This is an update on what I’ve been doing in Congleton Town Council and the community since my previous blog post.
Please get in touch if you have any ideas or suggestions: cllrsusan.mead@congleton-tc.gov.uk
InBloom and the Friendship Garden
I have done lots of volunteering for Congleton in Bloom this year and it’s been an honour to take part in such a big community project this year. I have been working hard to prepared the various gardens that I work in for the winter and to remove the projects so that there is a blank canvas for next year for people to take part in.
The Friendship gardeners had a wonderful year this year. The judges from Congleton In Bloom have been and the projects are winding down for the winter period.
To get the garden prepared for the next year I organised a group gardening day we’re volunteers from the Fedcap group and Friendly Faces Nursery came and we planted bulbs, weeded and prepared the garden as a blank canvas for next year. We also delivered leaflets to promote the community work that we are doing at The Hub.
Once we had finished collecting weeds from the garden, we also sorted out the remaining vegetables. Once all the volunteers have gone, I spent my time giving the vegetables out to the community who have shared some of their recipes that they have made.
Community Supermarket
I am very excited to be part of a Team looking at setting up a community supermarket on Bromley Farm. It’s in the early stages of planning at the moment but I have secured a building, made a renovation plan raised funding for it. I am currently looking into the logistics of setting this up and look forward to sharing more information once we have some more progress.
Community Safety
I’m proud to represent our community’s interests by attending the Community Safety Committee meetings. These gatherings bring together individuals, local organisations, and authorities dedicated to making our town a safe and welcoming place for everyone – including the families and children we serve.
The Community Safety Working Group focuses on understanding local issues and collaboratively developing strategies to enhance safety across Congleton. Key areas we explore include reviewing crime rates to identify trends and areas where we can make a positive impact, discussing prevention strategies to address factors that might lead to unsafe situations, engaging with residents and businesses to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, and forming partnerships with Cheshire East Council, police, the street pastors and other organisations.
Collaboration is key; by sharing ideas and resources, we achieve more together than alone. As a nursery manager, I see daily how safety impacts families’ wellbeing – it’s vital and our proactive approach involves looking at data and strategies to address issues before they escalate.
Grants
I have been working hard to improve the community in Bromley Farm by helping get new groups established at our community Hub and by securing grants to help these groups to run. To this end I recently secured a Lottery fund grant of more than £9000 for the community.
During our volunteer community picnic day I collected data about what our neighbourhood would like to see done with this money, and have now managed to create some of these groups.
This includes a chair exercise group, a home school group, gardening projects, stay and play projects and cookery classes. I have been working hard behind the scenes to get these groups established, funded and ready to run free for people to take part in.
Environment Committee
I sit on the Town Council’s Environment Committee, where we focus on making our beautiful town an even more attractive and sustainable place for everyone.
The Environment Committee provides a vital platform for discussing key issues affecting our local surroundings and exploring solutions. One pressing matter we regularly address is fly tipping – an unwanted blight on our countryside and streets that impacts us all.
Fly tipping isn’t just an eyesore; it can harm our local wildlife, pose safety risks, and undermine the pride we take in Congleton’s appearance. Through the committee, we examine the causes, look at data on incidents, and seek effective strategies to tackle the problem. We’re exploring ways to enhance reporting mechanisms, improve enforcement where possible, and boost prevention through education and community engagement.
I have had regular meetings with the local housing association to try and resolve our community problems with fly tipping. We’re discussing ideas like increasing awareness campaigns about responsible waste disposal, identifying hotspot areas for targeted action, and involving local residents and businesses in keeping Congleton tidy.
Improving our environment benefits everyone – children playing in clean parks, families enjoying our green spaces, and local businesses thriving in an attractive setting. At Friendly Faces Nursery, we teach the youngest members of our community about caring for the environment, so it’s fitting we’re part of wider town efforts to keep Congleton looking its best.
Through working together I hope we’ll see positive changes – fewer instances of fly tipping, greener spaces, and a stronger sense of community pride in keeping Congleton lovely for all to enjoy. I’m glad to contribute to these efforts and look forward to continuing our work for a better environment in our town.
Town Hall and Assets
This Committee oversees our Town’s Council’s assets, ensuring they serve the community effectively – benefiting local families and organisations.
Our assets, including the Town Hall and popular amenities like the paddling pool, bring people together and add to Congleton’s appeal. I take part in discussions on how to maintain these spaces efficiently so they remain welcoming and functional for everyone.
The paddling pool is a much-loved summer attraction for families. We focus on improving the visitor experience and have addressed issues like queueing in recent years. We value feedback from users to continually improve the offer.
I have visited a number of times to see it in action and have suggested improvements.
The Town Hall is a hub for community activity – hosting events, meetings, and celebrations central to Congleton life. We have been discussing heating options to improve sustainability and reduce energy costs; efficient systems mean we can allocate more resources to community-facing initiatives. The Town Hall team is proactive in exploring grants and funding opportunities to support the Hall’s upkeep and development – securing external funding helps us sustain these vital spaces for local use.
To ensure the Town Hall remains a vibrant resource, we discuss events that can generate income whilst serving community interests – balancing commercial viability with accessibility. I’m keen to involve local groups and businesses in shaping and benefiting from these opportunities so get in touch with me if you have any ideas.
Buddy and befriending
I continue to help people who are feeling isolated by volunteering to keep them company by calling them. It’s an extremely rewarding volunteer role.
Campaigning for Sunday Trains
I have been campaigning at Congleton station as I believe that it outrageous that we do not get any trains stopping on Sundays at Congleton railway station. We met with the local MP and shared our concerns and raised awareness at how cross local people are about out public transport service.
The Equality Party 