April 2, 2020
A RESCUE centre for dogs in the Moorlands is appealing for support amid the current coronavirus situation. Due to the current Government lockdown restrictions, just three staff are working hard around the clock at the Luosko German Shepherd Dog Rescue in Cheadle to look after 40 dogs as no rehoming can take place, nor can any volunteers be allowed to help out at the centre. Rescue Coordinator and Senior K9 Technician at Luosko, Stuart Harvey, told the Times & Echo: “Unfortunately we have had to cancel all ‘in person’ events for the foreseeable future, which in turn means no income, no volunteers, no adoptions and no intake, unless extremely urgent ie police or RSPCA involvement.
March 26, 2020
A RESIDENT from the Moorlands has started an initiative that has seen people from all around the world join together to create time capsules to remind future generations of the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had globally. Eve Goodyear from Cheadle thought up the idea with her children, wanting to mark this moment in time in a practical way. Her family have created a timeline of what has happened over the past few weeks amid the Covid-19 outbreak by placing newspaper cuttings and family trees and photos into a time capsule.
March 12, 2020
A NEW post office is being opened today for residents of a village in the Moorlands. The facility will be available to use at Lloyds Newsagents on Uttoxeter Road in Blythe Bridge from this morning (Wednesday, March 11) and will be open daily, for a total of nearly 80 hours a week. As well as the posting of parcels and letters, the branch will offer the option for customers of main UK banks to access their accounts as well as processing bill payments, cash withdrawals and home shopping collections and returns.
March 12, 2020
A MUCH-VALUED service in the Moorlands is calling on members of the community to take part in a survey in a bid to help the organisation from folding. Following a review by the North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Clinical Commissioning Group, an annual grant of £70,000 which is awarded to Moorlands Home Link is currently under threat - along with additional funding for five other similar organisations in Stoke-on-Trent. Moorlands Home Link, as a not for profit elderly care charity, has received this funding for over 20 years for its Day Centre in Cheadle and the organisation's Outreach Groups across the Moorlands and the current funding has been guaranteed until June 2020.
February 27, 2020
A MOORLANDS woman is pulling out all the stops to raise further funds in memory of her late mum. Kathleen Dyas, who lived in Blythe Bridge, passed away in August 2016 at the age of 66. Her daughter, Liberty-Skye Dyas, has since been fund-raising in her mum's memory and has raised thousands for charity by hosting dog shows – both online and at venues.
February 13, 2020
THE OWNER of a pub in the Moorlands has been bestowed with a prestigious national title after impressing judges with the work he has done. Paul Collins, who runs The Roebuck in Forsbrook, was presented with the Star Pubs and Bars Newcomer of the Year Award at a recent ceremony at the Luton Hoo Hotel in Bedfordshire for his excellent work. “We didn't know we were going to win,” he told the Times and Echo, after his pub was shortlisted alongside four other drinking establishments.
February 13, 2020
A COUNCIL has made a U-turn on its plan to increase parking charges in the Moorlands. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) is due this month to set its budget for 2020/21 and among the proposals for expenditure and income, the council was looking to increase parking charges at it's car parks, including those in Cheadle, Leek, and Biddulph, by 20p. However, after an “overwhelming number” of councillors on the councils Resources Overview & Scrutiny Panel voted to recommend to object against the increase in charges at its meeting last Wednesday (February 5), the SMDC Cabinet decided to reject the proposals at a meeting yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, February 11).
January 23, 2020
A NEW life-saving piece of equipment has been installed at a tourist spot in the Moorlands. The community public access defibrillator has been put in place at Hales Hall Caravan and Camping Park in Cheadle. The defibrillator has been put in place after collaborative working between staff at Hales Hall along with the charity AED Donate.
January 16, 2020
A CLIMATE change action group in the Moorlands is calling for businesses to come on board with a national initiative to save on plastic use. Members of the recently-formed Moorlands Climate Action (MCA) group are looking to promote a 'Refill' scheme across the district as part of one of their 2020 projects. Group member Mike Jones told the Times & Echo: “This scheme encourages members of the public to refill water bottles rather than buy bottles of water, and cafes, pubs etc are encouraged to join the scheme and provide water free of charge.
January 16, 2020
A PROPOSAL for a large residential development on land south of a Moorlands village has been recommended for refusal by planning chiefs. The application to build a proposed total of 85 residential units on a 3.15 hectare-site located between Folly Lane and Cheadle Road in Cheddleton is set to be debated and decided upon at the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) planning committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday, January 16). Previous plans to build on the same site were thrown out in October 2018 after the SMDC refused the application on the grounds of: “This is a greenfield site situated within the Green Belt.
December 18, 2019
AN APPEAL is being made to help collate information about a fatal war-time crash in the Moorlands so that residents of the area can properly commemorate those who died in the incident – some seven decades later. Local historian Martyn Hordern is currently working with Kingsley Parish Council to commemorate six members of the Royal Air Force on the 76th anniversary of their deaths. Martyn explained: “Whilst researching Kingsley’s World War 1 history, the story of a little-known Halifax bomber crash on land off Blakeley Lane was uncovered.
December 18, 2019
A MAJOR planning application for a scenic spot in the Moorlands is up for approval. Applicant Ben Reeves has submitted the plans for Consall Hall & Gardens, near Wetley Rocks. He is seeking permission for the proposed “change of use and redevelopment of Consall Hall, private house, gardens and wedding venue to form a hospitality venue, wellbeing hotel and lodges comprising the installation of 15 holiday lodges, 10 shepherds huts, demolition of existing outbuildings and construction of new wedding venue buildings, works to the existing walled garden, installation of 21 accommodation pods to serve the wedding venue, access and parking works, demolition and replacement of existing hall to provide new restaurant/hub building (amended design) and refurbishment of the existing swimming pool and changing rooms to form new spa facilities.”