As 2014 draws to a close it is time to take a look back at the biggest news stories of the past twelve months in Wilmslow and share some statistics with our readers.
During 2014 the wilmslow.co.uk web site has been visited nearly 570,000 times and generated over 1.2 million page views!
Over the course of the year we've managed to publish 829 articles and those articles have received 2294 reader comments.
Topics which appeared regularly in the news this year included illegal traveller encampments, the future of Wilmslow Artisan Market, Cheshire East's Local Plan (which will guide development up to 2030) and the future of Alderley Park - following the announcement by AstraZeneca last year that about 1,600 research and development roles will be relocated from Alderley Park by 2016.
2014 saw us welcome a number of new businesses into the town including: The Sweet Shop (which subsequently closed after just nine months of trading), Barkers, The Old Dancer, Handelsbanken, Mosley Jarmen, HCA International, The Nail Lounge, Website Store, Hidden Gem, PURE Boutique, Golden Stitches, Fibre Hairdressing, Card Factory, Elspeth Mills Clothing, Martin & Co and M&S Simply Food.
We also said goodbye to Hullabaloo Toys, Yogberries, Margarita Lounge, Ten Little Monkeys, Lucy's With Love boutique, Tiny Soles, Jane Shilton, the Hawthorn Lane branch of Phanthong Thai, Ned Yates, Honeysuckle Health Foods, Cheshire Tile and Bathroom Studio, Magnet, Phones 4U, The Blue Lagoon chippy, Bar Sport, Lotus Five, Strada, Daniel Footwear and The Swan pub - which The Spirit Company intend to fully refurbish and re-open with "new highly regarded local licensees" in the Spring of 2015.
Additionally we look forward to welcoming CAU Argentinian Restaurant on Water Lane, probably in February 2015, and hopefully a new bar and pizza restaurant at Parsonage Green.
Most read articles of 2014
1. Armed police and helicopter join police search
2. Cheshire Police targert cross border thieves
3. Staff left shaken as armed robber steals £2000
4. Final whistle for Bar Sport?
5. Celebrity tours set to put Wilmslow on the tourist map
6. Plan for former Blockbusters store is Barkers
7. Salesman seriously injured during robbery at car showroom
8. Plans for 1920s American theme bar
9. Company behind the Artisan Market dissolved
10. Shot believed to have been fired at house on Styal Road
11. School pleas for help over serious safety issue
13. Proposed U-turn for Artisan Market
14. Does Wilmslow risk becoming a ghost town?
15. New cafe-bar coming to Grove Street
I would like to publicly thank those local businesses who have booked our annual visibility packages and allocated some of their marketing spend to our local independent business, enabling them to promote themselves and their events throughout the year via the dominant local media.
Without the support of the following it would not have been possible for us to continue to provide this service: Bupa Care Homes, Orbit Developments, Alderley Edge School for Girls, Aldeli, Carrier Travel, Destinology, Highams, James Maguire & Co, Kimble Roden Architects, Meeks Shoes, Royles, Royles Jaguar, Stowe Family Law LLP and Terra Nova School - all of which are featured in our advertisers directory.
We were also delighted that Waters Corporation chose to support the service we provide to the community by sponsoring our weekly newsletter for the second year running.
If you don't yet receive our weekly newsletters all you need to do is register on the site, it's free and only take a minute. Also please remember the weekly newsletter is only a summary, we are publishing the latest news as it happens on a daily basis on wilmslow.co.uk so please come back and visit regularly.
Do share your highs and lows of life in Wilmslow during 2014, and your predictions for the new year in Wilmslow, via the comment box below.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read wilmslow.co.uk, we hope you all have a happy, healthy and successful 2015.
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