News reports located on this page = 2.

"Stuck in a catch 22" parents drive their children to School because they are concerned about traffic

DURING Living Streets' Walk to School Week, families are being encouraged to walk to School and enjoy the benefits that come from fewer vehicles on the road. New polling data released for Living Streets' Walk to School Week was run over 16 May to 20 May 2022, and the results just published show that traffic is 1 of the biggest barriers to children walking to School, with 15% of parents naming it as a reason their child doesn't walk.

With 10.3 million pupils in the UK, it would mean tens of thousands of them are being denied the physical and social health benefits of being more active.

Schools being too far away from home (17.7%), having to go elsewhere afterwards (12%), pavement parking (11.4%) and lack of safe walking routes (10.7%) were also barriers for UK parents. A generation ago, 70% of Primary School aged children walked to School but now it's less than half.

Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive, Living Streets said:- "We're stuck in a catch 22 where families see driving to School as the safest way to protect their children from traffic. Leaving the car at home will reduce chaos and road danger around the School gates. It's also a great way for children to learn about road safety in a real life setting and build their confidence in managing risk. Walk to School Week is an excellent opportunity for families to give walking to School a go and reap the health and social benefits of moving more."

Living Streets works with Schools, Local Authorities and parent groups to help improve the walk to School.

Stephen Edwards continues:- "We want to enable as well as encourage more families to walk to School. We're here to help parents who are worried about safety around their child's School. Car free zones, 20mph limits and better crossings can all help make the walk to School safer and we're here to help people campaign for them in their area."

Simon O'Brien, Liverpool City Region Walking and Cycling Commissioner said:- "Congestion and air pollution around our Schools are at dangerous and sometimes illegal levels; walking to School is something families can do which will really help to tackle this problem. More than that though, an active School run can help with young people's physical and mental health and it can help them feel more confident and independent; what's not to love?"

For more information on Living Streets' walk to School campaign, visit:- LivingStreets.Org.UK.

Deva Fest returns to Chester Lakes this August with a fabulous family friendly festival

THE 3 day music, food and lifestyle festival takes place from:- 12 August to 14 August 2022 and organisers are promising it will be bigger and better than ever with a wealth of events and activities taking place on the main Deva Fest site.

From tiny ones to teenagers, there is something to appeal to youngsters of all ages across the festival weekend including funfair rides, pirates and parades, fancy dress competitions, mesmerising mermaids, mini raves and an unforgettable journey across the universe.

The Deva Fest fairground will be open across the whole 3 days boasting free rides including:- a Ferris wheel, dodgems, waltzers and a Go Gator mini coaster for littlest festivalgoers.

Mermaid Cove is a new attraction for 2022, featuring amazing aquatic acrobatics from mermaids and mermen in a 10 metre long tank; Europe's largest.

There will be bubble discos and meet and greets, games and interactive fun.

Alternatively, swap the deep sea for the skies with the help of Wrexham's brilliant Xplore Science Discovery Centre which will be on hand across the whole weekend. Lift off on a galactic trip across the universe in the planetarium, stopping at the Sun, Moon and fascinating planets along the way.

Along with the special Star Dome there will be science discovery shows, demonstrations and out-of-this world experiments to take part in.

Laughter Tots will be at the festival over all 3 days providing messy, craft and sensory play activities for babies and little ones.

And Stagecoach Chester will be nurturing the talent of the future by offering free drama, dance and song workshops for 4 to 18 year olds.

Friday, 12 August 2022, is Old School Dance Anthems day, and while adults can relive their youth to the sound of Symphonic Ibiza and Sonique, mums and dads can also introduce youngsters to their Ibiza youth with a special I'm a Little Raver family rave.

It's Pirate Day returns on Saturday, 13 August 2022, and there's plenty to shiver the timbers for young and old with parades, swashbuckling street performers and piratical fancy dress with pieces of 8 prizes for festivalgoers in the best Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow outfit.

Chester's Mid-Summer Watch Parade team will oversee the walking of planks and other pirate shenanigans, along with a craft workshop, 6ft long live pirate art, photo board and a walkabout.

All the family focused events and attractions are part of the Deva Fest Difference which also includes free parking and a daily £1 shuttle bus to and from the Chester Lakes site from as far afield as:- Wrexham, Chester and Ellesmere Port.

The weekend line up of top talent and household names includes headliners Sophie Ellis Bextor and Heather Small, Singer Songwriter and pop rap princess Betty Boo, Scouting for Girls and Dodgy.

They will play on the main stage, which is located inside a big top, meaning the music will go on whatever the weather, while a 2nd, open air, stage will host a mixture of up and coming bands, DJs and local talent.

Deva Fest 2022 also features the Deva Laughs comedy tent, the brand new Gin and Prosecco Festival, a bespoke selection of high quality food and drink options including bars run by Chester's own Liquor and Co, and some of the best festival conveniences around as well as an NCT Chester breastfeeding and changing tent.

Festivalgoers are also being offered a huge range of new camping options within the Chester Lakes complex, with pitches for tents, camper vans, caravans and RVs all just a stone's throw from the Deva Fest action.

Deva Fest Managing Partner Phil Marston said:- "With 3 months to go until Deva Fest 2022, excitement is building, and we can't wait to welcome festivalgoers back to Chester Lakes this August. Deva Fest has been carefully designed as a family-friendly festival, and this year we've got more events and activities than ever to entertain and engage festivalgoers of all ages from:- 'little ravers' to stargazers, and would be mermaids and pirates to teenage thrillseekers. Parents can be assured there will no time to be bored. Added to which there is a must-see music line up, high quality, hand picked food and drink on site, and a wide range of camping options including a new family camping ticket offering fantastic value for money which we know is so important, particularly at the moment."

Officially launched in 2019, Cheshire's Family Friendly Music, Food and Lifestyle Extravaganza, Deva Fest proved hugely popular. Like many others, last summer's event had to be postponed due to the ongoing Covid19 Pandemic. Then, organisers promised they would be back and added even more star names for their event.

Deva Fest will take place on:- Friday, 12 August, Saturday, 13 August, and Sunday, 14 August 2022, at Chester Lakes, in Dodleston, 3 miles from Chester City Centre.

The weekend programme will start on the Friday, 12 August 2022, with:- Old School Dance Anthems Day, headlined by Symphonic Ibiza and top hitmaker Sonique.

Returning to headline after their triumphant performance in 2019, Symphonic Ibiza will once again thrill the crowds with dance classics. DJ Andy Joyce will be joined by a full symphony orchestra conducted by Steve Etherington to ensure that Symphonic Ibiza transports fans back to the White Isle.

The line-up also includes:- Brit Award winning singer, musician and DJ Sonique along with Dream Frequency, Bingo Bango, Dave Graham and Chester DJs Geddes and Gioia.

Saturday, 13 August 2022, is Pirate Day. The event, headlined by double platinum selling; and lockdown Kitchen Disco queen; Sophie Ellis Bextor and M-People's Heather Small, will feature a host of pirate themed activities and entertainment.

Singer songwriter Betty Boo, and Chester singing duo Belle Voci also appear along with The Pirate Day Ball with TRIX, Shola Ama and The Old Time Sailors.

Meanwhile Deva Fest 2022 will close, on Sunday, 14 August 2022, with a headline set from festival favourites, Brit Award winning Scouting For Girls, and rock band Dodgy.

Once again, Deva Fest will offer quality food and drink vendors, who will be hand-picked by Taste Cheshire to ensure locally produced tasty offerings and treats are available. You can also make a holiday weekend of it with camping weekend tickets also available with toilet and shower facilities. New, extended camping options with full facilities are available at:- The Meadow and Wild Woodland campsites, with the event still having space for campervans and caravans as well as tents. Full camping details and prices are on the website. For more information about Deva Fest and to book visit:- DevaFest.Co.UK.