Dearly Departed - Staffordshire Moorlands

Arts programme OUTSIDE has awarded 30 Creative Community Commissions to artists, community groups and organisations across the Staffordshire Moorlands. The successful funding applications, totalling over £24,000, were selected by OUTSIDE’s advisory group and youth advisory group made up of local residents, and will support a wide range of arts activity to take place over the next year in the district’s towns, villages and rural areas. Funded projects span all kinds of art for

Since COGNEWS began we've always encouraged local people telling us their views and ask questions about things on their minds. We've never really shared this information before now, prefering to investigate and them let the individuals know our findings, helping where we can set things straight. So we're delighted to be able to bring you this new segment - Reader's Letters, where you can share things that bother you, things you're celebrating, or things you'd like others to k

Local businessman and Team Cheadle volunteer Paul Keeling is planning to take part in the London Half Marathon. COGNEWS caught up with him after a hard training run on Sunday morning (5th April 2026). His mother, 71 years of age, has undergone a successful open-heart operation, and as a token of thanks to the wonderful team that treated her, he is planning to do a sponsored run. He has already managed to raise £350 before the event. We wish him the best of luck and hope he co

Last week we caught up with Reform Party Candidate Lee Bentley, a Cheadle man born and raised to find out what his plans are for Cheadle if he's elected in the Cheadle West Ward By-Election on the 16th of April. The conversation flowed here's what we learned about Lee. Lee told us that he's been married for over thirty years, with two grown-up children, and both he and his wife have worked in the care industry for most of their careers. He's been a manager for residential hom

Councils across England now required to collect food waste each week - the district council has announced that preparations are underway to commence this service in the Moorlands at the end of June. Residents will need to present any food waste separately from garden waste. At the same time, the Council and its waste and recycling collection partner Alliance Environmental Services (AES) will be introducing an opt-in subscription scheme for collecting household garden waste. E

We've heard quite a bit lately about how some parts of Cheadle, especially on the High Street, are in a conservation area. With little being done to improve empty buildings, signage getting more and more garish, plus general scruffiness being discussed by many, we decided to take a look at where the conservation area lies and what can be done to improve the appearance of our 1,000-year-old market town. There are 14 conservation areas in Staffordshire Moorlands. Cheadle was th

We're excited to announce that the April edition of COGNEWS Monthly is currently being distributed to stores. If you wish to obtain a printed copy, you can find it at: A & C Stores - Froghall Road Cheadle Bargain Booze - High Street Cheadle Cheadle Library - High Street Cheadle Fresh Produce Cheadle - Tape Street (Access via Tape Street Car Park) Post Office - 3 Shopping Centre (Tape Street Car Park) South Moorlands Leisure Centre - Allen Street Cheadle Wooliscrofts Butchers

Wishing you and yours a pawfect Easter! from the COGNEWS team. Thank you CC for creating this lovely spring image of NEWSHOUND all ready for his Easter celebrations! Easter Greetings! - Created 3rd April 2026

Our resident cartoonist CC explains in their own way what happens when we don't apply common sense to planning. The old footpath's made a brilliant road hasn't it Margaret? Read the story behind the cartoon here: https://www.cheadlecog.com/post/residents-oppose-plan-to-allow-vehicles-on-rural-footpaths Rural Footpaths... created 1st April 2026

A man has been arrested in connection with the fire and police are appealing for further information. Stop Press: Staffordshire Moorlands police have said: "We have arrested a man in connection with the fire in Leek.We were called at 9.35pm on last night (Friday 27 March) to reports that The Big Mill on Mill Street, Leek, was on fire. Officers put various road closures in place within the cordon and supported residents who had been evacuated from their homes as a precaution.

Residents living along Common Lane in Boundary have formally objected to proposals that would permit motor vehicles to use two long-established public footpaths, raising concerns over legality, environmental impact and public safety. In a letter submitted on 23rd March, Cllr Michelle Wells, supported by a group of local residents, criticising Staffordshire County Council’s handling of application Red LP609G. The proposal seeks to upgrade sections of Public Footpath 17 and Pub

Emma Chatwin is a local lady, married, a mum of four, 34 years of age, and standing for the Green Party. COGNEWS caught up with Emma at Cheadle's Summerhouse Coffee Shop. Here's how it went. Emma Chatwin, Green Party Candidate She told us that she wishes to be proactive and loyal to the people of the town and to do her best to help the community, but she does recognise the limitations town councillors have. She works as a quantitative analyst and is very good with numbers. He

Cheadle Town Council – West Ward By-election is to be held on Thursday 16 th  April 2026 As seen in COGNEWS April Voters in the West Ward will be able to vote at either Bishop Rawle Primary School or Cheadle Primary School You must vote at your designated polling station. Polling cards will not be sent, and you must take a form of ID, such as your passport or driving licence, in the name you are registered to vote with you. Where to Vote The Cheadle West Ward is divided into

When you were young, if you came from a family, you all had jobs to do, like fetching milk from a farm in a billy can or going to the woods to collect sticks for the fire. Scrubbing floors or polishing them because they were red tiles. You had to sit at the table for breakfast, which was always porridge that had been soaking all night. For dinner and tea, we had to eat what was given to us or go without. Sunday, we were not allowed to cut our nails as it was supposed to be ba

On Thursday, 19th March, at the Guild Hall, Cheadle, a small group of residents was treated to a free event provided by The Friends of Cecilly Brook and Hales Hall Pool. It was a talk given by Jody from Baddeley Green Hedgehog Rescue Centre. She described how hedgehogs help to increase biodiversity and are our garden friends. Hedgehog Facts | Hedgehog Babies | 5 Things We Can Do for Garden Hedgehogs | What to do if you spot a hedgehog in daylight | Rhian's Story

Sounds dull doesn't it? But it is a most brilliant beautiful way to transform towns if only we allow it. What is the Money For? When a proposed new development comes to a local council to discuss and allow or deny, they have to consider the impact on local people and what changes will occur as a result. In Cheadle, the town council's opinion matters and carries weight in the decision-making, which is usually made by the district council. This is why local planning application

We are pleased to report that the bins were emptied on Friday as promised. They did spend a week on the street, but the service is now back on track. Leave your bin out; they are coming for it. This week, residents in the North Ward, Froghall Road, Ness Grove, Churchill Road, and more have not had their bins emptied on the usual Monday collection. Many of you will know that if you leave your bin out overnight, you could be fined for doing so. COGNEWS spoke with the dist

COGNEWS can confirm that a by-election is to go ahead in the Cheadle West Ward of Cheadle Town Council on 16th of April 2026. There are two valid candidates (full details to follow): Lee Bentley for Reform UK & Emma Chatwin for the Green Party With no valid candidates from either the Labour or Conservative Parties, this will be an interesting election. Since the last full elections 3 years ago, 58 percent of the 17 councillors elected have left, mostly in the last 12 months.

Since the announcement of devolution for Staffordshire, town and parish councils in Staffordshire Moorlands have been asking for a list of assets owned by the district council for their area. Even with Cheadle Deputy Mayor, Cllr Plant, also being a district councillor and a locality champion for the devolution process at the district council, this information is still shrouded in mystery, with councillors still talking about the lack of a list as recently as last month. The l