Meet Lee Bentley: Your Candidate for Cheadle West Ward By-election

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 homes for people with learning disabilities for twenty years, and respect for everyone is something he's proud to have passed on to his children. Growing up in a small farming town surrounded by fresh air and animals is something he feels many youngsters are now missing out on.

He's deeply disappointed and understands firsthand the impact that the closure of Moorlands Homelink has on Cheadle's disabled and elderly residents and their families. He can't understand why there is only one disabled parking space, badly positioned on Cheadle High Street. Similarly, at the leisure center, there is only one disabled parking space.

Lee feels that throughout Cheadle we need a lot of things done. He wonders if the house building that has been happening of late is for profit or for need. He is firmly against building houses without infrastructure being put in place and the right type of houses needed to support the local community, such as bungalows for elderly and disabled people.

Lee is keen to see the reinstatement of the market and the market square, which he remembers fondly as a vibrant place where local people could get the things they needed. A market town without a market has lost its identity.

He would also like to see an independent community space similar to the Sunshine Club, which ran for many years on the Hamersly Hayes Estate, which Lee feels had a friendly community family atmosphere.

Lee would like to see better policing locally to deter antisocial behaviour and bring the local drugs problem under control. He's concerned that the combination of LGR (local government reorganization) and extensive house building is a real threat to Cheadle's identity as the town continues to sprawl into neighbouring villages.

He's a big fan of Cheadle Carnival and would support their plans to revamp the parade, having been involved in float creation in the past. Lee and his wife like to have a charity project they support, and over the years they have supported cancer charities and local charities with things like a cycle ride and raffle prizes.

Lee told our reporter that although he is representing the Reform party in the upcoming elections, his heart is for Cheadle Town. Everything he does and will do if elected will be for Cheadle and not for political gains, and he will use the Reform team to help provide support for the things he wants to do for his hometown. He plans to bring a fresh look and speak up for local people, and being elected rather than co-opted is important to him because he is representing the people who gave him their support.

A cyclist and nature lover, Lee is keen to ensure that everyone has access to our beautiful countryside and footpaths. He believes that in order to see change and improvement, the best way is to look first to yourself and see what you can do. That's why he's standing for election, and if elected he will use that insider knowledge to bring the change Cheadle needs.

Meet Lee Bentley: Your Candidate for Cheadle West Ward By-election created 11 April 2026