Press release Details

The White Nancy monument towering above Bollington is the place which makes most residents feel proud of in their home area,  according to the results of an online poll.

Macclesfield Forest and Tatton Park came in second and third spots respectively in the Borough of Macclesfield.

Bollington’s nationally-known landmark, White Nancy, is a curious dome-shaped stone feature and stands 15 feet high on the Kerridge hills. It is generally believed to have been built in 1815 by a member of the Gaskell family of Ingersley to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo and for the family to use as a summer house. It was named Nancy after a member of the family.

Macclesfield Borough Council took part in the ‘Pride of Place Poll’ by inviting visitors to click and vote for one of ten locally-nominated top spots on its website.  More than 220 people went online to vote for their favourite place in thie Borough in the first national council-led poll. White Nancy picked up almost a quarter of all votes cast. MBC was one of 115 councils in England to take part, and the only entrant from  Cheshire.

Website editor Tony Barker says: “White Nancy is very distinctive and held a strong lead throughout the voting. With so many attractive locations and landmarks, this area could have had 20 places for people to choose from. I’d like to thank everyone who voted and hope they also learnt more about the services Macclesfield Borough Council offers online.”

The Pride of Place poll is part of the Government’s ‘Connect to your Council’ campaign, which aims to encourage citizens to access their local authority services online – any time, anywhere. People can now use MBC’s websites to find out anything from planning information and Christmas bin collections to e-billing. Alternatively, they can visit www.direct.gov.uk/mycouncil for more details of the range of online services now available.

MBC’s website is undergoing a redesign and the new-look site will be launched in February 2008. The latest new feature to be added is e-billing, which allows people to access their accounts 24/7 and pay bills.

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Notes to editors:

1. The list of places on the Macclesfield page with votes cast was: White Nancy (50), Macclesfield Forest (29), Tatton Park (24), Lyme Park (21), Prestbury Village (20),  Tegg’s Nose (20), Shutlingsloe (18), Arley Hall and Gardens (16),  Lindow Common (15), and Styal Wood (10).

2. Local authorities which have signed up to the poll have done so voluntarily; not every council in England is involved.

3. The Pride of Place poll is part of the Communities and Local Government’s ‘Connect to your Council’ campaign which encourages citizens to make their council websites a first port of call for services and information. Residents can now use council websites to find out anything from bin collection rotas to paying council bills.

Picture: Terry Heathcote. This shot was highly commended in the MBC Postcard Competition 2007. 

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A Printable version of this press release is available.