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December 13, 2019

Vehicle defect notices issued in Moorlands road policing operation

MORE than 30 vehicle defect notices were issued to drivers as police stopped cars with light defects and other faults in a road traffic operation in the Staffordshire Moorlands recently. The operation, which focused on rural areas in and around Cheadle, Leek and Biddulph ran for two weeks and was part of Staffordshire Police’s new roads policing plan named Operation Lightning. The forces latest operation aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads and to disrupt and deter criminals’ use of the road network.

Council to scrap paper separation through new ‘comingled’ recycling service

RESIDENTS in the Moorlands may no longer need to separate paper from other recyclable waste as part of new revisions to rubbish collections across the district. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) has approved a consideration to “move away from the separation of paper” and employ a “fully comingled service” where residents would be no longer required to separate and place paper in a clear plastic sack. Alliance Environmental Services (AES), which operates the council's Waste and Recycling Service since July 2018, currently collects 140 litre or 240 litre grey bins for dry recyclable items - such as cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs – as well as reusable clear bags for the collection of paper, among others.

Top apprentice awards for JCB employees

A JCB Design Engineer is the toast of the UK today after winning a national apprentice award. Louise Meredith, aged 21, scooped the title of Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year at the finals of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) Awards in London recently just weeks after winning the regional final. Louise, a Design Engineer in the Loadall division at JCB World Headquarters, in Rocester, said: “I’m passionate about apprenticeships and undertaking a degree/higher apprenticeship has been a fantastic way to start my career, so to win this national award is just amazing.

Teenager left injured after group assault

A TEENAGER was left with minor injuries after being assaulted by a group of other teenagers at the weekend. Police officers were called to a report of an assault on Uttoxeter Road in Blythe Bridge on Sunday afternoon with members of the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) also in attendance. The teenager subjected to the attack was assessed and discharged at the scene into the care of a relative.

Community devastated after memorial vandalised

A COMMUNITY has been left “devastated” after a memorial plaque which they had erected in memory of one of their neighbours has been vandalised – within less than 24 hours of it being installed. And the wife of the late Basil Bridgett, who the plaque honours, has stated that she feels the offender(s) “must be sick in the head or have a sad life” for the damage they have caused to the plaque which is situated on an old gate post at the top of Meadow Drive in Cheadle. The plaque is inscribed with: “In memory of Basil “Baz” Bridgett, who worked hard to keep those using and living in Meadow Drive safe.”

General Election results are in

The 2019 General Election results are in, and as the nation wakes up to a Tory majority Government, we take a look at the results for our area.....

Elderly man dies in car collision

An 80-year-old man has died after being involved in a road traffic collision in a Moorlands village. The incident happened yesterday (Wednesday, December 11) at around 5pm in Threapwood, near Alton

Permission sought to sell alcohol at health and beauty store

A TOWN council has decided it has no objections to an application which has been submitted by a high street shop for an alcohol licence following a debate amongst its members at a meeting recently. Health and beauty store Savers has applied to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for permission to sell alcohol at its premises on High Street in Cheadle. Cheadle Town Councillors debated about this application at a council meeting on Monday (December 2).

Roadworks on track to completed on time

STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has provided an update on roadworks that are taking place on a frequently-used dual carriageway in the Moorlands. The A521 in Blythe Bridge is currently partly shut as works on land adjacent to the road are being completed by contractors from housing developers St Modwen Homes, with one side of the carriageway completely shut while one lane on the opposite side open as part of 'Phase One' of the plans. A second phase will see “the complete closure of the opposite side of the carriageway for seven weeks with two lanes open eastbound i.e. traffic leaving the A50,” while phase three signifies “four weeks with three-way traffic signals and lane closures.”

A BRIDAL business has celebrated its second anniversary with an awards win.

The Bridal Rooms in Carter Street, Uttoxeter, was named Best bridal Boutique at the fourth English Wedding Awards West Midlands. The awards were presented at a glitzy ceremony on November 26 - the same day that the business marked two years under the ownership of Gayle Carr-Willis. Gayle attended the ceremony with her mother, Cath Carr, who helps in the boutique.

TOWN CEMETERY SET FOR EXPANSION

A TOWN council in the Moorlands is planning to extend a cemetery due to the decreasing amount of space there currently is. Cheadle Town Council plan to increase the land available for burial at the cemetery located on Park Lane, enabling more families to lay their loved ones to rest in the town. The council bought additional land adjacent to the current site five years ago for this purpose, costing around £60,000.

Town’s swimming pool could be made smaller

A COUNCIL is considering decreasing the size of a Moorlands town's swimming pool – after a review has been carried out focusing on it's leisure centres across the district. In a report conducted by a consultancy on behalf of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) it has been suggested to make a “smaller community pool and fitness offer” for the leisure services which the authority provides at South Moorlands Leisure Centre (SMLC) in Cheadle. The authority appointed FGM Consulting Limited in 2017 to review its leisure centre provision and sports facility needs, focusing on sports halls, swimming pools and other indoor provision.

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