Date: 5th June 2025 Time: 8pm
Venue: High Lane Village Hall
Present – Caroline Smith, John Baker, David Burks, Darrell Williams, Angie Sequiera, Barry Sequiera, Cllr Shan Alexander, Simon Carr.
Welcome and apologies – Caroline welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies received from Sue Forrester and Eryl Hughes
Approval of last minutes – last month’s minutes were approved
Police and Crime report – Simon Carr our PCSO stated that the priorities have been residential burglaries, speeding in High Lane and off-road vehicles including electric bikes and scooters. Operation Hurricane saw 120 bikes being seized and destroyed.
Speedwatch on Meadway on Monday May 12th was very successful. Some drivers were booked including one who was smoking weed and a stash was found in the car.
Other items discussed were controlling parks for drugs, a report on potholes and the ongoing situation with Hartington Road.
The residents expressed their gratitude to the police.
Finances – John reported that the general account started in May with a balance of £5449.19. Income - two subscriptions of £5.00 each making a total income of £10.
Expenditure – Monthly charge for new Lloyds bank account - £4.25 and one payment to IONOS for the website monthly charge of £9.00. The total expense being £13.25. Balance going forward to June is £5445.94.
Pending payments – expenses for the litter pick - £33.12 and hire of the village hall for the May meeting - £20.00.
Barry reported on the HLRA War Memorial account.
Income – April £44.14, May £47.13 and June £52.07. The present balance stands at £2212.93. Pending – bills for compost and plants.
Planning applications –
DC/095738 The Copse Balmoral Drive
DC/095763 3 Silverdale Close
DC/095775 5 Bridgefield Close
DC/095747 Higher Farm Threaphurst Lane
All considered to be OFN - one for the neighbours.
Reporting back – Outdoor gym
David and Eryl have had site meetings with Jonathan Headlam from SMBC. He has reassured the RA that if they provide the equipment for the inclusive outdoor gym SMBC will maintain it and carry out safety checks.
David has also attended meetings with Sector 3 who have a useful database of funding sources and Move Stockport at Stockport County.
David ran through the grant applications that are pending and those that have been refused.
So far we have £4900 in grants (£3000 Ward Discretionary Budget Fund + a £1900 Commuted Sum (from the housing development on the former Thai restaurant)), £1735 from the Manchester Airport Charitable Fund and £200 from High Lane Village Hall Coffee Club making a total of £6835.
Possible future application could be from ARIS [ Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme] run by Greater Manchester Police.
Bluebells – After improvements to Hartley Woods it has been suggested that native English bluebells should be planted to enhance the woodland.
We were too late in ordering ‘in the green’ bulbs so David has ordered 1000 bulbs which will arrive in September to be planted in the Autumn and will flower in Spring next year.
Carr Brow – Stuart Barton gave an update on the situation at the meeting and provided the RA with this summary. (In full below in italics)
Residents have raised the following issues:
30 objections have been submitted, including one from the High Lane Neighbourhood Forum (HLNF), a statutory body.
The HLNF was not consulted as part of the planning process.
A formal complaint has been submitted to the Local Authority concerning the change of use for 9 Carr Brow.
This complaint is currently under investigation by the Local Authority Legal Team, led by Monitoring Officer Vicky Bates.
The complaint has delayed the proposal’s presentation to the Marple Area Committee.
The proposal originated in 2022 as an urgent measure. It is now 18 months overdue and has exceeded the original budget by £180K.
Carr Brow is a busy road (data-supported), and the proposed site breaches the Children’s Homes Regulations 2014, which states homes should not be placed on busy roads.
There is a clear and foreseeable risk to children and the public, with potential long-term financial liability due to injuries or incidents resulting from the location.
Should a fatality occur, residents have expressed intent to pursue Corporate Manslaughter charges on the grounds of foreseeable and preventable risk due to traffic factors.
The property is located in an unsuitable environment for young people — limited public transport (one hourly bus route after 8pm on weekends), no accessible enrichment opportunities, and an elderly surrounding demographic.
Repeated requests for a site visit — through letters, emails, and within the complaint — have been ignored by the Local Authority.
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are not being responded to within statutory timeframes.
The property has only two parking spaces, not screened (a breach of UDP HP 1.3), despite requiring capacity for at least 7 daily staff members. Overspill would increase congestion on an already dangerous, narrow road still under a Police Enforcement Operation.
Stockport currently has more children’s homes than any other borough. According to their Market Provision Statement, many of these homes are underutilised.
In 2023, Cross Lane Children’s Home made 153 police reports (22 crimes, over 60 "Missing from Home" reports). These are considered high risk, requiring physical police response, adding pressure to local policing and impacting neighbourhood safety. (This is a 3 bedroomed home)
The property’s layout is unsuitable: refuse bins and bicycles cannot fit down the side of the house, which also raises serious evacuation and safety concerns for both residents and children.
Summary
While residents fully support the need for Children’s Homes, 9 Carr Brow has been inappropriately identified as a suitable location.
The numerous issues highlighted above significantly increase foreseeable risks. The proposal, if pursued, will be a disaster waiting to happen — for the children, local residents, the High Lane community, and the Local Authority.
High Lane Station workday – Caroline proposed that an evening down at the Station to be arranged to tidy it up. It was suggested that Stuart Richardson should be included in any work proposed. Caroline will talk to Stuart and then a date/time can be circulated.
Library – David met with Lynda Byrne, head of Stockport Libraries as the meeting room is now available again. They discussed ways to improve the room in terms of acoustics. Carpet tiles, canvas pictures and curtains or blinds would help.
The residents were very positive about returning to the library for meetings. Discussion included approaching schools and U3A Art group for artwork for the walls, Shan will find out about charges to use the room. It was generally felt that there needs to be an increase in footfall to keep our library open. The possibility of a banking hub was discussed.
Annual newsletter – Caroline asked for resident’s views on a hard copy v the electronic version trialled last year. John went through the figures and the printed copy made £176 more which is the equivalent of 35 houses.
Barry suggested an A3 sheet of better-quality paper folded is stronger to post.
It was felt that everyone resident should get a copy, people new to the village would find out about the RA and what’s going on and more people may come along to meetings. Volunteers are always needed.
Bank details will be added this year so residents can pay subs directly into the account.
AOB –
Recycling – Shan reminded residents that certain plastics can now go in the brown bin
- plastic pots (such as yoghurt, soup and hair gel containers)
- plastic tubs (such as margarine, chocolate and laundry powder containers)
- plastic trays (such as containers for cooked or raw meat, and fruit and veg punnets)
Superdrug will recycle blister packs [foil from tablets] and the WI collect them.
Task leader training will take place on Saturday 5th July 9 -1.30 at the village hall. Caroline has seven names already.
Angie made several comments and asked questions –
Why is another traffic survey going on when the Impact of A6 MARR report is out. She felt that this report should be more visible and the RA should publicise it on their website [Editor: see our website, under Environment → A6MARR] and Facebook. People need to read it before attending the July meeting when Sue Stevenson is attending to answer questions about the report. It is also very relevant to Disley residents and maybe they should be invited to the meeting.
GM Transport – the 192 bus may be coming up to High Lane in 2026.If money is available Angie feels that it should be spent on an additional bus service to Marple from High Lane so that we can enjoy all the new facilities.
Surveyors have been seen behind Windlehurst Park and one resident asked if this was on behalf of a property developer. He made the point that the park is well used and any access to properties would be through the park.
This was discussed at the last HLVNF meeting and has been minuted.
David made the point that any development will have a negative effect on the A6 and surrounding roads.
The timeline for the Stockport Plan is available and we understand the draft Plan should be out by late Autumn for consultation. There has been a delay due to a call for grey belt land.
And finally, the committee welcomed Lisa Robinson onto the committee. She is keen to join the RA and make a difference in the community.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 3rd July 2025 at the Village Hall at 8pm.