Officers called to lockdown rule breakers

POLICE have been called in after complaints about lockdown flouters gathering at a beauty spot.

They have been alerted to the rulebreakers meeting at Cheddleton Heath Woodland, in Cheddleton, most weekends.

One visitor counted 18 ‘youths’ on bicycles when they went to the site last Saturday.

They said: “Last Saturday, while walking my dog, I counted 12 vehicles parked on the country lane by the main gate into the woods.

“I also counted 18 youths on push bikes who were on the bike ramps. Some of them were without bikes and just drinking with music blasting.

“It was a joke – there was no social distancing whatsoever. So much for no gatherings, they start arriving at around 10.30am and are there until around 4pm.

“This is going on every Saturday and Sunday and has done for months.

“I’ve reported it to the police and I know some of the residents on Cheddleton Heath Road have also contacted the police.

“But they do nothing and during the summer there were two fires in the woods due to the same gatherings.”

Staffordshire Police are urging people to stick to the rules during the current coronavirus restrictions.

A police spokesman said: “Officers continue to encourage individuals to stick to the national lockdown restrictions and the guidelines set out by the Government to keep everyone safe from Covid-19.

“This means staying local, making only essential journeys, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face covering when appropriate such as when shopping and on public transport.

“You can exercise with those who reside in your household or bubble, or with one other person from another household or bubble, providing you maintain social distancing.

“Remember hands, face and space and take responsibility to do all you can to protect yourself, and others, from this devastating disease.”

To report lockdown flouters call the police on 101.

Marie Macklin CBE is founder and executive chair of HALO Urban Regeneration, which is managing a £63million project in Kilmarnock that will create opportunities through the Kickstart Scheme.

“This will be the first town centre net zero carbon energy project in Scotland – a Community Urban Village, which also forms part of the net zero pledge to create a new green economy wrapped around enterprise and innovation. We’re hoping to create 1,300 jobs and £200million for the Scottish economy,” says Marie.

“The scheme is life-changing in the sense that these areas – not just in Kilmarnock, but some of the most deprived communities in the country – are being helped, and we need to give these young people a road to recovery. I was that kid from a deprived community. We have some

amazing companies in our city centres, but young people in these challenging economic times – how do they get a job there?

“There was £1,500 allocated for each person for purpose-built training and that is enabling us to work with the top experts to create a cyber security course for young people who have disengaged from school, and really have no hope.

“Some of the people we are working with have great computer skills, but they don’t have the confidence. So this is offering a stepping stone into a whole new world – to help protect our country and to give them confidence to work with some of the best cyber security experts in the world.

“The uptake has been immense. We stress that you don’t need a qualification to do the course as there are too many kids who don’t engage in going to college because it is an establishment.”