HIGH LANE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER  


Welcome to our 2011 Newsletter, thank you for sparing a few minutes of your time to read about High Lane Residents Association.  The Association was formed 80 years ago, when High Lane was a much smaller village, however its aim to be the eyes and ears of the village has continued despite the several times increase in size. The Association meets on the first Thursday of the month at 8.00p.m. in the library meeting room.  All High Lane residents are welcome to attend.  The committee discuss many village matters, e.g. road and footpath problems, litter, fly tipping, transport, anti-social behaviour, planning, parks and many other subjects.  A local councillor will be in attendance at most of our meetings to help and advise on council related subjects, a chance to have the ear of your elected representative.  The Association welcomes the installation of new village signs, which we have campaigned for over the last few years, now visitors will know they have arrived in High Lane Village.  Other successes recently achieved
1]   Improved street lighting on the Keswick Road canal bridge thus removing a potentially unsafe area at night.
2]     Removal of the central refuge at the Horseshoe traffic lights thus freeing up traffic flow towards Stockport
3]   New road markings to improve traffic flow though the village.
 4]     Higher Fold, Windlehurst Rd, Bus stop moved to a safer position, plus path to Windlehurst Hall cleared giving access to the canal.  All the above and many others, were campaigned for as a result of input from local residents, so come to our meetings and tell us your local problems or contact a committee member.

Helen Richardson  –  Chair, 764723
Jackie Lowe  –  Minute Secretary, deannejlowe@yahoo.co.uk
Geoff Gaskell  –   Treasurer, 763796
Tom Lambert  –  Vice Chair,   764521
Peter Stephens  –  Highways, 07976 208233
Diane Holker  –  Parks, 765710
Eryl Hughes  –  Planning, 764696
 
Reporting problems to Stockport Council:- www.stockport.gov.uk and click to ‘do it on line’ Telephone 0161 217 6111   Other useful numbers: 
Dog warden: 0160 474 4207 Neighbourhood Policing: 0161 856 9770  Police General Switchboard:0161 872 5050 
Helen Richardson
 
Hartley Woods
 
The Hartley Woods group is an informal group overseen by the Residents Association in partnership with Stockport Council.  The aim of the group is to maintain and improve the wood, with regular work days, for litter picking, path maintenance and general upkeep of the area.  Stockport Council have recently felled some potentially dangerous trees and thinned out other areas to allow the wood to develop in a balanced way.  If you are interested in joining us on a work day, phone Helen 01663 764723.
 
Windlehurst Road Park
 
The park adjacent to the chapel appears to be less popular since the great improvements seen on High Lane Park.  The play equipment has not been updated for many years and whilst funding from the council is unlikely, other bodies may be able to provide assistance. The Friends of the Park’s Group has disbanded, the formation of a new group would be encouraged by the Association.  If you are interested in the Parks please contact the Association at one of our meetings.
 
Brookside Park
 
People of all ages love the toddler playground, more dogs than cyclists have enjoyed the bmx bike track over the winter while the goal posts have been as popular as ever.  The new public footpath through the bluebell wood around the back of the school is now well trodden.  Spring has come to our “rural fringe” idyll, the view of Lyme Cage and the surrounding countryside is one of the best in the village, a couple of seats facing to the view would be ideal. A last word PLEASE  KEEP THE AREA CLEAN OF LITTER AND DOG MESS, this is your park.
 
High Lane Park
 
The Friends of High Lane Park disbanded after their mammoth task of securing funding for the new play equipment and overseeing the installation.  The park now needs new Friends, to monitor the state of the play area and the general conndition of the area.  Are you prepared
to be a Friend, if so contact any committee member, with a view to forming a new group.
 
Jubilee Gardens
 
A small group of residents have taken responsibility for the maintenance of the Jubilee garden. We did, in late autumn, remove two large growing trees which were not part of the original garden.  The heathers and grasses which have grown substantially will be cut back when winter has passed.  In spring we hope to revitalise the area with new stone, boundary logs and introduce some fresh planting.  We intend upgrading the notice board and improving the condition of the seats.  If you wish to help with these projects, please contact Tom Lambert on 01663 764595.  The Association will provide £100 to fund the project, we hope Marple Area Committee will match fund the project.
 
Planters and Flower Boxes  
 
We understand that the boxes presently giving colour to the village would have been removed within the next few months. The Association has agreed with SMBC that the boxes will remain and we have undertaken to provide plants and maintain throughout the year. The box at Brookside Lane car park will be adopted by High Lane Garage and the 2 boxes at the War Memorial will be supported financially by Marchington Stone and looked after by volunteers. The Association thanks all sponsors and supporters.  We are looking for other sites within the village to add quality and colour.Tom Lambert

Planning
 
High Lane Residents Association examine all planning applications to Stockport MBC which relate to High Lane Village.  The association will comment to the local authority on aspects of planning in the village which may contravene planning regulations, have visual or environmental effect on the look and or amenities in the village.  The association has also made representation to HMG The Planning Inspectorate.   Residents can view planning applications at High Lane library please ask the librarian for the file of current applications.  Residents are able to attend the Marple Area Committee where planning applications are discussed by councillors and planning officers and recommendations made on individual applications to Stockport MBC planning committee.  You can view planning applications on Stockport MBC web-site www.stockport.gov.uk go to planning then weekly planning applications. Or go to www.stockport.gov.uk/planningdatabase.                        
Eryl Hughes
 
Treasurer
 
At the last AGM a proposal from the floor led to the minimum subscription for residents increasing to £2 from the £1 which has existed for many years. With the cut back in council services over the coming years it will be for HLRA to fund or match fund any small improvements which residents would like to see to amenities in the area and /or the environment of our village. The Association with your suggestions and support achieves many successes for the residents of our village as outlined in other parts of this newsletter. In the Greater Manchester area where the Local Government structure does not allow for Parish Councils, your Residents Association fulfils a part of this role, and with your  financial support and input at our meetings we can go on to achieve more and greater things.
Geoff Gaskell

Highways
 
Although the Romans were reputed to be excellent road builders, even this required repairing occasionally.   Since the A6 was ‘de-trunked’ Stockport MBC have been responsible for the care and maintenance of all roads in our area, not an easy  task as the roads were built for horse-drawn vehicles not the heavy lorries which constantly use them.      The Pelican crossing opposite the Red Lion has been up-dated to a Puffin crossing.  This style of crossing allows a longer, safer crossing time. Problems with roads or pavements? Highways Hot Line- 0845 833 4444 E-mail-               streetscene@stockport.gov.uk. Don’t leave it to someone else to report it -    it may never get done.
Peter Stephens
 
High Lane Library
 
Everyone is aware of the cuts that councils are having to make in the current economic climate, Stockport Council is not cutting Library services in the financial year 2011/2012, however we do not know about future years and you are urged to use it or lose it, so we can highlight how important to the village the library is.  You may not enjoy reading, but the library has so much more to offer. Interested in learning or improving computer skills, book a taster session at the library, these fall into 4 main categories, Ancestry, E-Mail, Internet use and help in finding job seeking sites and writing a C.V., also the Library is a UK online centre.  High Lane library is also on Twitter.  The librarians can help you to arrange Bulky Refuse collection and Pest control.  Other information and services available:- Bus Timetables, Bowling Passes, Fax Machine, Photocopier, Leisure Key, Hearing Aid Batteries, sale of Census Vouchers, Cards and Postage Stamps.  Plans for the High Lane area that have been submitted to Stockport Council may be viewed at the Library.  There is a room available for hire to accommodate up to 50 people.  Reservation service and DVD’s for Story Time every   Monday 2.30-3.00pm.  Coffee afternoon 1st Thursday in the month.
Children’s activities throughout the year [watch the notice board]
We must not forget the most important function of the Library, there are lots of books to borrow free of charge, using the state of the art self service RFID machine.  Visit soon and chat to your friendly librarians and help to show how important the library is to the community. Opening Hours     
Monday & Friday 2-4pm.
Wednesday –Closed
Tuesday & Thursday 2-4pm & 6-8pm
Saturday 9-4pm
 
High Lane Library Garden 
 
During several HLRA meetings Tom Lambert lamented the woeful state the High Lane Library flower beds were in.  I could stand to see him suffer no longer and volunteered to take action and bring some colour to the entrance of our much used library.  A planting scheme to suit the area and needing little attention was devised and started, thank you to all those who donated plants and advice.
Jackie Lowe

AGM
 
Reminder that the High Lane Residents Association AGM will be held at:
 
High Lane Village Hall
 
On
Wednesday 19th October 2011
 


CRISIS AT THE VILLAGE HALL
 
Extraordinary General Meeting
Tues 31st May at 8.00pm
Committee Members urgently needed or the Hall will close with immediate effect!!!