A Vision for Stockport

On Wednesday 4th July, Trust members were invited and attended the first stage of the consultation process over the Bridgefield Development.

The developer, Lend Lease Ltd., with the Council seem to be very conscious of involving interested local groups in this new development project.

It certainly made a positive impact to the assembled representatives when the Power Point display included pictures and plans of old Stockport which the developer is using so that the new work complements the town, both old and new.

Needless to say the Trust will be taking a proactive role in further consultation meetings as this area between Prince's Street and the M60 is seen to be a crucial and sensitive part of the town.

Conservation & Heritage

It is now three years since the Council's Conservation and Heritage Strategy was launched, and in that time we have seen great changes in Stockport especially, around the Market Place and Underbanks.

Lottery and Heritage Funding has been used in conjunction with business partnerships to ensure that important areas of our Heritage have been developed or conserved in sensitive and appropriate ways.

Progress has also been made in creating more conservation areas around the borough and information about these can be be found on the Council web site, including maps.

The Council are now looking at a new strategy document and the Heritage Trust was invited along with other local groups to have a say in what kind of issues they would like to be included in it.

Many different facets of conservation and the environment were looked at including buildings that were at risk, such as Wybersley Hall, the home of John Bradshawe, which is now being carefully restored and an Archaeological data base for research purposes outlining the borough's 320 known sites.

Three other building that the Trust has a particular interest in are the Reddish Library/Baths/Fire Station, St. Thoams' Workhouse and the Old Dungeon on Mealhouse Brow.

The meeting was only one of two scheduled this week in order to make them accessible to as many groups as possible.

The Trust will be watching with interest as this document is formulated and hope to continue a good working relationship with the Council's Heritage Officers.

A Serious Side.

If you view the blog on a regular basis, it may appear the members of the Heritage Trust spend most of their time stood behind stalls dressed in period costume and having fun.

I assure you this is not the case.

Trust members are very much involved on a weekly basis in what is going on with our town's heritage.

We have representatives who are invited to Conservation Forums, sit on judging panels for Conservation & Design Awards, meet regularly with the Tourism Partnership, aid groups applying for Lottery funding for re-generation projects and give talks about our heritage as well as many other activities.

Our aim is also to make people aware of the borough's history and that is why, when offered another chance to show what we do to the public, a small band of willing volunteers (and St. George) could be seen once more dressed as medieval costume in a park, this time in Cheadle Heath.









Cheadle Heath Pavilion was the setting on Saturday 21st April, for a St. George's Day festival and car boot sale. Music was supplied by the Brinnington Bongo Band and animals and bouncy castle added to the entertainments.
The only one who lost his head was St. George, but with so many fair maidens who could blame him.