SMDC Archives - Times Echo and Life

May 13, 2021

First stakeholder panel meeting held in public

A stakeholder panel, which has been set up to consult about the future of a Moorlands town, has been hearing updates from consultancy firms who have, or are set to, carry out the public consultations. The Cheadle Town Centre Project Stakeholder Panel met virtually on Monday (May 10) with their meeting being made public for the first time.

Town centre building recommended for community asset approval

AN HISTORIC building on a high street in a Moorlands town has been recommended to be approved as being registered as a community asset. The Friends of the Royal Oak recently lodged a community asset bid to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) for the Royal Oak Hotel located on Cheadle High Street, with the aim of making the venue somewhere that can be used by the public. In October 2019, David Gough Investments submitted proposals to build 12 one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat at the former hospitality venue.

Council closes all public toilets amid coronavirus fears

A COUNCIL has decided to close all its public toilets in an attempt to quell the spread of coronavirus. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) said it was taking heed of Government advice by implementing the closures. A spokesperson for SMDC said: “In line with the Government’s advice for people to stay at home due to the coronavirus situation, public toilets across the Staffordshire Moorlands district were closed until further notice on Saturday, March 21.”

Council gains over £83,000 in five years by not giving car park change

COMMUNITY leaders have hit out after it has been revealed that an authority has raked in more than £83,000 in ‘over-vends’ over five financial years due to installing car parking machines that do not give out change. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) runs 31 car parking machines across the area, none of which give change if a driver does not have the exact amount of cash when paying for a ticket. The authority has now released the amount of money it has attained from “over-vends” in the past five financial years.

U-TURN ON PARKING CHARGES INCREASE

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).

Changing room extensions get the green light

PLANNING permission has been granted to a parish council to extend a sports changing block to create a meeting room and an office for its use. Forsbrook Parish Council can now construct a side extension onto this building located on Blythe Bridge recreation field which will be the location for around 25 meetings a year. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) received an amended planning application on January 21 which stated: “The front wall of the extension set back slightly behind the main front wall of the building and the roof ridge of the extension dropped the same distance lower than the main roof ridge of the building.”

Town set to lose one of its CCTV camera

A TOWN in the Moorlands is set to lose one of its CCTV cameras – according to a community leader. Cheadle Town Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) member Ian Whitehouse spoke of the proposals, which are being put forward by SMDC, at a town council meeting on Monday (February 3). He told colleagues that the proposals outline that all of the CCTV cameras in Cheadle would be retained, barring one which will be removed.

Plans for 85 dwellings up for refusal

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.

Green light for major plans at scenic site

PLANS to redevelop a scenic site in the Moorlands have been given the go-ahead by the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC). Applicant Ben Reeves submitted the proposals for Consall Hall & Gardens, near Wetley Rocks, which include the change of use and redevelopment of Consall Hall, private house, gardens and wedding venue to form “a hospitality venue, wellbeing hotel and lodges.” The plans include 15 “low-impact, high quality holiday lodges” as well as ten 'shepherd huts' and 21 accommodation pods.

Five per cent tax increase in parish

A PARISH council is set to increase it's precept by five per cent. Forsbrook Parish Council has stated that the extra money to be paid by council tax payers within their parish during the financial year of 2020/21 will enable it to carry out “more community activity” within the village. A precept is a 'bill' which parish and town councils, and other statutory bodies, send to district councils - the authorities which collects council tax.

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).

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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