Ellesmere Port news
Ellesmere Port news, newest first, from Chester Online: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Ellesmere Port, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Cheshire West Childcare Costs: Under-2 Nursery Rates Up 9%
Nurseries in Cheshire West now charge £7.46 an hour for under-2s, up 9% in a year. Fewer than half of eligible babies and toddlers use the free 30 hours.
More stories
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port Fly-Tipping: Oldham Man Must Pay £680
An Oldham man was fined £200 and must pay £680 in all after waste linked to him was fly-tipped at Warkworth Court, Ellesmere Port. Updated November 2026.
Britain in Bloom
Cheshire West Wins Gold at Britain in Bloom North West, and Six Parks Win Their Own
Cheshire West won Gold for its whole-borough entry at the 2026 North West in Bloom awards. Six parks won Gold too, and 18 volunteer groups were graded.
Christmas
Where to Buy a Christmas Tree Near Chester 2026
We checked 5 Christmas tree sellers near Chester, from the Backford grower to DD Forestry in Delamere, for prices and opening dates. Updated November 2026.
Parks
North West in Bloom Gold for Cheshire West and Six Parks
Cheshire West won Gold for its whole-borough entry at North West in Bloom 2026, with Gold for six parks including Westminster Park. Every group's result here.
Education
Cheshire College Open Events Up 29%; Chester Next 19 Nov
Cheshire College's October open events drew 29% more visitors than last year, its best yet. The Chester and Ellesmere Port campuses open again on 19 November.
Parks
Chester Playgrounds and Parks for Children
We list 14 playgrounds in and around Chester, from Grosvenor Park to Marbury Country Park, with equipment, toilets, cafes and parking. Checked October 2026.
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port Roadworks: Road Closures and Traffic Orders Near Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port roadworks: Eastham Rake (notice of 5 Nov) and every other traffic order within 3 km, checked each morning with the council's notice linked.
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Ellesmere Port weather today: fog, 10°C by day and 4°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 5 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Christmas
Chester Ice Rink 2026: Oaks on Ice, Adults £15, to 3 Jan
Chester has no city rink in 2026; the nearest is Oaks on Ice at Cheshire Oaks, open daily to 3 January. Prices, session times, age rules and Black Friday hours.
Ellesmere Port
240 Great Sutton Homes Approved After Traffic Deferral
Councillors approved 240 homes off Dunkirk Way on 6 October after September's traffic deferral, plus up to 86 at Kelsall. Updated October 2026.
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port: Three Shops Shut Over Illegal Tobacco
Stop and Shop, Vaporesso and Quick Stop must close for three months. That is nine premises the council has shut since November, two of them twice.
Chester
Chester Remembrance 2026: Armistice Day 10.50am Wednesday
Chester marks Armistice Day on Wednesday 11 November with an Act of Remembrance at 10.50am in the Cathedral Gardens. Remembrance Sunday was 8 November.
Chester
Chester Christmas Lights 2026: No Switch-On, Parade 19 Nov
Chester's Christmas lights come on from 7pm on Thursday 19 November 2026, street by street as the 12 Days of Christmas Parade passes. Route, parades, parking.
Chester
Chester Santa Grotto 2026: Eastgate Square Opens 20 Nov
Grotto on the Square at Eastgate Square opens 20 November; Brunch with Santa at the cathedral is £16.50; Victorian Father Christmas is £10 on 28-29 Nov.
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire West Alley Gates: 14 Orders Expire in October
The council's 14 alley gating orders lapse in October. Ten cover streets in Ellesmere Port, three in Chester and one in Winsford. Comment closes 30 September.
Chester
Chester Fireworks and Bonfire Night 2026: All Displays Over
Chester's 2026 fireworks are over: the racecourse display was on 31 October and Northwich Firefest on 7 November. No 2027 racecourse date is out yet.
Chester
Chester Panto 2026: Rapunzel at Storyhouse, 4 Dec to 3 Jan
Storyhouse's 2026 panto is Rapunzel, 4 December to 3 January, from £19.50. Plus every access performance date, and the Northwich and Ellesmere Port pantos.
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port Sewage Works: £140m Plan, 50 More Lorries
Daily lorry trips at Ellesmere Port sewage works would rise from 22 to 72 under United Utilities' £140m digester plan. Four 29.4m tanks, all in Green Belt.
Environment
Chester Zoo Calls Peak Cluster CO2 Pipeline Unacceptable
Chester Zoo says the Peak Cluster pipeline's regional impact is unacceptable and risks irreplaceable wetland. Its Cheshire leg runs Picton to Backford Cross.
Schools
Cheshire West Term Dates 2026/27: Half Term 26 October
Cheshire West's next break is Christmas: schools finish Friday 18 December and return 4 January. Every 2026/27 half term, plus King's and Queen's dates.
Trains
Chester Trains at Christmas 2026: None on 25 or 26 Dec
No trains from Chester on Christmas Day, and last year only Merseyrail ran on Boxing Day. Day by day from 24 December to 4 January, plus December works.
Bins
Chester Christmas Bin Collections: Four Days Moved in 2025
Cheshire West moved four bin days last Christmas, three to Saturdays. The 2026 list follows in December; last year's dates, the tree drop-offs and the tip.
Bins
Chester Tip Opening Times: 8am to 4pm, Northwich Shut to 20 Nov
Northwich tip is shut 2 to 20 November for repairs; Winsford is the nearest open site. Every Cheshire West tip's winter hours, plus the plate registration you need.