Notes and points of interest for Heald Green ward from the meeting of 8 September 2026
Open forum – Scholes Playing Fields and Adswood Park Traveller Encampments
There have been encampments at Scholes Park, Adswood Park and Walnut Tree Park. Council officers are working with colleagues from the police to tighten up procedures, and with the council’s Legal Services. Every encampment is unauthorised. The council has welfare duty, and has to work with the police, via public health. Target hardening is made more difficult by the need for access for tractors to go through to maintain the land.
Police need very strong evidential basis to use the legislation they have to take action, and they need formal reports of anti-social behaviour through to the police – making reports is very important in this instance.
Scholes Park has been impacted twice, but with the community use there they are reliant on community users to secure the site.
Cllr Stuart raised a query from a resident on Firswood Mount – who asked if the lockable height restriction bars that were installed at the Village Hall in Heald Green could be installed at Scholes Park (they were put in place at the suggestion of the Ratepayer Councillors after a traveller incursion some years ago). It was confirmed that this is one of a number of measures that are being considered to target harden Scholes Park.
Planning Committee Reforms and National Scheme of Delegation Implementation
From 31 October – there will be a new national scheme of delegation for planning decisions. Following this the decision regarding whether a planning application will be determined by officers or councillors will be decided by the Chief Planner and the Head of Planning and Highways Regulation Committee. There will be no call in powers, public speaking will take place at the Planning and Highways Committee.
Cllr Charles-Jones commented that we have no choice in this matter as it is a government decision, but raised the issue of how links are kept with the ward members, because councillors have the local knowledge that is needed. The best example is when an applicant tried to put a telephone mast directly in front of church where it would be at the forefront of weddings and funerals. It was moved to a less obvious spot at the intervention of Heald Green’s councillors.
A query raised was is there a need for Neighbourhood Plans to help shape developments? These may be right for certain communities, they need to be led by local communities usually via a Neighbourhood Forum group that forms.
Cllr Stuart stated that from her experience as a councillor planning is generally very poorly understood and there is the need for an in-depth communication process about the changes. Heald Green Councillors will share more detailed information in due course.
Section 19 Flood Report – Actions Update
The council is required to put together an action plan, to mitigate flooding that has occurred. This report was an update to that. Actions progressed in Heald Green are that gullies by railway line are subject to increased inspection and gully clearance. Ensuring the trash screens under the railway into the culverts are not obstructed is another measure. The rail line was a conduit for water flow during the January 2025 event.
For Rosevale Park and Nixons Farm – there is further work underway on attenuation to hold water. There has also been a flood attenuation scheme implemented at Lyme Park.
It is recommended that all householders impacted by flooding install some flood prevention measures. The Flood Hub has advice on this, eg tanking basements and air bricks blocks are measures residents should consider to lesson the impact of flooding on their property.
More info here: The Flood Hub
A34MRN Scheme 7 – Bruntwood Park Active Travel Route
The scheme has had to be re-routed as problems with drainage on the original route by Cheadle Royal would have meant the need for reinforcement of the embankment and the loss of numerous trees. An alternative route, via Bruntwood Park is being proposed. Councillors had previously raised concerns about the new route.
Conflict with pedestrians at the school gate near Cheadle Catholic Primary School will be resolved by creating a dedicated waiting area for parents, which will slow cyclists down. To further address concerns regarding conflict between pedestrians and cyclists, it is proposed to widen the path to 3.5m, in all places. It has also been realigned – to reduce the gradient and meet the most recent standards. This was something Cllr Stuart raised previously.
The path will be lit, and will be “bat friendly” as certain frequencies of light affect bats, there will also be signage.
Cheadle Area Committee councillors have no decision making powers on giving this the go ahead, they were asked to make a recommendation, the report was sent to the Executive Member to decide without recommendation.
A34MRN Scheme 4 – Kingsway Crossing
The proposal to build a tunnel under the A34 was also not found to be viable as the scheme has progressed. Also, the subway proposal had long ramps and is problematic because of the fear of crime.
Guidance now favours installation of surface level crossings. Sparrow Crossings have been used elsewhere locally, the pause of traffic would be 23 second, this also aligns with current policy to prioritise pedestrians over cars.
For the proposal safety has been thoroughly investigated by external consultants, particularly regarding the school. Consultation in late 2025 had 106 responses, 83% strongly disagreed. Modelling by UTC has concluded the scheme won’t increase congestion, Gatley Road signals are the main factor in slowing traffic. Modelling has shown the new crossing is sufficiently far away from the signals that it will create a hole in the queue but won’t impact the southbound lights.
For the surface level crossings TMS did a road safety audit – and made some suggested alterations – including to add a 30mph speed limit adjacent to the crossing. Generally, the crossings have good safety records. There will be a large central island.
Councillors asked a number of questions about the capacity of the crossing.
A concern, particularly with our ageing population, is the need for accessibility. Which was discussed in some length. The tunnel option would not have been accessible to wheelchair users due to the gradient. Also, the safety of school children was discussed at length, officers will go into the school and offer instruction to the pupils.
Cheadle Area Committee councillors again have no decision making powers on giving this the go ahead, they were asked to make a recommendation. The report was sent to the Executive Member with four councillors in favour, three against and two abstentions.
There are a number of strong reasons both for and against these proposals which meant this was not at all easy to make a recommendation on. However, the importance of improving accessibility for disabled people and creating a safer thorough fare for women (under passes are not encouraged in highways design these days) should be prioritised on balance for us.
Eden Park
The 20 mph zone was agreed, as recommended by officers. Councillors did ask about undertaking further consultation on this, as we believe the area doesn’t suffer from speeding due to the design, however this was not possible.
Neighbourhood Policing – Inspector Damien Lutman
Update for June – September 2026
- Burglaries via lock snaps are growing in popularity, as a method of entry, along with brute force, eg breaking windows.
- There are increasing parcel thefts, which class as burglaries under crime statistics
- Theft of motor plates is on the rise, to be used to evade the camera systems. The request is to report these to police ASAP, so they can be tracked.
- There were two unlawful encampments including at Scholes Park, a meeting to address target hardening had been arranged.
- Off road bikes are a problem, the police need issues reporting, to get the evidence for additional specialist resources to be brought into the area.
- ASB – GMP has a new programme to protect vulnerable people, working with partners to take targeted proactive action, implantation is going well.
- Neighbourhood Team have been dealing with ASB across the summer holidays.
- Preventative work is taking place to visit burglary victims, to prevent people becoming repeat victims.
- Further support is being offered to the Synagogue and Jewish Primary School, over the month of September and High Holy Days.
- A prolific shop lifter has been arrested and remanded from Heald Green.
- There was one robbery in Heald Green of a bike, which the police recovered and returned it to its owner.
Queries raised:
Cllr McCann raised parking on double lines by a police car, she will share the registration, it the car has an orange light it belongs to the airport.
Cllr Charles-Jones raised that there had been concerns regarding an aggressive beggar in Heald Green moved from Cheadle Hulme. This is in breach of bail conditions, so the police will look into this.
Regarding e-bikes these must have pedals, and not exceed 15.5 mph to be legal. If an e-bike is modified to exceed 15.5mph it is no longer an e-bike, it needs insurance to be road legal as well as registration plates etc. The “Chat Reporting” via GMP’s website, is a good way of reporting incidents.
There are currently two members of the team on sick leave.
Ward Flexibility Funding
An application was made from Inspire Capital Sports a Community Interest Company for a sports bursary scheme. Following some adjustments an award was given to the applicant, with a suggestion to apply to additional wards.
The Stockport Normandy Veterans Legacy made an application towards a commemorative piece of artwork to be placed in the War Memorial Art Gallery alongside the Memorial stone, with funding of £150 granted. This is to commemorate D Day 83 in June 2027.
Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust Update Report 2026/27
There is £370k in the Trust, the deficit has improved since April. It has been policy to maintain the Trust in real terms. So, no awards have been granted