RURAL AREAS

Weaverham

Background

Weaverham Ward lies west of Northwich. (See Map) It contains 799 hectares. The ward is mainly residential with retail and business outlets, and a number of farms. There are three primary schools and a secondary school, along with a library and a community center.

Facts and Figures

Population & % of Vale Royal

Number of households

& % of VR

Population under 16 years

Population 16 to 64 years

Population 65 years and over

Average
Age

6589

5.3%

2737

(5.2%)

1344

(20.4%)

3953

(60%)

1292

(19.6%)

years

In 2001 there were 2737 households of which 72.2% were owner-occupied and social housing accounted for a further 22.7%.

At the time of the 2001 Census, of those aged between 16 and 74 years 62.5% were economically active which is above the rate for Vale Royal (62.8%) and above that for England and Wales (60.6%). The unemployed accounted for only 3.3% of whom 18% were aged over 50, 5% had never worked and 33% were long-term unemployed. Those otherwise economically inactive formed 21% of the population in the same age range. Retired people represent 16.8% of the age group.

This ward is divided into four areas for the purpose of measuring social and economic disadvantage. According to the Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, this Ward does not show any significant overall level of deprivation. However, two areas, the northern and eastern parts of Weaverham village are in the bottom 10% so far as environmental factors are concerned. The greater part of the ward is in the top 10% nationally as regards income and education; and all bar the northern part of the village figure in the top 10% for housing.

Crime

Year	Burglary Dwelling	Other Burglary	Vehicle Crime	Other Theft	Criminal Damage	Violent Crime	Other Crimes	Total
2006/07 (½ year)	8	12	12	24	50	41	24	171
2005/06	16	46	26	62	110	87	24	371 (56.3)
2004/05	10	36	24	56	111	10	106	353 (53.6)
2003/04	21	29	30	84	131	81	35	411 (62.4)

Note: Figures in brackets are for offences per 1000 population.

Disorder

In 2005/06 new categories of Anti-social behaviour were used by the police making it difficult to compare previous years. During the past year the following incidents were recorded by the police.

	Street Drinking	Vehicle Nuisance	Abandoned Vehicles	Noise - Pubs/Clubs	Environmental Litter, graffiti, etc.	Nuisance in public place	Rowdy/ drunken behaviour	Other	Total
2006/07 (1st qtr)	1	3	1	0	0	7	74		86
2005/06	3	49	26	4	1	84	89	53	309

The figures for previous years were as follows:

			Disturbance in
Year	Nuisance Youths	General Disorder	Public place	Private place	Licensed premises	Noise nuisance	Domestic Incident	Total
2004/05	159	129	49	35	2	3	46	491
2003/04	133	10	59	29	2	0	55	461
2002/03	81	15	57	24	1	4	64	363
2001/02	208			12	1	3	32	376

For the year 2001 – 02 ‘Nuisance Youths’ was not a separate category but were contained within ‘Disturbance in a public place.

Of the other forms of disturbance not listed in the table are telephone nuisance of either an abandoned call, hoax or threatening/abusive nature and minor /other nuisance issues including neighbour disputes. The totals include these matters.