Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Archives

May 26, 2022

More than £6,000 to set up meetings online

A town council is to look further into the cost of broadcasting meetings online. The move by Leek Town Council comes after Leek resident Ann Sharratt suggested that the council broadcast their meetings online as it would, she said, make the council meetings “more accessible.”

Moorlands town is in the Queen’s Baton route

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit the Moorlands during its final journey through England this summer as the full route is revealed. It’s the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. It’s set to travel the length and breadth of England for 29 days before culminating at the opening ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on July 28.

Council set to lead on marina project

A marina project based at Cornhill in Leek will be led by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council after a developer found it to be commercially unviable. The marina was part of an ambitious mixed development on the former industrial land, which would bring housing, employment and leisure units to the town, along with a link road, railway station and the waterside facilities.

“All traders were immensely pleased”

Market traders have spoken of their “delight” that they have been able to move back to their old pitches in a Moorlands town once more. Last week, we reported that the new leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, councillor Paul Roberts, had made a u-turn on the previous leader, councillor Sybil Ralph’s decision for Wednesday market stalls, which had been put along Derby Street for the past few years, to go back on the Market Place.

Conservative candidate wins by-election

A new councillor for Cheadle has been voted on to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC). The vote for the vacant Cheadle South East took place at a by-election on Thursday (May 5) – following the sad passing of long-serving town and district councillor Richard Alcock.

New leader voted on for council

A new leader of a district council has been voted in – after the former was voted out by fellow councillors. Last week’s Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Annual Meeting of the Full Council saw a motion put forward to “remove the current leader of the council (councillor Sybil Ralphs) from post.”

Growing objections to drive-thru plans

Neighbours, businesses and Leek Town Football Club are among Moorlanders objecting to proposals for a drive-thru restaurant in Mill Street. Submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) by Hama Group, the operator of the restaurant has not been disclosed within the planning application.

New leader voted for Tory group

Members of the Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative Group have voted in a new leader. Councillor Sybil Ralphs has been leader of the group for 15 years but has now been voted out as their leader by fellow Tories and replaced by councillor Paul Roberts.

Car parking consultants cost more than £40,000

Concern has been raised about the cost of consultants which a council has paid surrounding car parking proposals in a district. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) has paid a total of £44,520 for consultants to come up with proposals for a new car parking strategy across the area – including for in Leek and Cheadle.

£250,000 agreed for sports village

A council has set aside £250,000 to spend on the first phase of a ‘sports village’ project in a Moorlands town. Members of the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) Cabinet met last Tuesday (March 29) to debate and sign off the funding for a project entitled ‘Birchall Sports Village’ for Leek.

Community responds to council u-turn

Community members have been responding to news that a council is now set to rebuild a leisure centre on its current site – rather than build a new one in a town centre car park. Last week we reported that Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) had produced a report surrounding the regeneration of Cheadle.

Plans unveiled for Trestle Market

Proposals for an indoor market in a Moorlands town have been presented to a council. An ‘Options Appraisal’ for Leek Market Hall – currently known as Leek’s Trestle Market - was discussed at yesterday’s (Tuesday, March 29) Cabinet meeting at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC).

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council