Community to be at the heart of deciding the future of town
COUNCIL chiefs have reaffirmed their commitment to investing in and regenerating Cheadle – and doing so in full partnership with the local community and the town’s organisations.
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council said it was committed to creating safer and healthier environments for communities to live and work in and to creating a strong economy by regenerating towns and villages – with plans for Cheadle a high priority.
In October, the council considered a report prepared by consultants setting out some of the possible options for a masterplan and investment strategy and agreed to the setting up of a Town Centre Delivery Board supported by a Stakeholder Panel to oversee and guide this significant project.
The council has set out to clarify the position and reassure the community that no decisions on a preferred option have been taken as misunderstandings and misinformation about the project have become commonplace.
Councillor Sybil Ralphs, leader of the council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Our vision for Cheadle to return the vibrancy to the high street and provide the community health, leisure and well-being facilities, and housing has not changed – and neither has our commitment to involving the community in delivering this vision.
“There has been much debate in recent weeks about what may or may not happen in the town but let me be clear – nothing has been decided and no preferred option has been agreed.
“The recent dialogue in Cheadle has demonstrated the significant interest residents and organisations in the town have in its future development and that is to be welcomed.
“It is apparent that we all want to see
investment to regenerate the town so what we do have is a shared ambition.
“I can assure everyone that we will honour our pledge to full public consultation so that all those voices can be properly heard and taken into account before any decisions are made.”
Representatives from the district and county councils, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the Stoke-onTrent Clinical Commissioning Group and the Chair of the Stakeholder Panel will sit on the board.
The Stakeholder Panel will comprise members from the town, district and county councils, Clinical Commissioning Group and health representatives, a business representative, a Home Link officer, a Team Cheadle representative and community representatives including members from the church, and a representative from the youth, education and leisure sector.
The council’s said the intention had always been that the Stakeholder Panel will be tasked with overseeing public consultation and a survey to seek views on all the regeneration issues and opportunities for the town centre.
Councillor Ralphs added: “I hope this reassures people that their views are critical to shaping the town’s future and that what they tell us during the consultation will inform the priorities for the regeneration projects we ultimately take forward and deliver.”