Our local police will be at Massie Street Car Park on Monday 23rd Aug from 9am with their ‘Have Your Say’ Van. This helps the police engage with the community and identify issues using Have your Say cards.

You tick up to three of 20 priorities and, if you’re able to you want to, provide information on when and where issues are happening and who is responsible. This information is then used by the police to tackle local issues identified by the community.

Officers from the Cheadle Neighbourhood Policing Team will also be on hand to speak with and to provide crime reduction advice.

Each month the police come along to Cheadle Area Committee to let us know what’s happening and give councillors and the public the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues.

Here are the main points from Tuesday’s meeting, from Inspector Steve Gilbertson, PC Jim Wilson and PCSO Adam Brown.

• Pubwatch is still going strongly in Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme.  A “nightwatch” system is being considered - two way radios in each pub and the police control room so problems can quickly be reported.  Gatley’s pubwatch, we were told, has been less successful and isn’t currently active.  (Hopefully it can be resurrected soon).
•  The police operation to deal with problems on the last day of the summer term was successful.  Letters were sent out so teachers, pupils and parents knew there would be a strong police presence and action would be taken where there were problems.  The police were patrolling early - as soon as the schools were out - along with the Council’s anti-social behaviour team.  The result was a quiet evening with few problems.
• Crime overall is down over the last 12 months in the Cheadle/Cheadle Hulme area.  An exception is theft of, and from, motor vehicles which is very slightly up on a year ago.  Residents are urged to take sensible precautions about not leaving valuables on display in cars.

From the Council:

The public consultation period for the review of these two policies began on 19 July 2010 with a closing date of 15 October 2010. These are being conducted at the same time as they are closely related matters involving related business premises.

Stockport Council is the licensing authority for the sale / supply of alcohol, the provision of hot food and drink (after 23:00 hrs) and the provision of regulated entertainments (plays, indoor sports, live and recorded music and dancing etc.). Any amendments or additions to this policy must be agreed by the Council by 7 January 2011.

For full details of the consultation, please click here.

The police have been out again on South Park Road, in both morning and evening rush hours, and have issued a total of around 250 warning letters.

Having given motorists proper warning, the next stage is to issue fines.  Note that the offence being committed does not lead to points on the licence - just a £30 fine.

The police, and I, would like to know whether residents on the South Park Road estate feel the situation has improved or not, so please do let me have your thoughts.

(but locking up your daughters is strictly optional these days).

A warning from Inspector Steve Gilbertson at today’s meeting with councillors.  Steve noted that there had been five burglaries in Gatley in the last two weeks of May (more than elsewhere in the area).

All five involved cars being stolen from outside houses at night and, in at least three cases, burglars were able to gain entry to the house through unlocked doors and pinch the car keys.

So please, please, please, especially on these warmer evenings, make sure your car keys aren’t a soft touch for thieves.  Don’t leave them near the front or back doors - ideally take them to bed with you (in the nicest possible way).

The next Cheadle Area Committee will be held at Ladybridge Park Residents Club, Edenbridge Road, Cheadle Hulme starting at 6pm on Tuesday 22nd June 2010.  You can download the (unusually short at only 61 pages) agenda here.

As always, the meeting is not only open to the public, but we really want more people to come along.  You can turn up late if you like, and you can ask questions of the police, council and councillors (though where there’s no agenda item the question fits into, it needs to be submitted in advance - you can send it by email to stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk if you like.

Tuesday’s agenda includes

• Brief presentation from Inspector Steve Gilbertson of West Stockport Area police and his colleagues, plus the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues directly with Steve and his team.
• Update from Julie Henshall, our Area Conditions Officer, who deals with issues like graffiti, fly-tipping and littering - you can ask Julie questions.
• Update from Rod Camblin from Highways - he’s the guy who goes around checking potholes and dodgy pavements, marking them up with orange paint and getting them fixed - you can ask Rod questions too.

Then we have the planning applications.  These are quasi-judicial, which means there are rules we follow and a set way things are done to ensure the outcome is fair.

This time round councillors will be considering:

• DC044007 - application for change of use of 9 Wilmslow Road, Cheadle from retail premises to class A3 (restaurant, snack bar and cafe use).  The recommendation from the planning people is to refuse this on the grounds that we already have too many of that type of premises in the area.
• DC044066/DC044125 - conversion and alteration of existing listed farm buildings to five dwellings on Ladybridge Farm, Ladybridge Road.  The planning officers are recommending we grant that one.
• DC044147 - single storey rear extension to 17 Oaktree Cottages, Anfield Road, Cheadle Hulme.  Officers are recommending we grant that one too.

In all cases with planning applications, councillors have (by law) to go into the meeting with an open mind and listen fairly to the arguments.  Our task is not to decide whether we fancy having the development, or whether its popular.  Our task is simply - again by law - to decide whether the development is within the rules and guidelines as set down in the Council’s Unitary Development Plan.

If we refuse an application, the developer can appeal and - if successful - the Council pays lots of money for the appeal costs and the development goes ahead anyway, so it’s worth getting it right.

Our neighbourhood police were out on the South Park Road estate this evening.  150 drivers using the estate as a cut-through were given a warning notice.  They’ll be out again soon on a morning rush-hour, and periodically after that, fining offenders where needed.

Here’s the text of the letter the police have been handing out to offending motorists.

In response to numerous complaints from residents of South Park Road estate and local councillors,

Stockport West Neighbourhood Policing team have been asked to look at the problem of motorists contravening the no motor vehicle signs except for access onto the South Park Road estate, Gatley.

These signs are clearly situated on the A34 southbound restricting access off the A34 into the estate and as vehicles come off the M60 onto the A34 southbound.

 

During rush hour vehicles contravening these signs can be in excess of 300 vehicles per hour, the signs are placed there as part of traffic calming measures to reduce traffic on this residential estate.

You have just contravened these signs and as such are liable to prosecution and to be given a non-endorsable £30 ticket.

 

On this occasion you are being given a warning not to contravene these signs. The residents of this estate should not have to put up with inconsiderate drivers using their estate as a cut through.

This situation will continue to be monitored and if it does not improve fixed penalty notices will be given to motorists

 

 

Stockport West Neighbourhood Policing Team

Cheadle Heath Police Station

Adswood

 

Tel 856 9770

Good news from today’s meeting with police - there has been some enforcement of the “no entry except for access” rule on Gatley’s South Park Road estate and there will be more.

The transport police, based in Eccles, who are the first people to do this sort of enforcement have been asked and have shown no interest.

Now our neighbourhood police have stood in and have started enforcing the rule.

I’ve asked Inspector Steve Gilbertson to ensure that this continues.  No-one’s expecting police to be permanently positioned on the estate - there are other issues to deal with too - but it does need to be an ongoing process.

After years of trying, it looks like Brookhead Arcade on Stockport Road, Cheadle is finally to be gated.  The arcade of shops near Jubilee Park has a walk-through in the middle that’s long acted as a magnet for anti-social behaviour at night.

The aim is for gates to be fitted by the end of April and operated by the shopkeepers.

Following a letter from Mark Hunter requesting action, PC Gareth Pemberton has been spending time at the one-way side-road running alongside Councillor Lane near Demmings Road.

PC Pemberton reported that incidents of people driving the wrong way along the road seem to have reduced, and he’s continuing to visit the location and check with local residents.

The Kenilworth Pub in Cheadle Hulme has, in the past, had some issues with violence and anti-social behaviour, especially on derby days.

Police have reported that there have been no issues in the last three months and so the pub has been removed from their hotlist of problem pubs.

Meanwhile, Pub Watch in Cheadle is formally being launched with a meeting on 14th April - we wish it every success!

UPDATE: The landlord of the Kenilworth, John Powell, has contacted me to point out that the pub has had no recent problems and only a handful over the last couple of years, a correction which I’m happy to pass on.

At this evening’s Cheadle Area Committee we had an update from PC Jim Wilson on the issues in the Oak Road Area.  The news from the police was positive, so I’m particularly keen to hear from residents to see if this matches their experiences over the last week or so.

• Police have met one particular resident to agree an action plan to deal with problems in the area.
• Many of the problems seemed to stem from one particular address on Oak Road where a young man was living, with visitors at all hours and drug activity. Stockport Homes and the Police are working on an eviction.  The tenant has been served with an eviction notice and has two weeks to appeal.  The earliest court date that’s been secured is 23rd May.
• The property was recently boarded up when the resident was in hospital for two weeks.  When the resident returned, the house was unboarded.  However, the Police say they are unaware of any further problems in the last few days  and the tenant may be staying elsewhere.
• More Special Constables are patrolling in the Oak Road area, and more night patrols have been requested.
• A mobile police station is in Oak Road roughly one day a week, with patrols from the station.  Residents are encouraged to drop by and share any concerns they have.
• Patrolling officers are looking to identify youths and, where there are problems, will look at further measures such as acceptable behaviour contracts.
• On a couple of evenings, Section 60 powers have been approved, giving officers the power to conduct searches without normal grounds of suspicion.  A couple of arrests have resulted.
• A young man is on bail, having been arrested in relation to the vandalism of cars in Whitegates and the south end of Ashfield Road.

Around 2,000 children are currently taking part in ‘Crucial Crew’, an annual event organised by Stockport Council which teaches children vital lessons on how to keep themselves and others safe.

‘Crucial Crew’ is the first annual safety event in the UK recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and is now in its 16th year. Professionals from Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, NHS Stockport, British Transport Police, Stockport Women’s Aid, and the Council are presenting interactive learning sessions strengthening the link between knowing the correct response to a situation and actually doing it.

Issues covered included:-

• how to escape from a house fire

• basic first aid for someone who has collapsed

• the effects of alcohol and smoking

• dangers of the railway environment

• awareness of domestic violence/abuse issues

• cycling safely

• personal safety in relation to street crime

• age-restricted products

• cyber safety

The Local Government Minister, Barbara Follett has announced that she is to take action against Greater Manchester Police Authority for setting, in the Government’s view, an excessive budget for 2010-11. Greater Manchester Police set a precept equating to 7.5% on a Band D property.

The Government is minded to place a ‘cap’ on the Authority’s 2011-12 budget at a level that will equate to a 4.5% increase in each of the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. This means that authorities will not be required to rebill council tax payers in 2010-11.

The authority has 21 days to challenge the Minister’s decision. A copy of the Ministerial statement announcing this decision can be found by clicking here.

Our Council Tax bills include a portion for the police, and for the fire service, separate to the local authority funds.

Stockport residents are being encouraged to play their part in improving the quality of public service provided by police in Stockport.

As part of the Stockport Boost campaign, a volunteer recruitment scheme is now appealing for volunteers to help out with administrative tasks.

Vacancies currently exist at Stockport, Cheadle Heath, Reddish and Hazel Grove police stations. Positions have been designed to compliment the existing volunteer roles within Greater Manchester Police, such as special constables and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators.

It is hoped that the development of the positions will reduce the number of administrative tasks currently undertaken by front-line officers, allowing them to spend even more time providing visible policing in their neighbourhoods.

Volunteering also provides an opportunity for members of the public to boost their CV and enhance their career opportunities. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities available with Stockport Police telephone 0161 856 9754.

Stockport Council took part in another major operation to crack down on illegal activity across the borough focusing on Reddish, Brinnington and the Heatons.

The Council’s Licensing and Trading Standards teams joined forces with Greater Manchester Police and HM Customs & Excise in ‘Operation Supervortex’ on Friday 5th March.

· Activities carried out during the operation included:

· Underage test purchasing which resulted in three premises being found to sell alcohol to an underage volunteer.

· Illicit alcohol seized in raids on off-licences including over 2,000 bottles of wine and 180 bottles of spirits.

· Two prohibition notices were issued on Private Hire Vehicles by the Council’s Licensing team following a series of roadside checks which revealed potentially dangerous defects.

· One off-licence in Heaton Moor was temporarily closed by Licensing following breaches in licensing conditions.

Investigations by the Council’s Licensing and Trading Standards teams, Greater Manchester Police and HM Customs & Excise are ongoing in relation to the above issues.

Stockport West police are asking anyone who has their car registration plate stolen to report it to the police.

They’re taking it seriously, and have special screws which can be used to fix plates and make it much harder for criminals to remove them.

The police, along with other agencies such as the Council and Stockport Homes, are taking the anti-social behaviour issues in Cheadle’s Oak Road area seriously.

In addition to the regular patrols, the mobile police station is on Oak Road a day a week and some people who’ve have particular problems have had detailed discussions with the police.

Inspector Gilbertson, at this evening’s Cheadle Village Partnership, was keen to stress their zero-tolerance approach and encouraged residents to report any problems.

Stockport Homes is taking action against some tenants who have been responsible for certain problems and are in breach of their tenancy agreements.

Parenting contracts, parenting orders and other mechanisms are also brought into play.

That’s not to say the problems can all easily be solved, so please let me and the police know if you’re aware of anti-social behaviour issues either in the Oak Road area or elsewhere in Cheadle & Gatley ward.

Three men have been arrested, and remain in custody, after a nasty robbery at the Spar on Foxland Road, Gatley last Friday.

Thieves stole cigarettes, alcohol and money at the Spar on Friday evening, and hit the assistant around the head with a baseball bat, seriously injuring him.

Two men were arrested in Wythenshawe on Monday, a third came to Cheadle Heath police station voluntarily.  All three remain in custody.

Greater Manchester Police Authority is ‘performing adequately’, according to a new report released by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

On a scale from one to four, the joint inspection team assessed the Authority’s performance as ‘two’, which represents adequate performance. Inspectors found that Greater Manchester Police Authority has developed excellent relationships with other public services such as councils and the health service, and with the Force’s new chief officer team. It is committed to supporting the Force through a comprehensive change programme to boost frontline resources and performance.

However, the Authority must forge a more strategic role, improve its scrutiny and performance management and ensure value for money in how its own and the Force’s resources are used. Copies of the report are available from Greater Manchester Police Authority or from the Audit Commission website and the HMIC website.

We had some good news from Inspector Stephen Gilbertson at the Gatley Village Partnership meeting last night.

We’re going to get an extra PCSO and part of an extra PC in Gatley to beef up the team (which will then be a sergeant, 1.5 PCs and 2 PCSOs).

The current neighbourhood officers for the Gatley area are:

PC 02780 Mark Shaw  mark.shaw@gmp.police.uk

and

PCSO 65081 Mark Salt mark.salt@gmp.police.uk

The neighbourhood team direct phone number is 0161 856 9776.  This number does not replace 999 or 0161 872 5050 for a police response to urgent and non-urgent incidents.

(And before anyone asks about Cheadle, I don’t know but I’m sure we’ll find out soon, as the police aim to be regular attendees at village partnerships and Area Committee meetings).

Work by local residents on and around Coniston Road, Gatley, has resulted in the police taking action to reduce parking problems. Yeshurun Synagogue, which has always been supportive of efforts to reduce illegal parking, is also spreading the message.

Here’s what the police are saying:

Following numerous and significant complaints from residents living on Coniston Road and surrounding roads we, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, are undertaking positive action with respect to parking problems occurring on Saturday mornings.

The public footpath does form part of the highway and as such can be obstructed by the parking of vehicles on the pavement. Please ensure that wherever you park your vehicle it does not block the pavement or cause the road to be narrowed to such an extent as to prevent emergency vehicles from gaining access.

We would like to advise you that instances of obstruction parking, such as parking vehicles on the pavement, parking within 10 metres of a road junction, illegal parking on the yellow lines or parking on the road which causes an obstruction is an offence and will be liable to fixed penalty notice being issued.

This policy is an attempt for the police to work with the local community to resolve these considerable issues which are adversely affecting the area.

Please do NOT:

Obstruct the pavement;
Obstruct the road;
Park within 10 metres of a road junction;
Disregard the parking restrictions indicated.

Thank you for your help and cooperation.

West Neighbourhood Policing Team
Tel: 0161 856 9770
Email: stockport.westnpt@gmp.police.uk

I’m still waiting for Council officers to come back with proposals for improving parking retrictions on Coniston Road following a consultation late last year - I’m chasing it up.

Whilst both myself and Mark Hunter have done our bit in getting action on this, it’s the residents who have really made the difference. Hopefully we’ll see the situation improve in the coming weeks.

At Cheadle Area Committee this evening we spoke to the Police licensing officer for the Stockport area.  With over 900 pubs, take-aways, off-licences and restaurants along with some other bits and pieces too, he’s got his work cut out.

We were told that Gatley’s Red Lion Pub is being sold by the brewery and will not re-open as a pub (I can’t guarantee that, of course - just passing on the information we’ve been given).

We had a discussion about Pub Watch - going well in Cheadle but falling down a little in Gatley.

Other points of note:

• A new scheme will see people barred from all the pubs in their area if they’re convicted of domestic violence after being out drinking.
• Cheadle Hulme pub watch is being linked into Cheadle’s successful scheme.
• The police have detected less drug use in pubs than when they started doing passive checks eight months ago (they use passive sniffer dogs and check toilets for traces of cocaine).

Some might say we get more than enough genuine charity bags through the door, but at least anything we donate is going to a good cause.

A label came through my door - and others in the area too - that gives every appearance of being a complete scam.

This claims to be from “ASTHMA charity”.  There’s no such organisation as far as I know, there’s no address, website or charity number.  The email address is from gmail - anyone could have set it up.

The label claims it has authorisation from the local council -  not true.

I’ve contacted Trading Standards, who in turn have contacted the police.

Please - only donate to genuine charities with a genuine charity number.

Thanks to Inspector Gilbertson - after today’s meeting (where we went through issues in the area), Steve and I had a walk around Ashfield Road, Whitegates Road and Oak Road in Cheadle, where I was able to show him the specific places where we’ve had problems with anti-social behaviour and crime.

Steve’s new to the job, and to our area. He’s doing a great job, and it really helps to see the places and  meet the people.

Inspector Gilbertson is planning further walkabouts with all the councillors in the West Stockport area.

Meanwhile, on the specific issue of the problems in the Oak Road area, the Police are working hard, both speaking to the individuals believed to be causing the problems and increasing patrols.

Pam and I have been wrestling with the issue of parking enforcement, especially in Cheadle, where most the complaints arise.

I’ll write more about it when I’ve time, but for now I’m pleased to report a boost for this week with two parking attendents spending the week in Cheadle village centre.

This is not a permanent measure - we’re all looking for longer-term fixes - but we’re hoping it will make a difference.

This is a letter the police are putting out, reporting on Operation Beach in the Gatley area.

Over the last two and a half months the West Neighbourhood Policing Team has run an anti burglary operation within Gatley called Operation Beach.

Operation Beach has reduced the rate of Burglaries by 67% compared to last years figures. The operation has also assisted to reduce robberies by 75%. This is an excellent achievement.

As part of the operation, the mobile police station was deployed to the area to be used as a base to conduct the operation. Over 1800 residents were visited by officers and given crime reduction advice including leaflets about burglaries and to avoid being a victim of crime.

The area was split up into various zones, these zones were patrolled and suspected offenders stopped and questioned which drove the offenders out of the area. Target offenders and their friends were constantly visited to disrupt criminal activity, which also proved a success.

As a result of the operations success we have now continued a similar style operation in the Cheadle Hulme and Heald Green areas however patrols will continue within your area. The public can help assist us by joining a local neighbourhood watch. I ask you to promote the joining of the neighbourhood watch in your area. If you need to contact a member of the neighbourhood policing team please call 0161 856 9770. I would like to thank you all for your support throughout this operation over the Christmas period and for your continued support.

Many thanks

Sgt 11366 Darren Spurgeon
PC 02780 Mark Shaw
PCSO 65081 Mark Salt

Stockport West Neighbourhood Policing Team
Cheadle Heath Police Station
Europa Way
Adswood

Further Support and Information for Stockport Borough Council:

Littering/Graffiti stockportdirect@stockport.gov.uk 0845 833 4444

Parking parking@stockport.gov.uk 0161 474 4926

Road Safety Unit traffic.services@stockport.gov.uk 0845 833 4444

Street Lighting stockportdirect@stockport.gov.uk 0161 217 6111

Hate crime should be reported.

This is defined as:

 Any incident, which may or may ot constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate towards the victim because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender or the fact that they have a disability.

If you feel that you are being targeted  in this way then you should report the incident to the police statig that you feel this to be the case.  There does not have to be evidence to suggest the motivation, the fact that you feel it is motivated in this way is sufficient for the police to deal with and record the incident as a ‘hate crime’.  Hate incidents and crimes have a damaging effect on communities and need to be reported in order that the police and their partner agencies can protect other members of the community who may be targeted in this way.

If you would like further information or would like to discuss any concerns, please contact Dennis Bishop at Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 9662 or 07901 562722 or email him on dennis.bishop@gmp.police.uk.

Before Christmas, the Police ran the first phase of Operation Beach, which successfully cut burglaries where it was run in parts of the west side of Gatley and Heald Green.

Now the next phase is starting.  The main objective is to get us, the householders, to be more careful about protecting our property and to keep an eye on what’s happening in our area.

For example

• in the snow, a group of lads spent hours driving around Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall in the morning, looking for anyone leaving their keys in their car while it was de-icing.
• is there a strange car sitting on your road for a week or two?  It might be legitimate, but it could be a stolen car so report it for checking.

Security tips include

• Always lock your doors and windows when you leave the house.
• Fit deadlocks to outside doors - burglars hate them because you need the key to open them from the inside as well.
• Don’t leave your car keys or house keys in sight, or in easy reach, of your windows and doors.
• Fit key-operated locks to your windows
• Install a visible burglar alarm and turn it on when you leave the house.
• Don’t hide your spare keys outside or in the garage or shed - burglars always look there.
• Leave the lights and radio on a timer when you go out for the evening, so it looks like you’re in.   You can get a timer from as little as £2 from a DIY shop.
• Don’t leave ladders or tools outside - someone could use them to get into the house.
• Don’t leave valuables like laptops where they can be seen from the window.

Burglary is rare in our area - taking sensible precautions will make it even rarer.

As the Stockport Express reports:

[Greater Manchester Police was] ranked either bottom or next to bottom in four national tables produced from the results of the annual British Crime Survey.

The tables showed that the area suffered from a higher rate of so-called ‘acquisitive crime’ – which includes robbery, burglary and car crime – than the five other English forces judged to be most similar.

It also came bottom in the proportion of these crimes which are detected.

In our area, in my experience, the police are doing a good job.  Our new Inspector Steve Gibertson (covering Stockport West: Cheadle, Gatley, Cheadle Hulme, Heald Green, Bramhall, Davenport and Cale Green) has picked up where Inspector Dave Turner left off.

The police work well with local politicians and residents, target their efforts effectively and are doing a good job - one of the main reasons why crime in our area is among the lowest in Greater Manchester.

Of course,  there’s always room for improvement and any crime is too much.  Also, people may rightly point out that our area is relatively affluent.  We have deprived areas, but large areas of Greater Manchester are substantially poorer.

Police today handed out letters at Gatley Primary School warning parents that they risk a fine if they park illegally when dropping off or collecting children.

The letter points out that parents have been requested to park considerately and that certain parents have been written to.  The police are now saying they will issue fixed penalty notices to infringers.

In particular, the letter asks us parents to NOT

• block  the pavement or road
• park on the bend at a junction
• park on yellow lines when they’re in force
• drive whilst using a mobile phone
• block residents’ driveways

Dodging the rain around lunchtime, I managed to get about half of the South Park Road Estate delivered with our latest newspaper.

I chatted to a few people on the way round and thought an update on a few issues was in order.

• there’s been a residents’ consultation on parking restrictions in Coniston, Brentwood and Brogden.  I don’t know the results yet - should find out soon.  Some residents are concerned that the options offered didn’t go far enough to deal with the problems - something I’m looking into.
• Mark Hunter and I have both been in touch with the police about improving enforcement of the “no entry except for access” rule.  I think it’s fair to say that the police remain cautious about committing manpower to this and there’s still work to be done.
• I’ve been contacted about the “Ahead Only” sign on the road surface of South Park Road, just past Mardale Drive.  The concern is that it’s not very useful having it there.  I’m not sure, to be honest, but as it’s now down, I don’t think we could justify spending money painting it out.
• I’ve reported a dodgy bit of pavement by the kerbstone outside 172 Kingsway.
• I was very glad to see the trees at the entrance to Brogden Drive have now been full removed - an issue Pam and I raised with the Council at the end of July.

At the Cheadle Area Committee meeting, Inspector Dave Turner reported good news on burglary.  Three arrests have been made of known burglars in the Cheadle and Gatley area, with the burglary rate dropping sharply as a result.

Of the three, one has been convicted and is in prison.  One was convicted and given a non-custodial sentence, and is receiving nightly visits from the police.  The third is awaiting trial.

Inspector Turner also mentioned a cannabis factory having been found on South Park Road in Gatley.  It held around 250 plants, which was estimated at a street value of £25,000.

Inspector Turner spoke of a heavy police presence at Halloween a few days ago, and that it seemed to have passed relatively peacefully.

Inspector Dave Turner spoke about Guy Fawkes Night at the Cheadle Area Committee meeting.

He noted that last year not a single person in the whole of Stockport Borough had ended up in casualty as a result of fireworks or bonfire injuries, something we’re hoping to repeat this year.

If you’re concerned about something on or around 5th November:

• Call 999 if there’s an immediate threat to property or life (for example, if someone were repeatedly throwing fireworks at your door).
• Calling 0161 872 5050 for other  issues.

Both in the call centre and on the ground, policing numbers will be higher around 5th November.

Yesterday was the latest Neigbourhood Policing Team (NPT) meeting, where councillors, Council officers and police get together to go through the issues.  We’re in Stockport West, covering (roughly) Cheadle, Gatley, Cheadle Hulme, Heald Green, Bramhall, Davenport and Cale Green.

Among the issues I raised are:

• South Park Road Estate - both the need for improved enforcement of the “No Entry except for Access” rule and the issue of parking along Coniston Road and nearby roads.
• I asked the police to look into reports of Marrick Avenue and Richmond Hill Road being used by some motorists to dodge past a bit of the queue on the Cheadle side of the traffic lights.
• I also asked for an eye to be kept on graffiti on the underpasses beneath the Cheadle Royal roundabout - and for the Council to give it a paint-over.