Local neighbourhood police are to move out of the Cheadle Heath police station into the Cheadle police post, which has been closed for several years.

The post will be staffed, but won’t have a public desk (residents will be able to make an appointment to see the police there).

Local police are looking forward to once again having a base of operations more in the heart of the community.

The police have also told us that Business Watch in Cheadle has been an immediate success, with arrests already made.  The Business Watch tells Cheadle shops about known shop-lifters – if one’s seen in the area, all the shops are called to be on the lookout and turn the shoplifter away at the door.

Overall, crime figures have been level though metal thefts are up in the area.

The Council has been hard at work cleaning up the area too.  32 instances of graffiti have been removed in the last month, 3 flyposts removed, 8 instances of flytipping cleaned up and investigated and three traders advised on how to better dispose of their waste.

Following a request from a local resident, the Council will be installing a replacement litter bin on Ashfield Road, Cheadle.  The new bin will go outside the Library.

After a request from Iain and the Lib Dems last month, the Council have been taking a closer look at the litter outside take-aways, especially on Dixon’s Court, Cheadle.  Whilst KFC has a proper process for ensuring they clear up their litter along the frontage, the other take-aways don’t.  The Council is working with them to improve the situation, and legal action could be taken as a last resort.

The issue of cleaning electricity substations was raised.  We were told that Electricity Northwest (who owns the substations) changed subcontractors a year ago and now seems to be doing much better at keeping the substations clean and graffiti free.