set up a Programme Board, with the Parish Council to oversee the Dane Valley Project.

Great progress is being made - amomngst other things we are hoping to improve access to the valley bottom for the disabled, and set up a Jubilee Walk.

From the Holmes Chapel Parish Council Website:

The Dane Valley and Cranage Playing Field project is a joint project between Cheshire East Council (CEC), as landowner and Parish Councils of Holmes Chapel and Cranage. HCPC has accepted responsibility to progress work on the south side of the River Dane. This part of the project involves improving access to the valley, improving footpaths in the valley and conservation work. For funding reasons, it is planned the work will be carried out over a period of time to take best advantage of grant funding and the availability of finance.

The inaugural event, organised by HCPC and held on 5 November 2011, was to burn old fence posts and tree branches. A few days earlier CEC had removed old barbed wire fencing and, on the day, Village Volunteers were there to carry out some long overdue pruning of trees.

Some of the members of the Council organised a bonfire and a BBQ and the event was attended by 48 Scouts and their leaders who did the hard work of carrying the old fence posts and tree branches from all over the valley to the bonfire on the ground below Daresbury Close. The bonfire was lit before 1.00 p.m. and kept going by the scouts. They were rewarded by burgers and hot dogs. The work went on until late afternoon but finished before dark.

The event was supported by local MP, Fiona Bruce, who had a long walk over the valley to learn more about the overall project and then spent some time at the bonfire before talking to the volunteers.

Recently HCPC has obtained an ecological survey of the valley - at no cost to the Council due to a grant obtained through Holmes Chapel Partnership. It is intended the Scouts will maintain an interest in the project by involvement with ecological aspects.

A Dane Valley Programme Board has now been set up to manage progress. The Board will have representatives of the Parish Council, Cheshire East Council and Holmes Chapel Partnership. It is planned to involve others within the village such as the schools, scouts and ecology interest groups and we would be pleased to hear from any others who have suggestions.

The Scouts in Holmes Chapel are making bird and bat boxes for installation within the valley in order to attract a wider diversity of animals. These will be installed at the end of February in time for this years nesting season.