Cheadle bags £500,000 Towns Fund boost

The Cheadle Towns Fund Board has secured the funding from the accelerated projects scheme within Government’s Town Fund, triggering a series of improvements to be completed by March 2021.

The Stockport suburb is among 101 towns across the country to benefit from this additional funding, after the board submitted proposals this summer. The improvements will support a subsequent Town Investment Plan, which is to be submitted to the government to secure up to £25m of the national £3.6bn pot – a railway station is the key plank of Cheadle’s case.

The submission focused on projects that can deliver early connectivity, encourage people to be active and raise the profile of Cheadle, including:

• A new cycle track at Ashfield Road to provide an important link through to Cheadle Village centre
• A package of measures to pilot a “School Street” scheme at Cheadle Primary School
• Installation of a parklet on Cheadle High Street
• The creation of a community high street Information point
• Improvements to Councillor Road shopping area
• Wildlife and ecological improvements at Abney Hall Park
• Improvements to Diamond Jubilee including pathways and new fitness equipment

Marge Falconer, executive diirector, BMI Alexandra Hospital and hair of the Towns Fund Board, said: “We thought carefully about what can be achieved within the timescales, so I’m pleased that we are promoting active neighbourhoods and the health agenda. This is vital to the wellbeing of local people and is the start to addressing some of Cheadle’s accessibility challenges.”