Update: Will the Development of Churchill Road Recreation Ground be Conducted Fairly?
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 23
With over £600,000 having been received from developers and reports coming in from local councillors and residents expressing concerns about the quality of the facilities being considered for the redevelopment of the recreation ground on Churchill Road in Cheadle, we ask the question: Will the development of Churchill Road Recreation Ground be conducted fairly?
The facilities have deteriorated to the point where team football is no longer played there, and both toilets and gates are missing. Several residents told COGNEWS they'll believe it when they see it, but are hopeful that improvements will be made.
16.9.25 Update: Reply from SMDC
Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, Cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said: “Experienced officers from the District Council’s leisure team have been supporting Cheadle Town Council, who manage this site, with the delivery of this project to improve Churchill Road recreation ground.
“As part of that, consultation has been taking place over the summer when people have been outdoors enjoying the good weather and spending time at Churchill Road, to find out what the local community would like to see delivered here, and at other sites across the town, to improve recreational amenities using funding from a number of developments that have taken place in Cheadle. The feedback that’s received will be carefully considered and taken into account as the plans are developed further.”
While it seems promising that improvements are being planned, town councillors informed us that the democratic processes for debating the issue were not followed, raising concerns. They mentioned that the budget appears significantly lower than anticipated, which could diminish the value of the space for children and families to enjoy. This is particularly relevant when compared to the substantial amounts currently being spent in Leek. For instance, the Brough Park entrance alone has attracted £300,000 in funding. You can read that story here: https://www.cheadlecog.com/post/brough-park-in-leek-receives-300-000-in-funding-from-sport-england
Several councillors informed us that infrastructure funds do not need to be allocated in the area where the development takes place; they can be used anywhere within the jurisdiction of the relevant council. This poses a specific challenge in rural areas like Staffordshire Moorlands, where towns and villages are dispersed, and transportation to facilities is inadequate. For instance, constructing a community centre in Cheadle would not significantly benefit residents of Biddulph. In contrast, if you live in the Tunstall area of nearby Stoke-on-Trent and wish to access facilities in Hanley, there are available bus services and good taxi coverage. These options are not available to Moorlands residents, making the planning of new facilities particularly challenging for rural councils.
In recent years, due to government legislation promoting transparency, the public has been able to access information regarding funds that councils receive from developers, clarifying how this money is utilised by the councils in each area.
The total for the two developments, both adjacent to the Churchill Road facility, amounts to in excess of £635,000 without any additions from grant funding or other funds open to the district council.
You can find the latest SMDC Infrastructure Funding Report (IFR) at the end of this article. The SMDC's IFR for 2023/2024 indicates that Turner's Pasture contributed £50,525 towards the maintenance of play spaces in Cheadle. However, the funds for developing the Bellway Homes Cecilly Mills site are not included because the report only accounts for money paid or spent within that financial year, and the funds from Bellway Homes were received after the report was compiled.
Marie Richards, Sales Director at Bellway West Midlands, told COGNEWS: “It is good to hear that local residents will have the opportunity to help shape the improvements at Churchill Road Recreation Ground which are being funded by contributions from Bellway West Midlands.
“As part of the planning agreement for our Cecily Mills development, we have contributed £260,000 towards play facilities and £325,000 towards playing pitches within the recreation ground. This is part of our commitment too help improve facilities for the local community.”
We have requested the district council to explain if the budget has been significantly reduced from what was expected and why there is no time to adhere to council procedures. While it may seem trivial, following these procedures ensures fairness for everyone and prevents overspending as well as underspending, as occurred last year with the Tean Road Bowling Pavilion. You can see their reply at the top of the page.
We are awaiting further response and will closely monitor the site's development.
Will the Development of Churchill Road Recreation Ground Be Conducted Fairly?
