£60k regeneration report suggests building on leisure centre and hospital sites
Stakeholder panel set up for consultation over plans
A REPORT which drew fierce criticism on options to develop a market town cost taxpayers across the district almost £60,000.
Consultants Cushman and Wakefield were commissioned by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to deliver a regeneration programme for Cheadle. The cost of £59,718 will be shared between the district council and Staffordshire County Council.
Following the report, anger erupted as options included building a community hub on Tape Street car park and houses on the sites of the hospital, leisure centre and Newlands Care Home.
Several Cheadle councillors said that they knew nothing about the proposals and had not been consulted.
At the October meeting of the ruling cabinet at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, members voted to approve the proposals for the establishment of a Cheadle Town Centre Delivery Board and Stakeholder Panel.
Following approval by the seven members of the council cabinet, the Independent group called in the proposal, which meant that the report had go before the council’s Service Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Panel, who voted that the report went back to cabinet members to reconsider it.
However, at last week’s meeting of the cabinet, members agreed to reaffirm the decision made on October 6.
It was also agreed to commission a public consultation exercise and survey, overseen by the panel, to seek the views of local people, businesses and organisations on all the regeneration issues and opportunities for the town centre.
They will also be asked to prepare a cabinet report on the results of the public consultation exercise, and to
set out the next steps in delivering the regeneration of Cheadle town centre. Speaking at last week’s cabinet meeting, leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Sybil Ralphs, said: “This report is the start of a programme to liaise with residents and businesses of Cheadle, along with people who visit and work in the town.
“Comments from all people will be reported back, so we will see what the people of Cheadle want.
“The question is do you want to update the leisure centre or want a new build?
“Regarding the demolition of the hospital, we do not own it. It will be made redundant in the next few months, but it is not in our hands, it is in the hands of the NHS.
“Could an empty building be
utilised? We would like to improve car parking in all three Moorlands towns.
“We are told that Cheadle gets nothing. This is not true, but we have decided to do something in the town and this is the start of a consultation period.
“This is the first step to put in place a stakeholder panel. We value Cheadle and do the best, but we want to know what they want. We want investment in the town and want to help businesses.
“The stakeholder panel would consist of district and town councillors, representatives from health, police, businesses, education, Home Link, the diocese and tourism.
“A public meeting could take place post Covid-19 when it is safe to do it. Surrounding parish councils will also be consulted.”
Councillor Mike Bowen said there had been a great deal of misunderstanding regarding the report.
He said: “The recommendation is to set up the two panels to discuss what residents want in the town. The consultants’ options could be rejected.”
Councillor Mark Deaville, left, said the first need was for local consultation.
He said: “People who live in Cheadle and the surrounding area care for the town and are proud. People desperately want investment and think that the town has been forgotten.
“People have also said that a full consultation event be put forward where ideas can be forwarded, a full consultation that involves everyone.
“People have said that other options should be considered. People have spoken and must be listened to. They will get that.”
Councillor Joe Porter said: “This is not imposing our ideas on Cheadle. Cheadle has been left out and we need to find out what they want.”