Have you noticed a new or altered building in Wilmslow or Handforth which was completed during 2025 whose design you consider to be particularly good?  If so, please email the details, including the address and if possible a photo and why you like it, to secretary.wilmslowcivictrust@gmail.com before 31 March.

This will then be passed to the Trust’s panel of judges to consider for a possible award – gold, silver or bronze.

Newsletter January 2026

Greetings to you all

 May I wish you a very happy new year

 Programme

 Wednesday 4 February               Cheshire East’s environmental aspirations      Cllr Sam Corcoran

 Please note this is a change from the previous programme.

We hope that Nicky Paterson will be able to speak to us about Air traffic control at Manchester Airport later in the year.

Wednesday 4 March      Heritage architecture     Heloise Graham

 Wednesday 1 April         AGM followed by talk by Dan Price, Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner 

All the above meetings will be in the large hall at the United Reformed Church Chapel Lane Wilmslow beginning at 7.45pm

I look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of these interesting meetings

Subscriptions

 The 2026 subscriptions are now due please. £15 per member. Details of how to pay are given below.

Design awards

Have you noticed a new or altered building in Wilmslow or Handforth which was completed during 2025 whose design you consider to be particularly good?  If so, please email the details, including the address and if possible a photo and why you like it, to secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk before 31 March.

This will then be passed to the Trust’s panel of judges to consider for a possible award – gold, silver or bronze.

Website

We are in the process of changing to a new website which will be cheaper & easier to maintain.

Best wishes

Christopher Dodson

Subscriptions

The 2026 subscriptions are now due, £15 per member, under 21 free.

As in previous years, it is hoped that Life Members will be willing to make a voluntary donation.

The preferred method of payment is by BACS.

Sort Code 16-34-24

Account number 13368845

Account name Wilmslow Civic Trust

Please enter your initial, surname  and SUBS or DON as a reference. 

Cheque payments are also acceptable. In this case please post the cheque to our Treasurer Nicholas Ridings, Firwood Cottage, Mottram Road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7DW, with the same reference details as above written on the back of the cheque please.

Please would you also complete the membership questionnaire which you can find on our website (www.wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk) in the membership section. It allows us to maintain accurate contact details and evidence regarding Gift Aid eligibility. The data will be sent automatically to the Treasurer, without any further input from yourself.

If you are unable to send electronically, please feel free to print off the document form below and send it to the Treasurer at the above address.

Many thanks for your time and payment. The data collected is for the sole use of WCT and will not be shared with any other body.

Title(s) -               ……………………………………………………………….

First name(s) -   ……………………………………………………………….

Surname -          ……………………………………………………………….

Number of members - …………….

Category of membership – Life / Annual (please circle)

Address -                …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

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Please confirm whether you are a UK taxpayer and that your payments and donations are eligible for annual Gift Aid reclaim from the Inland Revenue. – Yes / No (please circle)

Newsletter August 2025

Ray Acton

Sadly Ray Acton, who has been a stalwart of Wilmslow Civic Trust for many years and was my predecessor as editor of this newsletter, died on 20 August. Ray gave us several fascinating talks, and led several fascinating walks, about Wilmslow and its residents, of which he had an encyclopaedic knowledge. We will miss his wise counsel and many thoughtful contributions to committee meetings and, as a member of the judging panel, his careful evaluations of nominations of new buildings in Wilmslow for design awards 

Proposed visit to Avro Museum on 25 September 

I’m afraid this will not now take place due to lack of support. We only had seven takers & the minimum is twelve 

Programme

Wednesday 1 October        The future of Romany’s garden    by Cllr David Jefferay

Wednesday 5 November    Devolution? Mayor? Combined authority? What’s it all about and what does it mean for Wilmslow?  by Cllr Michael Gorman

 Wednesday 3 December Poynton’s “shared space”    by Howard Murray

Wednesday 4 February    Air traffic control at Manchester  by Nicky Patterson 

Wednesday 4 March    Heritage architecture by Heloise Graham

Wednesday 1 April      Cheshire East’s environmental aspirations  by Cllr Sam Corcoran

 All the above meetings will be in the large hall at the United Reformed Church Chapel Lane Wilmslow beginning at 7.45pm

I look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of these interesting meetings.

 Recent visits

 The proposed visit to Chester Civic Trust on 14 June had to be cancelled because we would have been outnumbered by our hosts.

12 of us had a most enjoyable trip along the Macclesfield Canal from Higher Poynton to Marple & back on the Mary Sunley canal boat on 5 July. Modesty prevents me from mentioning that the organiser had arranged wonderful weather for the occasion!We always welcome suggestions for talks and visits. It helps enormously if people come.

 Membership

 If you value your membership of the Trust might you be able to encourage friends – and even perhaps one or two of your enemies – to join

Design awards

This year there were no nominations. This is not necessarily a completely bad thing. It may just indicate that last year there were no new buildings in Wilmslow worthy of one, though it is of course sad if that is the case. Are owners in Wilmslow too mean to pay good architects?

Wilmslow will alas never be able to compete with say Chester or Knutsford but if we are all as rich as everyone seems to think could we not perhaps do better?

 Romany’s garden

Moves are afoot to try to improve Romany’s garden. Come to the meeting on 1 October to learn more.

Newsletter January 2025

Greetings to you all
May I wish you a very happy new year

Design awards
Have you noticed a new or altered building in Wilmslow or Handforth which was completed during 2024 whose design you consider to be particularly good? If so, please email the details, including the address and if possible a photo and why you like it, to secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk before 31st March.

This will then be passed to the Trust's panel of judges to consider for a possible award- gold, silver or bronze. 

Programme

Wednesday 5 February Wilmslow Business Improvement District update by Lisa Russett

Wednesday 5 March talk by Rob Polkinghorne, Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council

Wednesday 2 April AGM 

followed by talk by Michael Dukes on Arthur Walpole, Wilmslow resident who played a leading role in the discovery of groundbreaking cancer drugs

All the above meetings will be in the large hall at the United Reformed Church Chapel Lane Wilmslow beginning at 7.45pm

I look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of these interesting meetings.

Whilst we have some ideas for summer outings, we would be very happy to consider your suggestions. Please email us with your ideas. Thank you.

Subscriptions

The 2025 subscriptions are now due. Our subscription rate for calendar year 2025 was altered at the 2024 AGM to £15 per member. The joint/family membership rate was abolished. However members under the age of 21 may join for free. The life membership scheme was withdrawn a number of years ago.

Details of how to make payment are given below. As in previous years, it is hoped that Life Members will be able to support the Wilmslow Civic Trust (WCT) by making a voluntary donation.

The preferred method of payment is by BACS.
Sort Code 16-34-24,
Account number 13368845,
Account name Wilmslow Civic Trust.

Please enter your initial, surname and SUBS or DON as a reference.

Cheque payments are also acceptable. In this case please post the cheque to our Treasurer Nicholas Ridings, Firwood Cottage, Mottram Road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7DW, with the same reference details as above, written on the back of the cheque please.

Please would you also complete the membership questionnaire which you can find here in the membership section. It allows us to maintain accurate contact details and evidence regarding Gift Aid eligibility. The data will be sent automatically to the Treasurer, without any further input from yourself.

Many thanks for your time and payment. The data collected is for the sole use of WCT and will not be shared with any other body.

Christopher Dodson

Secretary

Welcome to all, including especially those who have joined the Trust since the last newsletter in December.

Design awards

Have you noticed a new or altered building in Wilmslow or Handforth which was completed during 2023 whose design you consider to be particularly good?  If so, please email the details, including the address and if possible a photo and why you like it, to secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk before 30 June.

This will then be passed to the Trust's panel of judges to consider for a possible award- gold, silver or bronze.

Programme

Thursday 27 June 2 pm visit to Biddulph Old Hall followed by tea & cake. £20 per person

Thursday 11 July 2.30pm    visit to Castlefield Viaduct Manchester. no charge (even if you are not a National Trust member)

Wednesday 18 September 7pm visit to Stockport Air Raid Shelters. £10 per person

Payment in cash on the day

You might like to bring a flask with a drink for a short break half way round.

The tour will last about an hour and a half.

Maximum number 30

If you would like to come to either Biddulph Old Hall or Castlefield Viaduct please email secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk, in the case of Biddulph please by 13 June & in the case of Castlefield by 27 June.

For Stockport Air Raid Shelters please email Chris McClory at chairman@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk by 4 September.

Wednesday 2 October Open evening

We invite members and members of the public to come and see what we’re doing and make suggestions for us to improve.

Please bring along your friends – the younger the better!

Wednesday 6 November The importance of the Bollin River Valley to Wilmslow past, present and future

Sally Potts, Senior Project Manager, Mersey Rivers Trust

Wednesday 4 December Wilmslow Town Centre development

Cllrs Lata Anderson and Michael Gorman - tbc

All the above meetings will be in the large hall at the United Reformed Church Chapel Lane Wilmslow beginning at 7.45 pm 

Lindow Moss
Thursday 1 August this year will be the 40th anniversary of the discovery of Lindow Man (now in the British Museum).

On page 4 is a programme of events to mark this discovery– including the Lindow Moss Heritage Trail launch and celebration on Sunday 9 June. Wilmslow Civic Trust has sponsored the map of the 3.5 mile trail. The Discover Lindow website has a lot of information: www.discoverlindow.org/whats-on

Recent meetings

On 7th February Professor John Handley gave us a characteristically erudite and interesting presentation about Lindow Moss, followed by Gary Parker, the Chairman of the then newly formed Friends of Lindow Moss.

On 6 March our Chairman, Stuart Kinsey, gave us (at very short notice) a fascinating presentation of the “locally listed” buildings in Wilmslow. Did you know that there is a proposal to make Dean Row a Conservation area?

On 3 April after the AGM Sonia Dykstra gave us a lively account of the Wilmslow Green Room which is this year celebrating its centenary. For instance, did you know that the theatre has a sprung floor?

AGM

At the AGM on 3 April, Stuart Kinsey stepped down after seven outstanding years as Chairman.

He was warmly thanked and presented by the officers & committee with a glass plaque and a rose bush as a thank you for all he has done for the Trust.

Subscriptions

The accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, which our Treasurer, Nicholas Ridings, presented, showed income of only £487 (excluding a very welcome bequest of £1,800) but expenditure of £917 (excluding our £500 sponsorship of the new Lindow Moss trail map).

It was therefore reluctantly agreed to increase the subscription for annual members with effect from 1 January 2025 from £10 single/£15 double to £15 per person.

The committee is exploring the scope for reducing our ongoing expenditure, most of which is for hire of the hall for our meetings & maintenance of the website.

Coffee at meetings

Because of low demand, it was agreed at the AGM to discontinue the offer of coffee at meetings.

This should slightly reduce our expenditure.

I look forward to seeing you many of you at our visits and meetings.

Christopher Dodson

Secretary

If you know of anyone who would like to receive our newsletter, please email me: secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk

Future Developments

Report

On 1 November Cllrs Lata Anderson & Michael Gorman, who are members of both Cheshire East Council & Wilmslow Town Council, outlined recent and future developments in both Councils. 

Skips have been provided to try to prevent fly tipping in Colshaw 

A new community award scheme is being introduced and the Town Council is keen to support the 120 or so community and sports societies in Wilmslow (including Wilmslow Civic Trust!) 

It is hoped to reinstate the Romany garden near the Library and bring Romany’s vardo back to Wilmslow. 

It is proposed to change road signs to encourage more traffic to access the M56 and A555 without driving through the centre of Wilmslow and to rationalise speed limits. 

An attempt is being made to encourage the managers of the Cheshire pension fund to increase its investment in Cheshire businesses. 

Did you know that Cheshire East Highways is currently privatised 

77% of Cheshire East’s budget of £353M for the current year is funded from council tax 

Of the £194M in business rates which Cheshire East collects Cheshire East only keeps £55M with the rest going to central Government 

Expenditure on children with special educational needs has increased by 62% in the past year 

Cheshire East receives the 7th largest number of planning applications in the country?  

Awards
Report

Two top awards for architecture that add pzazz to the town were made this week by Wilmslow Civic Trust.
The two, situated a mile apart, are widely different in character, but both were considered by the WCT judges to enhance the town's environment.
On Altrincham Road, no. 98 is a contemporary new-build replacement for a traditional detached house. It was described as "something special."
But its cedar-clad shape brought much opposition from local people when it was revealed for consideration by the Cheshire East planning committee.
Its controversial ultra-modern looks were defended by the judges, who described it as "one of the best pieces if contemporary residential architecture to be found in the town."
Chris Fasciato, one of the judges, said: "A lot of houses being built in Wilmslow are more or less copies of the architecture of previous centuries. But this is of this age."
He added: "There is very little of this in Wilmslow. A lot of people are cautious because they are very conscious of property values, and they don't want to take a risk.
"This is something special."
The house was given a silver award by the WCT.
Its architect, Michael Young, admitted that there had been "loads of objections."
But he said: "The 'likes' and 'dislikes' were about 50-50. The planning committee debated it, and it was given encouragement. It shows the way our democratic system works."
And owner, Neil Broomfield, who specified a contemporary design for his new house, said: "My wife Sarah and our three children all love it."
The second award went to a new-build add-on to property at the end of the town's Moor Lane, described by the civic trust as "a project which makes maximum use of an
infill plot, providing a surprisingly large amount of accommodation in a small corner site."
Its owner, Ian Shaw, said: "It's like a tardis inside."
Added on to a retail shop which he already owned, the new building provides space for two apartments and up to seven different companies' offices.
Before it was built, to plans crafted by architect John Yajima, it was a piece of waste land used for car-parking.
It was nominated for the award by Helen Battilana, a member of the Wilmslow Civic Trust, who said: "I was cycling past when I noticed the new building, and I immediately thought 'what they are doing here is something ingenious'."
It was given a bronze award, for smaller one-off projects

UK Energy Security
Report

NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY IS NEEDED

A strong new national energy policy for Britain is needed', a meeting of Wilmslow Civic Trust was told.

ln a wide-ranging discussion, a panel of experts from the housing efficiency, nuclear power and geology fields and from Cheshire East Council, voiced the view that new guidelines from government are required. Alan Woods, a specialist from Rolls Royce on small nuclear reactors, said: "We should have a proper energy policy. lt should include an energy mix - wind and solar power among them as well as nuclear. lt is completely unrealistic to think that we can give up fossil fuels instantly.  We are an ingenious species and we should have faith in our ingenuity to solve the problems"', he added.

The priority is to reduce the amount of energy used by, for example,better home insulation but this is not easy to achieve. Many older homes would be difficult and expensive to improve.

 Vested interests of big businesses in Britain's oil and gas industries are a bar to improving energy efficiency in homes nationwide, the meeting was told. Marrion Lloyd-Jones, of the Centre for Alternative Technology, said that some of the nation's biggest firms have close ties with the oil and gas companies. "They don't want us to use less of their products which they make money from," she added.

Mick Warren, Chair of Cheshire East Council's Environment and Communities committee, explained that planning authorities are not allowed to require energy saving measures as a condition of granting planning permission. He added: "We can give guidance on energy efficiency for new homes. We would like 100 per cent renewable energy. But we are stymied by government policy which sets out what we can and cannot do."

Peter Webb, a consultant geoscientist, thinks that geothermal energy, which is already being used to heat houses and businesses in Southampton, has great potential. He urged his audience to talk to their MP about these issues or write to the Prime Minister.

Stuart Kinsey, chairman of Wilmslow Civic Trust, said: "lt was a lively debate - I wish that politicians could have heard many of the comments."

Welcome to all, including especially those who have joined the Trust since the last newsletter in December.

Programme

14 June

Visit to Birkenhead Park & Williamson Art Gallery & Museum

We need an idea of numbers soon so can you please register your interest now by email to me at secretary@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk or leave a message on 01625 528829 stating name & phone number please.

6 September

Cheshire East & Wilmslow Town Council - the next 4 years

14 September

Visit to Tabley House Knutsford.

See the wonderful State Rooms and an extraordinary collection of art, furniture & memorabilia & visit the Chapel, built in 1678 & relocated in 1927. Starting at 2 pm followed by relaxation in the Tabley House Tea Room.

Please register your interest now by email: enquiries@wilmslowcivictrust.org.uk or leave a message on
01625 529739 stating name & phone number please.

4 October

UK energy security

1 November

Wilmslow Business Improvement District

6 December

Christmas social

7 February

to follow

6 March

to follow

3 April

AGM

All the above meetings will be in the large hall at the United Reformed Church, Chapel Lane commencing at 7.45pm
Further details will be sent nearer the time