Tesco's act of goodwill?

A reported earlier (see posting here) Tesco has submitted a retroactive planning application for the 18,000 feet extra they accidentally built.

Stockport Express have revealed that as 'an act of goodwill', Tesco will put in a wall which will cut of 6,000 feet which will be unused or else used for storage, leaving only 12,000 feet of additional shopping space.

The Express Reports
But while leading council planner Kevin Hogg admitted this could end the year-long saga, he remains sceptical.

He said: "If this happens it could potentially draw a line under the whole issue. But with Tesco you are never quite sure what it says is what it will do."

And Steve Parfett, managing director of Parfett and Sons, who has led the campaign against the store’s breach of planning permission, maintains the 120,000 sq ft outlet should be knocked down.
Follow this link to the Stockport Express for the full report

Christmas Party, The Old Pack Horse - 21/12/05

A good time was had by all at the Trust's Christmas party.

The Stockport Heritage Trust wishes all it's readers in Stockport, the UK and the rest of the World, festive greetings and a Happy New Year.

No to Masts - Stockport Express

50ft mast opponents are on a high, says the Express headline. Well with opponents that tall, it is not surprising T Mobile lost.

MAST campaigners were celebrating their latest victory after a 50ft mast plan in Romiley was rejected out by members of the Werneth area committee. ...
Mr Gaubert said the group planned to lobby British Waterways to enforce a blanket ban on siting masts on its land. He added: "No doubt this will not be the last application in Romiley for a mast but it remains our intention to vehemently oppose future applications, which by their nature cause so much upset and concern to residents."

Future Stockport - supplementary planning document

There other items on the "e agenda", referred to in the previous posting, which make interesting reading. If you follow the above link and then open the acrobat file under Item 9, you will find a Supplementary Planning Document. With 62 pages, some of it is heavy reading, but a lot of it is repeating the contents of the Masterplan and brings together a lot of the graphics. What it seems to add is an assessment of how the Masterplan is expected to assist regeneration. This could be considered the meat of the proposals.

There has been some discussion as to whether we like the 'look' of the plans and whether this money well spent. This is the document that explains how the plans will boost Stockport's economy.

Another important document, is the second document under item 8. You have to be a very patient reader to go through all that, but it is a response to all those who have requested modifications to the Unitary Development Plan. I am afraid I will have to leave that to someone else to get to grips with.

Council Executive discusses the Market

An "e agenda" of the 12 December is available on SMBC site, follow the link above. It includes documents submitted to the Executive. I have put the text of the papers relating to the Market as comments to this posting, but to view them in their original format, you can find them embedded in the "e agenda".

The good news is that they are talking about re-affirming their support for the Market and raising it's profile.
The bad news is that whereas Steve Burns has told me that he doesn't envision the Produce Hall closing as a market hall, nowhere do these documents contradict the Quarterbridge and New Market report.

The document ends:
RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Executive:

1. Notes the summary contents and recommendations of the Quarterbridge and New Market Solutions reports.

2. Recognises the wider economic, social, environmental and tourism importance of the market, and in the light of this confirms its commitment to the market operation.

3. Requests that a detailed three year action plan be drawn up, based on the recommendations of the reports, and aiming towards a break even situation for the market by the end of the action plan period (2008/9)

4. Agrees to work towards securing resources for the future management/development of the market, in line with its budget making activities and priorities.


5. Notes the summary contents and recommendations of the Quarterbridge and New Market Solutions reports.

6. Recognises the wider economic, social, environmental and tourism importance of the market, and in the light of this confirms its commitment to the market operation.

7. Requests that a detailed three year action plan be drawn up, based on the recommendations of the reports, and aiming towards a break even situation for the market by the end of the action plan period (2008/9)

8. Agrees to work towards securing resources for the future management/development of the market, in line with its budget making activities and priorities.

More planning news

DC021688 Royal Cheadle Hospital (a listed building) is seeking permission for erection of a fence. Information Office: Heald Green Library, Finney La, Heald Green.

DC021650 At the site of the former Coronation Mill & Bankside Mill, Coronation Street, Reddish, it is proposed to demolish and clear existing buildings and build 10 new industrial units. Information Office: Reddish Centre, Houldsworth Sq, 2 Gorton Rd.

DC021695 A barn to be converted to a house, including a two storey extension - Chorlton Fold Farm, off Springbank Rd, Woodley. Information office: Bredbury Library, George La, Bredbury.

To learn more, look up the application number at the planning database.

Brookside Farm to become 5 dwellings

An application has been made to erect 5 dwellings at Brookside Farm, Torkington Road, Hazel Grove. Consultation expiry 31/12/05. Plans can be viewed at Hazel Grove Centre, Civic Hall, London Road.

Click here for the plans. You can get more details by looking up DC021588 at the planning database.

See map.

Churchgate Mill, Lavender Brow - updated

An application has been re-submitted to convert Churchgate Mill, into fifteen apartments with associated car parking. See map.

Click here to see one of the plans. More information available by looking up DC021603 on the planning database. Or see the plans at Hygarth House, 103 Wellington Rd South.

Tescos goes legal

We have all heard how Tescos accidentally built a store larger than it was supposed to be. Well they have finally got round to asking for retrospective permission. See DC021611 in the SMBC planning database.
"This report confirms that the store ... has had no adverse impact on the vitality and viability of any shopping centre in the catchment area."

Stockport Times news - 8 Dec

Father Christmas is coming to Bramall Hall 18 Dec, 11am-5pm.

A multi-million pound Heritage lottery Fund bid is being prepared for the Plaza. The result of the bid will not be known until Summer. If it is successfuly, a second, larger bid is planned. (I have looked on the Plaza website, but there is no information there.)

Steve Burns (SMBC Regen) is trying to find a future for Gatley's Tatton Cinema but says he has had no response from its owners while another developer has shown interest. The Cheadle Area Committee supported the planning department's proposal to prepare a planning brief and recommended that SMBC consider a compulsory purchase order.

Stitchers & Quizzes

Wednesday's meeting was as informative as ever.

There was a brief management meeting before hand to discuss plans for a public talk to be held at St Mary's next year and a discussion on the Glass Umbrella HLF bid. The main conclusion concerning the market was that making the Produce Hall more spacious had really spoilt the Produce Market and the same shouldn't happen in the Covered Market.

For the members meeting, Sarah Cotton of SMBC gave a power point presentation on the Staircase House Stitchers project. There are now over 50 stitchers, including 3 men. We learnt that some of the larger items such as curtains for the Trust's tester bed may take several years each to stitch but that there are a number of smaller items that will also be developed. Frank Galvin (SMBC) showed us the stag he had embroidered.

We agreed that it would be good if Bramall Hall also had a group of stitchers, but we would want to be a separate group with its own identity, rather than expand the remit of the existing Staircase House group.

One dissappointment was that stitchers will not working in the exhibition rooms of the House wearing period costume. This would have added a lot of character to the House. Unfortunately the rooms are not light enough. I suppose damaging eyesight is one step to authenticity too far.

Then followed the quiz organised by Kevin and Coral Dranfield. As well questions on people and places, there was the challenge to identify period pieces including some on loan from Stockport Community Services. A few are shown here. If you want to guess what they are, then leave a comment and I will reveal the answers later.

Glass Umbrella HLF bid update

Last week we had to tell SMBC we could not support the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Glass Umbrella. We are in favour of investment in the long term future of the Market, but the plans lacked the confidence of the Market traders we identified various weaknesses to the plan which gave us reason to think it might undermine the commercial viability of the Market and not protect the Heritage of the Marketplace.

We have now been told that SMBC are going to delay the bid until January, during which time SMBC want to collaborate with the traders, the Trust and other interested bodies to produce a bid which can gain general support.

On 12 December, SMBC are going to debate a statement which would define their strategy for the Market. It is hoped that this will give a clear vision for the future.

This is an opportunity for the Trust and the public to be involved the process.

Stockport Heritage Magazine hits the newstands

Magazine cover
Originally uploaded by Bill.

The latest edition of Stockport Heritage Magazine hit the newstands this week. Contents include:
the first Mersey tunnel;
a band called Toggery;
Heaton Norris waterwheel;
Ghostly ladies of Offerton;
Marple's coalmine; and
tradgedy on Mealhouse Brow.

You will find it in all good newsagents and at the Heritage Centre.

Change of frontage - 2 Little Underbank

The owner of 2 Little Underbank has applied to simplify the frontage. Click here for a "before" and "after" sketch and click here for a map which shows where No. 2 is.

With dark blue paint, the details are hard to see, so I think this change will do little to detract from the Underbanks. If someone wants to object, they have until 11 December to object, but remember, placing restrictions on shops may impact on the commercial viability of the shop and deter investment in the area.

The owner hopes to make the change by 9 January 2006.

Celebration Beam

If you want to view the belated planning application for the "Celebration Beam" in the Merseyway, search for application number DC021404 on the planning database. The public has until 10 December to object.

Abney Hall cycleway

I don't see why the Cheadle Civic Society object to the plans for a gateway for a cycle path. The application by SMBC can be found as DC021413 in their planning database. You can view the plan here.

A plan of the cycleway can be seen here.

If anyone feels the need to object, then you have until 10 December.

Previous posting on 24 November 2005.

Winter Wonderland - 3/12/05

Marple Bridge's Winter Wonderland looks like being a great success. I think the Trust should give serious thought to having a stall next year. All the stalls seemed very busy, so I am sure it boost our coffers, much more so than Chadkirk Festival. Of course, it can be colder, but it is only 3 hours.

Hat Mill could be apartments - Stockport Times

Another heritage apartment development story in the Stockport Times. St Thomas Hatworks could be converted into a large apartment complex. Manchester Antiques, which owns and occupies the land, at St Thomas Place, Hillgate, has submitted a planning application for 77 flats - some of which would be in the restored mill buildings. The remainder would be in 2 new four-storey blocks.
The complex will consist of 32 one-bedroom and 45 two-bedroom flats - some with balconies.
St Thomas Hatworks was founded in 1872 by William Harrison. The hatworks shipped a variety of designs around the globe but it shut in 1920 and then became a textile factory.

For a lot more information on the planning application search for application number DC021312 on SMBC's application database. Having found the application, click on Documents at the bottom of the page for access to a large number of plans, of which the two below are just examples.
Site plan.
Elevations.

(There is also application number DC021313, but as far as I can see this is a mistake and is a duplication of DC021312.)

Woodbank Hall - Stockport Times

Woodbank Hall apartments
You heard it here first, that SMBC is thinking of disposing of Woodbank Hall. Now Stockport Times also has the news. A council spokesperson said, "The hall is costly to maintain at public expense, and not very suitable for accomodating staff, but we do not want to see it boarded up. No decision has yet been taken over the future use of the hall. It is not yet for sale but could well be in the future." Any capital raised from the sale would be reinvested in the park.
The Trust has already written to the Charities Commission to ask what protection they can give to this Grade II listed building which was gifted to Stopfordians in 1921 by Sir Thomas Rowbotham JP as a memorial to the men of Stockport who lost their lives in WWI. SMBC intend to sell a long term lease which would presumably circumvent the conditions of the gift.
I have difficulty believing that anyone will be interest. It's a long way from the road. Residents will need a car just to get to Turncroft Lane, but on the other hand it can hardly be described solitary sitting as it does in the middle of a public park. Will buyers be warned of the ghost?
The Trust doesn't object to the sale on principal, so long as the internal and external character is preserved.
Previous postings
Reply from Charity Commission - 24/10/05.
Disposal of Woodbank Hall - 8/10/05

Trust Monthly meeting - Staircase House Stitchers presentation & Quiz Night

8pm, Wednesday 7 December, The Old Rectory, Churchgate.

Two events at this months Trust meeting:

Staircase House Stitchers presentation. Sarah Cotton and Frank Galvin will describe progress of the project we are funding to involve Stopfordians in Staircase House and, at the same time, decorating the House with period furnishings.

Quiz Night. Members have been asking for a Quiz night, so here it is. Test your knowledge of Stockports history and heritage.

Staircase House Stitchers

Forty nine stitchers attended either the afternoon and evening session, on 22 November. Stitchers had been practicing their stitch work at home. This week they traced out medieval designs to try out.

For more on the project follow this link.

naked

naked
Originally uploaded by miss pris.

I found this stunning photo, taken in Stockport, on the internet.

Infilling & landscaping of dry lagoon

As well as flood prevention works, as reported in the previous posting, work has started in Development Control order DC021269. Search for that number on development control planning database.

The application is fairly inoccuous in itself, it was a very scrappy piece of land, but presumably the next step is to build more office units on the land. It's directly opposite the Cheadle Heath sewerage plant on the otherside of the Mersey, so is not the most glamorous spot. But is currently attractive and I dislike the on-going encroachment on the Mersey. It's part of the Trans-Pennine trail, but not much is done to keep its rural charm.

Flood prevention

Much of the path along the Mersey between Vale Road and Mill Lane has been closed for some months for "flood prevention works", and seems likely to remain closed for some months more. The north bank is being strengthened and a smart set of stairs has been built up to Wilmslow Rd/Manchester Rd.

Quarterbridge Report - The Market

I have got my hands on the Quarterbridge Report, so I can reveal why the Council want HLF money. The Report criticises the Council for: lack of signs to the Market; the Stockport Masterplan is focused on the Merseyway and does not address the Market's needs; highway proposals do little to help the market; and the promotional budget for the Market is inadequate.

To view an summary version of the Report, click on the date below.

Market Traders Reject Changes

Stockport Council are seeking Heritage Lottery Funding to refurbish the Glass Umbrella. Readers of the weblog will be aware of my efforts to publicise the consultation process. I met with Steve Burns who assured me that two thirds of the Market Traders favoured Option 4.

Barbara Mulliner, a Glass Umbrella trader, wrote me arguing against the refurbishment. (See previous posting.) To back up her point, she has provided a list signed by 44 Market Hall traders showing that: 41 favour Option 2 (repair and maintenance only); 2 favour Option 4 (the HLF refurbishment); and 1 cannot make a decision on the details presented by the Council.

This gives the Trust a connundrum. We favour investment in the Glass Umbrella and worry that doing nothing but repairing the building will do nothing to counter a slow decline in the market. But what is the value of a plan that the Glass Umbrella traders are almost unanimous against?

Formal presentation of the Tester Bed

As any visitor to Staircase House will have seen, the Trust's tester bed has been an important feature of the House since it opened. It is even been lain on by David Dickinson.

The Trust has now officially presented it to the Council and, more importantly, paid for it with the funds raised as part of the campaign to rescue Staircase House for the town.

If you haven't seen it already, get along to Staircase House. Even better, join the Staircase House Stitchers and embroider your way into Stockport's history.

Stockport Times - 24/11/05

Library will be closed for decoration
The lending section will be closed from Monday 28 Nov until Saturday 10 Dec.
The Local Heritage and Information sections will be closed from Saturday 10 Dec until Tuesday 20 Dec.

Abney Hall plan 'stupid' say Cheadle Civic Society. They are objecting to a cycle path across Abney Hall estate from Roscoe Roundabout to Mill Lane near Alexandra Hospital, then along Mill Lane to Cheadle. The Cheadle Civic Society object to making a 2.5 metre gap in the wall on Mill Lane.

I would have thought that improving travel for cyclists and opening the grounds up to cyclists would be a boon. Would a 2.5 metre hole in the wall be too greater a price to pay? What do you think?

Stockport in Adverts

I thought long and hard before adding adverts to this site, as to whether to go commercial. In the end I realised that we owe it to Stockport Heritage to raise revenue to support our activities. (All revenue raised goes to Stockport Heritage Trust - so far we have raised almost $10.)

An unforeseen bonus is that the adverts can be interesting. The following blurb comes from Hotels of Manchester.

Located just 6.5 miles south of Manchester city centre, Stockport is one of Greater Manchester's most popular towns. Steeped in industrial heritage, made famous the world over by LS Lowry's paintings, there are some amazing sights.

An old rule states that every train passing through the town has to stop at Stockport Station before making its way over the famous 27-arches of Stockport Viaduct, Western Europe's largest railway viaduct. The town centre also offers attractions like the Hatworks Museum, the UK's only museum dedicated to millenery and hat-making, or the interesting Stockport Air Raid Shelters, reliving life in 1940's war-torn Manchester.

For those seeking a more rural escape, the magnificent Lyme Park offers gardens and an ancient deer park. Whilst Bramall Hall, in its 70 acres of landscaped park, is a superb example of a black and white Tudor manor house.

Stockport also sits halfway between the Derbyshire Peak District and the rolling plains of Cheshire, making it the ideal place to stay if you fancy country parks, walks, canals and rivers set in stunning countryside.
Stockport also has an excellent range of leading high street retailers, as well as a great selection of pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants.

We all knew that, but it's nice to be reminded.

Stockport 100 years ago

I thought Stockport MBC had deleted all photo collections from their website, but I have just found this one. It's well worth browsing.