High Lane Residents' Association

Minutes of the meeting of High Lane Residents’ Association

Date: Thursday 4^th June 2026                                                                                                                        Time: 8pm

Venue: High Lane Library

Present: Caroline Smith; John Baker; Lisa Robinson-Hall; Darrell Williams; Sue Forrester; Barry Sequeira and Angie Sequeira

Apologies: Eryl Hughes; David Burks and Cllr Shan Alexander. The meeting expressed disappointment that there were no councillors in attendance tonight. The newly elected Lib Dem representative for High Lane and Marple had also been invited to the meeting.

1.  Welcome given by Caroline Smith. She introduced herself as Acting Chair and added that the position of Chair for HLRA is still vacant if anyone is interested.

2.  Minutes of the last meeting – approved.

3.  Police and Crime Report – no police presence at the meeting but PCSO Simon Carr had emailed a chart showing the crime statistics for High Lane from the 1^stJanuary 2026 to the 31^st May 2026.

4. Finances by John Baker

This is the report for April and May as there was no May meeting because of the Local Elections.

The HLRA General account

The opening balance for the HLRA General account (taking rounding into account) was £1,929 at the beginning of April.

Income

The income during April was a single subscription payment of     £10

There was no income  in May        

Expenditure

The expenditure during April was:

The IONOS Website Licensing charge	£9
The Lloyds Bank account charge	£6

For April, our Total Expenditure from the General Account was £15

The expenditure during May was

The IONOS Website Licensing charge	£9
The Lloyds Bank account charge	£4

For May, our Total Expenditure from the General Account was £13

For the two months the Total income was                             £10                                                                                                          

And the Total expenditure was                                              £28

The Account balances (with rounding) being carried forward into June are                

General account                        £1,910                                                                                                          

HLRA Project Account               £6,300   (£5.43 interest payments added for these months)

HLRA Total Amount                    £8,210

****************************************************************

External Adult Gym Funding held by Council	£4,900
Total Gym Funding	£11,200

 

HLRA War Memorial Account provided by Barry.

Balance April                             

Balance April	£1593.49
Receipts 5 May [from the books in the surgery] 1 June [from the books in the surgery]	£75.50 £39.02
Total	£ 1708.01
Expenditure Garden Supplies	£134.00
Balance	£1574.01

Other bills expected soon.

5.  Planning applications provided by Eryl [read out by Caroline in Eryl’s absence]

• 22 Russell Ave DC/098663. Demolition of garage and conservatory and construction of a two storey side extension.  OFN
• 8 Park Rd DC/098701. Proposed single storey replacement to a conservatory with some internal remodelling and fenestration amendments? OFN
• Cornfield, Buxton Rd. DC/ 098836. First floor rear bedroom extension, on top of a previous kitchen extension. Seems to have been some previous extensions on top of extensions. OFN
• This may be of interest. Land at Simpson Business Centre  DC/098630. Erection of up to 9 dwelling houses. Comment - more traffic on to the A6 which currently struggles to cope with existing traffic.  OFN

Caroline added that she would investigate this last item

6. Outdoor Gym.

Caroline asked if anyone had tried the gym and commented that it was quite hard especially with a dog in tow! What follows is an email from Eryl:

“The gym is now installed. 10 years ago I had this dream of having a gym in the park. This was mainly due to the lack of facilities in the village and the need for people to improve their fitness levels. Initially there was little support but recently this changed and things moved forward. I would like to express my gratitude to Janet and David Burks for their support, especially their valued contribution in obtaining the funds. I also thanks Richard Booker and Jonathan Hedlam From SMBC for their support and technical knowledge. Let’s hope the equipment will be well used and be of benefit to the community. Thanks to everyone for making my dream become a reality”

An email from David was read out in his absence:

“The RA took on the project for an Adult Gym in High Lane Park about two years ago although it was something Eryl Hughes had been keen to establish for several years. He has worked in the sports sector for many years and felt the community would benefit from an outdoor gym. After liaising with SMBC, Sunshine Gym and other suppliers we started fund raising by applying for grants and asking for contributions from local businesses and individuals. We knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy task and was challenging at times. Applying for grants in today’s economic climate is difficult. High Lane isn’t a deprived area, we have a very low crime rate and the RA isn’t a charity so were limited in where we could apply. Thanks to the Marple Area Flexibility Fund, part of a commuted sum, a grant from Manchester Airport, various local businesses, groups including High Lane Scouts and the Village Hall coffee morning, individuals and the RA itself, we were able to fund the project. We must thank Poynton High School for their very kind donation of the equipment which unfortunately had never been used! This meant we only needed to cover the cost of installation and the tarmac surface. We hope that the Gym will provide the opportunity to exercise outdoors, accessible at all times with no cost to our community and friends.”

Caroline told the meeting that initially, three or four pieces were proposed and we planned to fund them. We were then kindly given nine pieces, and seven have now been installed. Even so, the groundwork alone cost over £10,000. She thought the location, down the side towards the village hall, works very well and looks great and is certain that teenagers will use it.

A resident asked if the two sets of emails from Eryl and David could be included in the parish magazine and if there is any funding left, perhaps there should there be some kind of plaque recognising the Residents' Association and the huge efforts of Eryl and David. It was agreed that this seems to be a good idea, if possible and affordable, otherwise people may assume Stockport Council provided it, rather than realising the RA worked for years to make it happen.

Caroline would try and include the notes from Eryl and David in the piece that she has written for the parish magazine but otherwise could find some extra space in the newsletter. She will speak to Eryl and David about a possibility of a plaque.  It was also noted that there is a video on the HLRA website showing the step-by-step installation of the gym.

A resident asked how we had managed to get the equipment free of charge, to which Caroline replied that Poynton High School never had enough supervision to monitor the pupils using the equipment. She continued to say that HLRA is not responsible for any accidents to the gym users – the responsibility falls under SMBC - they agreed to take it on, they have checked it, they have insured it so it's not our responsibility and that was part of the deal. They would be doing the maintenance so they are liable for any incidents. There are instructions and height restrictions at each machine but unfortunately they are barely legible.  Caroline would check with the council to see if extra signage is required.

7. Coffee morning

Caroline gave some information about the coffee morning being held in the library room and asked for volunteers to help run it.  It starts tomorrow [Friday] morning and it’s a library initiative to help keep the library open, and they’ve asked HLRA to help start and run it because they don’t have the staff to do it themselves. It was first suggested as a weekly event, but it was decided to begin monthly and review it later. It will be held on the first Friday of each month, from 10:15am to 12:00pm in the library room. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be free, with donations invited to help cover future supplies. Bonnie Wallace has agreed to lead it, and a volunteer list is being circulated for anyone who would like to help, whether occasionally or more regularly. At least three volunteers are needed each time: one to greet people, one to make drinks, and one to wash up. A fourth volunteer would be helpful to provide cover. The library is keen for this initiative to get started, and while they have some longer-term ideas, those will be considered later. For now, the focus is simply on a coffee morning. Friday was chosen because it is a quieter day in the village and there are library staff here. A resident voiced concern that, once Marple Library reopens, staff may be moved from here, so having activities in this library could help protect local staffing. There was also discussion about library staffing on Fridays. It appears there are currently more staff and longer hours here, but there is concern that this could change once Marple reopens. The feeling was that the more activity we can show in this library, the harder it will be to reduce services here. In short, it is a ‘use it or lose it’ situation, and the coffee morning is one way to bring more people in, especially on Fridays.  [Editor: the staffed hours on Fridays are currently 10am to 4pm.  Previously, on Fridays it was open only during the afternoons, e.g. 2.30pm to 5.30pm (in April 2015) or 2pm to 5pm (in February 2006).]

Any donations left after covering refreshments can also go towards maintaining the defibrillator. The Residents’ Association bought the defibrillator and continues to maintain it. It is kept on the doctor’s wall, with electricity provided by Dr. Mathewson. The pads will be replaced in October, so the next major cost is likely to be the battery. The box may also need some minor work.

There was also a question about publicity, as some people had not seen any posts on Facebook, although posters had been put up around the village and information shared elsewhere. It was noted that local Facebook groups are still an important way of reaching residents. 

The group is also considering using donations to improve the library room, including carpeting the floor to reduce noise. A local carpet shop had offered help, but the room size has made that difficult. An alternative may be to buy reused carpet tiles, which could be sourced relatively cheaply – the room size is 500×500 and would need 221 tiles.  Depending on how much the coffee mornings raise, donations may need to be prioritised between room improvements and future defibrillator costs. Any thoughts on that would be welcome. Caroline thanked everyone who has volunteered and asked everyone to make use of the facility.

8. Annual newsletter

Caroline passed round two draft copies with some initial ideas for the next issue, and she would welcome other suggestions. So far the outdoor gym, photos of the bluebells in Hartley Woods, the coffee morning, the litter pick and a few short comments have been included.  Someone has suggested a piece from the Speedwatch team, which is a good idea. It is hoped that the vicar will contribute something as she did last year, and the Neighbourhood Forum may want to include an update on planning. The draft includes last year’s planning section for reference, and there is also space for future HLRA ambitions. Caroline asked if anyone has ideas about what HLRA should be doing over the next 12 to 18 months, to please add them when the copies are passed round. By the time the newsletter is printed, we may know a little more about the proposed development.

Caroline thought that at this stage the draft for the proposed development will have been published and the comments stage completed, but she doesn’t think we will have a final decision by the time the newsletter is published and she suspects that there will be some housing in the area whatever happens so she has left space for an update. That information is important for the village and asked if anyone has further suggestions to please add them.

9.  Bin on High Lane Station

Caroline spoke about the waste bin at the old High Lane station, which has kindly been emptied by Stuart for years, but he is unable to continue. A volunteer is required to empty the bin once a week, and that has now been taken on by Barry so thanks were given to Barry for volunteering.

10.  AOB

• AGM. Caroline told the meeting that the AGM will be slightly different this year. It is usually held on the first Thursday in October, but the large room at the Village Hall on a Thursday is unavailable. Instead, the AGM will be held on the last Wednesday in October in the Village Hall. There will still be a normal meeting at the library on the first Thursday of October but no separate meeting in November, as the AGM will effectively serve as that meeting. This change was made so the large room could be secured, as attendance is usually higher for the AGM. In effect, there will be two meetings in October and none in November. The AGM is expected to be on Wednesday 28 October, and Caroline will update the posters to remind people.

• Car Parking on side streets. Caroline expressed dissatisfaction at the absence of councillors. Only one apology had been received, and others had neither acknowledged the invitation nor attended. Since the parking charges were introduced, many more cars have been left on roads around the village, including some on pavements. A number also appear to be untaxed, particularly on Holly Road off Brookside, although it is unclear whether some belong to a local business and are therefore parked legally. At least one had been removed this morning, so it may already have been reported. The main concern is that the village car parks are largely empty, apart from permit holders, while surrounding roads have become congested. High Lane is used mainly by local residents, so the current arrangements do not appear to benefit the village.

  There is particular concern about the impact on older residents. Caroline knew of one 96-year-old neighbour who had recently decided not to drive into the village because he did not know how to use the parking meter. The machines are not easy for everyone to use which is unfair given the number of older residents in the village and it is not always easy to pay using the mobile app because the phone signal is not very reliable.

  There are also ongoing problems with the limited number of free-of-charge parking spaces intended for library and pharmacy visitors. Residents often occupy them, despite previous complaints, making access difficult, especially for older people collecting prescriptions or making short visits. Although the council says the signage is clear, in practice the arrangement remains confusing. More generally, the current car parking arrangements are inconvenient for everyday village use, especially in poor weather when people need to make several short stops.

  Caroline intends to raise these issues with the councillors and will provide photos showing how empty the car parks are. The scheme appears to be causing frustration and may also be affecting local businesses, as some residents now choose to shop elsewhere where parking is simpler and free. She will also ask for a breakdown of the costs of the machines and signs, the revenue collected so far, and the reasons for reintroducing charges when a similar scheme was scrapped years ago. The explanations given so far have not been convincing. Angie thanked a resident who had spoken so eloquently about the car parking charges causing isolation especially with the elderly which directly opposes the council’s initiative on preventing loneliness and promoting health and well-being among residents.

• Bus services to High Lane. 

  Caroline read out an email from Cllr Colin MacAlister that he had received from TfGM:

“At present, High Lane is served by High Peak Buses service 199, operating every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays, which provides direct links into Stockport. Although not part of the Bee Network, it runs under a Service Permit issued by TfGM. The 394 also provides a weekly link between Glossop, Marple, High lane and Stepping Hill Hospital with joint support from TfGM and Derbyshire County Council.

We’re aware there is a demand in High Lane for improved connectivity and this is something we’re continuing to look at through the wider Network Development work.  However, in terms of the 192 specifically, there isn’t a safe or suitable location for buses to turn in High Lane; both in terms of large double decker buses that operate on the route and the number of 192 services that operate, using residential back streets isn’t feasible for a service of this scale.

It’s also worth noting that the Bee Network won’t always be able to offer a single, direct bus for every journey. In some areas, the focus is on making interchange straightforward and affordable instead. The £2 Hopper fare supports this by allowing passengers to make onward connections within the hour at no extra cost. For High Lane residents, using the 199 or 394 gives access to Stockport, Stepping Hill, rail links, and a wide range of Bee Network services into the city centre via interchange”.

Caroline remarked that at the last meeting, Cllr MacAlister had said there was an online form for Transport for Greater Manchester survey about buses, but she has been unable to find it and would ask Cllr MacAlister how and where to access it. There was disagreement expressed with the point about double-decker buses being able to turn round, as school buses turn there twice a day and buses used to turn via Hartington and Alderdale, which are fairly wide roads. The meeting felt the route could still work, although there was some debate about the exact turning arrangement. A more likely issue may be whether the timetable could be maintained through High Lane. It was also noted that the 394 runs only every two hours, though some felt it had potential for improvement. Suggestions included extending the 394 to the railway station and increasing its frequency, especially to improve links to Stepping Hill and evening or Sunday services. Members of the meeting said current services are difficult to rely on, particularly in bad weather when transport options can quickly become limited. Although High Lane is linked to Marple, residents said the service is too infrequent to be convenient, making evening return trips impractical. It was agreed to ask Colin where the survey can be found and whether comments can be submitted in response.
The meeting also expressed disappointment again that none of the three councillors had attended and felt apologies should have been given although Cllr Shan Alexander had emailed with her apologies. It was also noted that there had been councillor attendance at the recent HLNVF meeting.

• Update on planning applications. Caroline had looked back at the papers and thought that further consultation was expected in June or July, but nothing has appeared on the council website yet. When it does, the councillors and Richard will let us know.
• Undergrowth on the A6. The undergrowth issue previously raised at the last meeting was mentioned again and there was concern that vegetation and soil have significantly narrowed the paths on both sides of the road from the Royal Oak towards Hazel Grove making the pavement too narrow in places for two people to pass comfortably and unsuitable for wheelchairs and most prams. Caroline had previously submitted a report with photos and measurements, and Jonathan has agreed to follow it up, although parks issues often take around three months to be resolved. Apparently any complaints should include lamppost numbers. Caroline questioned the need for lamppost numbers, remarking that the online form already allows the exact location to be marked on a map. It was also noted that recently cut-back hedges have made the extent of the undergrowth more visible. Caroline would contact Jonathan again to see whether the matter can be progressed.
• Speedwatch report. A Speedwatch update was given, and it was reported that there had been two sessions since the last meeting. One session took place on Thornway/Meadway and another on Hartington. The Hartington session was considered notable because the police presence was highly visible, with three police cars attending. It was noted that one officer tried to reduce the visibility of the police presence because drivers can reportedly see police activity on navigation apps. However, the meeting felt the police presence remained too obvious for the session to give a true reflection of driver behaviour. A further police check was seen near the petrol station, where an officer was positioned near the change from the 40 mph to the 30 mph limit, with two other officers nearby. This approach was observed to be more discreet than previous enforcement activity.
• Care home on Carr Brow. An update was requested on the children’s home on Carr Brow. It was reported that it is not yet open. Some residents spoke about ongoing disruption to neighbours, including blocked driveways caused by work vans. One resident was said to have had very poor visibility when trying to leave a driveway, highlighting safety concerns. It was felt these problems had been predicted by residents but previously dismissed. It was also noted that there is a manager in post and that a further appeal is ongoing. There remains a concern that a child could run into the road, which is seen as a significant risk. A local group is continuing to oppose the development, although it is expected it will still go ahead. They felt residents had not been listened to and that the predicted problems are now occurring. It was said that the site now appears even more dangerous than first expected. It was remarked that during the recent closure of the A6, large vehicles used Carr Brow as an alternative route, increasing concern. It was suggested that Stuart’s group should contact Sgt Rachel Walton, and it was confirmed that the matter would also be raised with the councillors.
• Sainsbury’s new fence. Residents had complained about some customers using Hartley Woods as a public convenience.  A fence has been erected to deter this but it was noted that there’s a gap in the fencing.  Caroline would mention this to the store manager.
• Hedge on Thornway. It was agreed that residents on Thornway and on either side of the passageway would be asked whether the hedges had been cut correctly, although this remains an outstanding action.
• Windlehurst noticeboard. It was noted that some members had been unaware of its existence of a noticeboard at Windlehurst Park. Caroline reported that access to the notice board is being pursued so posters can be displayed, and she thinks that finally the correct contact person has likely been identified, although no response has yet been received.
• Parking fine for volunteers. A resident told the meeting that the volunteers [Warren and Alison] who maintain the Wall Memorial had been subject to parking charges even though they argued that they need to bring their gardening equipment, water etc to the site. The resident had written to the councillors to support them, stressing that volunteers should not be subject to parking fines as they are serving the community of High Lane. The concern is not parking rules in themselves, but the harm they are causing. Many feel the scheme is damaging the village, especially people who already struggle to get out. The charges make it harder for people to reach community spaces such as coffee mornings, church and local events. Many volunteers also rely on cars to carry supplies, so parking is essential to their work.

Further discussion highlighted broader concerns that the charges are discouraging volunteering, reducing access to community activities, and increasing isolation, particularly for older and disabled residents. Members also criticised confusing signage, payment problems, and the effect on village life, and suggested gathering objections more formally through the newsletter or a petition. It was also noted that on the May voting day, the parking charges were lifted at the library although residents hadn’t been informed of this.

 

The next HLRA meeting is on Thursday 2^nd July 2026 at 8pm in High Lane Library