Iain Roberts

Great to see work going on at the old Somerfield store in Cheadle which, we’re promised, will open as a new Tesco before the end of October.

I’m very glad to see the issues have been resolved - it’s been frustrating for all concerned.

Had several interesting discussions in the last couple of days about the blocked drains in Gatley, of which there seem to be many.  Still don’t feel I understand what’s happening and why getting them sorted seems to be a problem, but am getting there.

Worst places seem to be the lake outside the Gatley Green Co-op, the junction of Church Road and Styal Road, Old Hall Road and parts of Gatley Road, but there are simply far too many blocked drains around the village.

Hope I can have a positive update soon.

It’s amazing how much faster I can get around Cheadle and Gatley on my bike compared to driving - especially when I’m making lots of stops.

Anyway, dashed around this morning before the rain and, amongst other things, have now reported the following:

1. Pothole in centre Springfield Road, Gatley at the junction with Lawson Avenue.

2. Pothole in centre of Coniston Road, Gatley outside nos. 12 & 14.

3. Pothole outside 2 Wensley Road, Cheadle by manhole cover.

4. Pothole on Greenvale Drive, Cheadle 5 metres from the Gatley Road junction

5. Pothole in centre of Beech Avenue, Gatley outside no. 65.

6. The plants between the Methodist Church and Massie Street car park at the end of Ashfield Crescent, Cheadle could do with a bit of tidying, assuming it’s Council land.

7. Where Valley Road meets Cheadle Road in Cheadle, a bush is growing over the “Valley Road” road sign.

8. In Gatley, the trees by the Gatley Green car park have low branches people are having to duck under.
9. At a couple of points on the footpath from Wilsmlow Road to Ashfield Road, Cheadle (on the section between Ashfield Road and Whitegates Road) trees from gardens are growing over the path, blocking out light and being a hazard at head height.

Good news from Tesco - at last.  We’ve been told that work on the old Somerfield site in Cheadle will start any day now, with a new Tesco Metro scheduled to open by the end of October.

The planning issues have been resolved, so we could really be there this time.

I was pleased to see the section of Oakwood Avenue running alongside the railway line is much cleaner following our request for the Council and Network Rail to clear it up a few days ago.  How long it stays that way is another matter…

So I take the kids down to Gatley Carrs for their task day yesterday (the rain wasn’t too bad and looked like it might even stop).

Over to the pond and I was asked to have a stab at hacking down some himalayan balsam - a plant with nice flowers, but it grows to six feet tall in no time at all and blocks out everything else.

Having laid to it with a spade, I was making good progress when it seems I disturbed some wasps.  Not good.   Several stings later Ihad to retire from the field of battle to nurse my wounds.

Not my most impressive contribution (last year’s flower planting and path laying seemed a lot more productive) - let’s hope I can do better next time.

I’ve been a supporter of the “Axe the beer tax” campaign for a while now - far too many pubs closing across the country.

So I pass on the latest request,

HELP STOP NEW THREAT TO PUBS - SAY NO TO NEW CODE Click Here to Make Your Opinion Heard

With 50 pubs now closing every week across Britain as a result of the recession and record tax rises, landlords are now facing a further threat to their livelihoods under Government plans to impose a new costly and bureaucratic “mandatory code”. Home Office Ministers say the code is needed to tackle anti-social disorder. But, as ever, it is the decent, responsible majority that will have to pay for it. The cost to the British pub industry of implementing these new regulations would be an estimated £58 million in the first year and £38 million in subsequent years - costs that will hit landlords and consumers alike. While one or two parts of the code may be sensible in themselves - stopping bars and pubs holding irresponsible promotions like “all you can drink for a tenner”, for instance - using the law in this way is like using a hammer to crack a nut. It is yet further evidence of the nanny state going too far not least because local councils and the police have the powers they need to tackle alcohol-related disorder already. Pubs provide a good environment to be able to supervise and control drinking and encourage responsible behavior - and the vast majority of pubs work closely with local police and councils to tackle anti-social behavior where it occurs. So hitting pubs with more and more costs only helps to undermine the best solution to the problem of excessive drinking. The Home Office is now asking the public for its views on its plans as part of its “consultation process”. So the good news is that you, the responsible majority of decent, law-abiding consumers and landlords concerned about the future of the Great British Pub, do have an opportunity to make your views heard by Government Ministers. We are therefore asking that you click here to answer the questions posed by the Government in the way that we think will best minimise the cost to British pubs and stop the present record pub closure rate getting even worse. But hurry, you have to get your response to the Home Office by Wednesday 5th August for it to be considered. Thank you so much for your ongoing support in helping us oppose threats to a great British institution. Click Here to Make Your Opinion Heard Axe the Beer Tax info@axethebeertax.com http://www.axethebeertax.com/

On Thursday 23rd July a 34 year old woman was found dead in a house on Church Road, Gatley.

A 43 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

That’s all the information I have at the moment - will post more when I hear it.

Despite scouting in Gatley not being quite the size of our friends in Cheadle, we’ve been going for 80 years this year, lately based at the Scout Hut behind Gatley Hill House.

We’d like to celebrate our 80th anniversary by speaking to cubs and scouts from years gone by.  It would be brilliant to give today’s kids (and leaders!) an insight into what the scout group got up to years ago.

If you’re an old Gatley cub or scout, please get in touch (iain@axiomtech.co.uk).

We’ve reported the litter problem on Oakwood Avenue in Gatley, alongside the railway line, both to the Council and Network Rail.  I think some cleaning has already been done, should be more soon.