On Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 SMDC opened the doors of Cheadle Market to allow community and business owners along with local councillors to take a look inside and find out what their plans are regarding development. Visitors, gathering on the market square The architect in attendance from Stride Treglown explained their vision to groups of 17 people, this was because they had 17 hard hats available. It was a good number, with visitors within hearing distance and able to see

The much-loved Cheadle Carnival is set to make a big return in 2026 after taking a year off, with organisers promising it will be bigger and better than ever. Here's what visitors can expect. The celebrations will begin early with a special Friday Evening Dance Fest featuring dance DJ sets from K-Klass, Passion Emporium and Motion Ibiza, promising an electric atmosphere to launch the carnival weekend in style. Tickets for the Friday night event are available now on Skiddle. T

Last month we shared the story of how former Town Councillor Paul Keeling was successful in his first half marathon. Here Paul shares in his own words how running has changed his life for the better. Runners, including Paul gather with excitement at the starting line of a marathon in London, under clear skies and lush trees. A year ago, I could only run a couple of miles around Cheadle before I had to stop and rest. Even short runs felt tough, and I never imagined I’d end up

Ken Riley of Rileys Watchmakers and Jewellers by the Market Cross on the High Street is retiring this month. We caught up with Ken just before he closed the doors permanently following 4 decades of serving the people of Cheadle. He's seen some changes over the years we chatted with him about few of his special memories. He describes how the first watchmakers’ shop in the town was run by a Mr. Birch, roughly where the Samaritans shop is today. Ken's first shop was behind the

Rail Cards Passenger Assist Blue Badges Bus Passes CEA Card Support from Social Care Education Support Epilepsy Nursing Social Prescriptions Disabled Facilities Grant Disability News About this post - Some readers might find this difficult Understanding your symptoms, what works for you, and managing your condition can be a long process. The support of others who understand your viewpoint can be invaluable. This post exists to help point out some things that might make

If you are heading out with friends and drinking outdoors, please don’t light fires or use disposable BBQs in woods, parks, or grassy areas. When you’ve been drinking, it’s easier to lose control or underestimate the risk. Dry grass and leaves catch light fast and fires can spread in seconds — putting you, your friends, wildlife, and nearby homes in danger. What starts as a laugh can quickly turn into a serious emergency. Don’t take the risk. Stick to safe spaces and leave fi

Tickets for the third annual LIV Golf United Kingdom presented by JCB 2026 are now on sale. The tournament is extending to 72 holes this year promising fans four days of world-class golf and entertainment in Rocester, Staffordshire Hospitality and general admission tickets are available as the JCB Golf & Country Club prepares to welcome the global golf league back to Staffordshire from July 23rd to 26th. This will be the league’s fifth time visiting the UK since launching i

World Laughter Day is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of May (May 3, 2026) to promote global peace, wellness, and the positive health benefits of laughter, initiated in 1998 by Dr. Madan Kataria. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. Dr. Kataria, a family doctor in India, was inspired to start the Laughter Yoga movement in part by the facial feedback hypothesis, which postulates that a person's facial expressions can have an effect on their e

Staffordshire Day this year, Friday 1st of May, will see the launch of the Staffordshire Trail. Thirty unique giant sculptures created by local artists and inspired by local youngsters will connect Staffordshire spaces to our beloved breed of dog. This lovable character can be found along the trails detailed below. You can visit them all or just the ones that pique your interest, providing another great reason to visit places in our amazing county! You can also download an ap

Cheadle Town Council met in their Leek Road Chambers at 7 pm on the 7th of April, 2026. The main item for discussion was a report regarding a meeting that had taken place between the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor (both district councillors), the chief executive of the district council, Andrew Stokes, and Cllr Paulette Upton to discuss potential asset transfers that could take place as part of the reorganisations, which will result in the demise of the district council next year. St

The Festival of Brilliant returns to Biddulph this summer and is going “all in” for the National Year of Reading. Announcing the first of its line-up of authors, illustrators, poets, and performers, the festival takes place at Biddulph Old Hall on 10th July for schools and community groups, and 11th July for families. A brilliant line-up of authors will bring stories to life across the festival weekend. Former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho returns to the festival, invitin

Moneystone Quarry | Reprofiling of Whiston Hall Golf Course | Cotton Solar Farm and the Preservation of the Caldon Tramways | Whiston Action Group & Churnet Valley Conservation Society | Could You be a Parish Councillor? Update 26th April 2026 In Staffordshire Moorlands we are blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, Cheadle has been heralded for many years as the gateway to the Churnet Valley. It's not just beautiful it's important to us al

"You've been Cogged!" is a peek into someone else's world. It's something the team at COG has the opportunity to do on a regular basis, and hearing those stories, appreciating the work and life of the person, celebrating them even, is something we're honoured to be able to do. We've worked together to create a new segment focusing on the role individual people play in their local communities, often unheard but essential for the mechanism to work, just like the humble COG. We

Summer Programme 21st May 7.00 for 7.30 New Life Church, Tape St, Cheadle Visitors £3 The speaker for the May meeting is Mr. Harry Tomkinson. Harry specializes in the medieval period, and in particular that of Edward IV and Richard III. He has worked at the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester, working alongside Philippa Langley, who was instrumental in the finding of Richard III. He travels extensively doing lectures, talks, and tours, and is an active member of The

Phoenix Singers Leek, in conjunction with All Saints Church Leek, are performing The Creation by Joseph Haydn with The Phoenix Festival Orchestra and soloists from the RNCM in All Saints Church Leek, ST13 5PT. This will take place on Saturday, 30th May 2026, and tickets will be £20 (u18 Free) and is part of the Leek Arts Festival 2026 programme. Tickets are available online on the All Saints website and can also be purchased from Leek Post Office and Picture Book or from the

Spring is the perfect time of year to get outdoors and enjoy the countryside, and with many plants already coming back into bud, why not revisit our wonderful winter walks and enjoy the beauty of springtime? Download your copy here: Put a Spring in Your Step - Take a Walk with COG- created 28th February 2026

Tamworth Castle has operated as a museum since 1899 and has amassed a heritage collection of over 42,000 objects and archive items. Tamworth Borough Council has distributed items from the castle archive, which are destined for new locations and public exhibition within the local community. As part of a nationally approved rationalisation process, the castle is now transferring selected items to venues where they can be more accessible and meaningful to the community. In partn

There’s lots happening across Staffordshire this month! Whether you'd like to get creative, enjoy the great outdoors or try something new, here are some great events to enjoy: Relaxed Rambles – Ilam Park Enjoy a gentle countryside walk with tea or coffee afterwards. Free parking included. Painting Party – Verso Lounge, Stafford A relaxed evening of creativity with The Paint Club. All materials included—perfect for a fun night out. Harry Potter Cupcake Class – Eccleshall Lear

Staffordshire’s new mascot, Staffy, is getting ready to hit the county in the upcoming Staffy Art Trail – and Staffs County Council want local people to help bring him to life. There is an opportunity to put your own spin on one of three designs that will appear on three of the ten 5ft statues in the countywide trail. You don’t need to be a professional artist – just a great idea and a love for Staffordshire. They are looking for designs that capture what Staffordshire mean

For years, local residents have expressed concerns that the pool at South Moorlands Leisure Centre has been too cold for a comfortable swim. As there is no local alternative, when several residents informed us about improvements in the temperature, we decided to investigate. Steve, the leisure centre manager, told COGNEWS that the swimming pool is being kept at 27–28°C, with the temperature moving a little higher when catering for their disabled visitors at the weekend. Steve