Stockport Independent Issue 206

AUGUST 2026 2 No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD.Tel: 01204 478812 EDITOR : Mike Hulmemike@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT: JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 / 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk ADVERTISING: Robin Atkins 07767 840274 robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk CONTACT US NEW support for people affected by cancer across Stockport and the High Peak is now available, with the opening of a new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre on the Stepping Hill Hospital site. The centre is now providing personalised support, advice and guidance for people affected by cancer. A range of information resources is available, with on-site staff who can help users access local services and organisations. The centre operates on a drop-in basis, with no appointment necessary. It can be found between the rear Medical and Surgical Building entrance and Outpa- tients Department C at Stepping Hill Hospital, with further sign- posting toward the centre on site. The centre is openMonday-Fri- day, 10am – 4pm. A COMMUNITY fundrais- ing event held at Offer- ton Fire Station raised an incredible £3,500 for the Critical Care Unit at Tameside Hospital, in memory of 34-year-old Mark, whose legacy con- tinues to inspire others. The fire engine wash was organised by Mark’s mum, Dawn, alongside family and friends, to thank the team who cared for him and to sup- port the creation of a memo- rial garden at the hospital’s Critical Care Unit. In August 2025, Mark was admitted to the Critical Care Unit after suffering two cardiac arrests caused by a seizure. PARTNERS came together to celebrate a key milestone at Hatters Yard, Great Places Housing Group’s landmark £41 million affordable hous- ing development in Stockport town centre. Stockport Council Leader, Cllr Mark Roberts, joined represent- atives from Great Places, Stock- port Council, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), Homes England, Bridgestone Con- struction and local community organisations at the Chestergate site, where construction has now reached roof level on the scheme’s two apartment blocks. Once complete, Hatters Yard will provide 148 affordable homes, comprising of 101 apartments for Social Rent and 47 apartments for Rent to Buy. Rent to Buy helps people take their first step onto the property ladder by offering homes at below-market rent, giving cus- tomers the opportunity to save towards a deposit before buying their home. Work began on site in August 2025 and is progressing well, with the primary concrete structure now complete and brickwork and window installation under way. Designed to reflect Stockport’s industrial heritage, Hatters Yard will create a vibrant new commu- nity in the heart of the town. The development includes a landscaped public space and a new pedestrian route connecting the site to the River Mersey, helping to improve access and connectivity in the area. The scheme is Great Places’ second development within Stock- port’s Town Centre regeneration area, following the completion of Platform on nearby King Street West in 2025. Together, the two developments will deliver 221 affordable homes and form part of the ongoing £2 bn transforma- tion of Stockport town centre – the largest town centre regeneration in the UK. The Council’s town centre regeneration is accelerated by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which is driv- ing forward 8,000 new homes, one million square feet of employment POLICE are crack- ing down on the illegal use of off-road bikes around Stockport. Greater Manchester Police deployed members of its motorcycle team to the Reddish and Heatons areas as part of a ‘day of action’ designed to reduce anti-so- cial behaviour. Officers made three arrests for 12 offences, including dan- gerous driving, drug driving and possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. One of the vehicles which officers seized was an orange off road bike which was being driven anti-socially in the Reddish and Lancashire Hill areas. TOP HATTERS! Great Places’ affordable housing scheme, Hatters Yard, will open up access to the River Mersey. (Image: Stockport Council) Topping out ceremony marks key milestone New cancer centre opens space and new community infra- structure across Stockport town centre, creating new opportunities for people to live, work and thrive. The homes are being designed to high environmental standards, with highly efficient heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and enhanced building fabric helping customers to reduce their energy use and lower their carbon footprint. Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “The top- ping out of Hatters Yard marks another significant milestone in our ambitious £2bn regeneration of Stockport town centre. “Following the success of Plat- form, this development will pro- vide even more of the affordable and social homes our borough needs, while helping to recon- nect this riverside location with the wider town centre. Working with partners, we are creating high-quality homes and vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods where people can live, thrive and feel proud to belong. “Standing on site, you can see that ambition becoming a reality. Once complete, Hatters Yard will help more people access good, secure housing in a place that is connected, convenient and full of opportunity, and we can’t wait to welcome those who will soon call Stockport town centre their home.” Honouring organ donor The community fire engine wash at Offerton Fire Station raised £3,500 for the hospital unit. (Image: Supplied) Off-road crackdown Pet dog’s ashes shot into space Jacob Battersby was joined by friends to launch his dog’s ashes into space (Image: Supplied) A STOCKPORT man has launched his dog’s ashes 119,000ft in the air and scattered them in space. Oscar, a six-year-old French bulldog who died suddenly from a brain tumour earlier this year, has been given one final adventure after his ashes were sent to the edge of the atmosphere in a weather balloon. His favourite Toy Story alien plush and a pet GPS tracker travelled to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere in a weather balloon tribute. His owner, Jacob Battersby, 26 and from Stockport, and friend Callum King launched the balloon from Rugby in Warwickshire. After climbing to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere, where temperatures dropped to -72C, the balloon burst, scat- tering Oscar’s ashes before the package descended by parachute and landed 55 miles away near Nottinghamshire. Content creator Jacob said: “It’s really special. They say after about six months, his ashes will eventually return to Earth as rain. “I really like the idea that a little part of him is still up there. “People always look up at the sky when they’re thinking about loved ones they’ve lost. And mine is actually up there. “And when I go away with Toby, I like to think that Oscar can see us.” Jacob said he was keen to take his other French bulldog, Toby, on the adventures he didn’t get to do with Oscar. He said: “Our other French bulldog, Toby, was diagnosed with cancer just a couple of weeks ago. “I’ve probably got a year with her so I’d definitely like to plan things. We’re going away in September hopefully, and she loved the Dolomites. “We’d love to take her paragliding, it’s probably the closest she’ll ever get to space, and to Oscar.” The flight also doubled as a real-world test of the tracker developed by their com- pany, Zoomi, which launched last month. NEWSINBRIEF THE Bull’s Head in Marple now boasts a fancy new extension. The pub, based at 23 Market Street, now has a ‘hybrid’ indoor/ outdoor area, which can be stripped back into a sun-kissed beer garden in the summer, or covered to become a cosy winter conservatory in the colder months. The extension comprises a retractable roof, full- height sliding doors and windows with weatherproof furniture. TATTON Park is marking Winne-the-Pooh’s 100th birthday with some very special events this summer – including a new garden story trail. The beauty spot is hosting a special farm exhibition and an immersive garden story trail celebrating a centenary of Pooh and his friends, created in collaboration with HarperCollins. Welcoming families into ‘the enchanting world’ of A.A. Milne’s and E.H. Shepard’s beloved character, the event is now underway and will run until September 6.