Stockport Independent Issue 204

9 JUNE 2026 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk A NEW sign is on display on the southbound platform at Handforth Station featur- ing the name Rhydymaen (a loose translation in Welsh indicating a ford of stone). The sign was donated by Transport for Wales, and adds to the many signs from different train operating companies visi- ble at the station. The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) are renowned for this novel method of decorating the station, and were delighted by the donation from TfW. James Nicholas, Communica- tions Business Partner at Trans- port for Wales, travelled from Swansea to Handforth to pres- ent the sign to FoHS. He was accompanied by Lowri Joyce, the Welsh Language Strategy Lead at Transport for Wales, who said, “We are pleased to provide this totem to be a leg- acy for Railway 200 and join the other 20 multi-national signs at Handforth.” Mike Bishop, the founder and currently President of FoHS, said, “We have been campaign- ing ceaselessly for lifts to be installed at Handforth Station. Plans for 70 new homes THE council and a utilities com- pany have changed tack on a proposed three-month bike ban in Middlewich following a controver- sial public announcement. In April, Cheshire East Council (CEC)announcedithadmadeatraf- fic order which would ban cycling on Centurion Way, Pennymoor Drive, White Park Close, and part of Holmes Chapel Road. The order was made at the request of energy company, Scottish Power, will last until Friday, August 28. The announcement sparked anger from cycling charity, Wheels for Wellbeing (WfW), which claimed the order would have a disproportionate impact on disa- bled cyclists. It added many of these cannot drive cars for medical reasons, meaning cycling is theirmain form of transport. WfW volunteer and spokesman, Matt Wardman, said a roadworks scheme which just bans cyclists is ‘unprecedented’. “WfW know of no other exam- ple, anywhere,”he added. “Soof course, this is concerning.” Since the public announcement, Scottish Power has clarified its position on the temporary cycle ban, which turns out to be not as far reaching as CEC’s announce- ment first stated. Its spokesman said: “Only Centurion Way is affected by the cycle lane closure, which is for safety reasons while works are undertaken on that section of road. “This was a requirement of CEC in granting the temporary traffic restriction order. “The works on that affected stretch of road should only be for around three weeks from about Monday, June 15. “The other road closures are part of the same project, but there are no cycling restrictions.” AN Alderley Edge man is taking on the challenge of a lifetime walking from John O’Groates to Land’s End to raise money for a Parkinson’s charity – the condition his twin brother suffers from. Huw Davis, 65 began his solo trek last month and at the recently arrived “home” in Cheshire to be greeted by his brother Tom Davis, his niece Tilly and Tatton MP Esther McVey. Tom, of Knutsford, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s more than 15 years ago. He recently underwent Deep Brain Surgery which has improved his mobility and posture and “transformed his life”. Ms McVey said: “It was a privilege to be invited to meet Huw, Tom and Tilly when Huw arrived in Alderley Edge. We enjoyed a coffee and chat at the Neki Cafe and caught up on Huw’s journey so far. “We talked about blisters and back- packs and how he spends his evenings doing handwashing because completing this challenge alone means he has to carry everything in his backpack, so his clothes need to be rotated! What Huw is doing is remarkable and I wish him well in the rest of his journey. I hope he raises as much money as possible so we can find a cure for this terrible disease.” Huw says the grit and resilience shown by his brother will spur him on when things get tough. Huw said: “What I am doing is not easy, but it is nothing compared to what people living with Parkinson’s go through every day. “It was so lovely to meet Esther and I can’t thank her enough for taking the time out of her weekend to meet me, Tilly and Tom to show her support for Cure Parkinsons. “I am really grateful for the support I have received so far and look forward to continuing the rest of the walk to Land’s End.” Huw is hoping to raise £20,000 for Cure Parkinson’s, the charity working to find a cure for the neurological and degenerative disease. He will finish the 1,200 mile walk in June. Change of tack on cycle ban AN outline plan- ning application has been submit- ted for a residen- tial development comprising up to 70 dwellings on Green Belt land in Alderley Edge. Bellway are proposing a mix o f de t ached , semi-detached and mews style two to five-bedroom prop- erties, up to 2.5 sto- reys on a 7.8-acre site to the west of Wilmslow Road. The proposals for the site, which is currently private land, includes 45 per cent affordable housing, car park- ing and a publicly accessible open space, with foot- paths, recreation space, landscap- ing and ecologi- cal areas. Sebastian Bur- row, Bel lway Strategic Land Director for the North West, said: “Our proposals would create an integrated exten- sion to Alderley Edge as well as providing more housing choice for people in the local area. “Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained where possible, with a landscape buffer planned along Wilmslow Road, while the house types would be designed to reflect the architecture of the local area. “This is a sus- tainable location for new homes, within a short walk fromAlderley Edge train station, for direct services to Manchester Picca- dilly and Crewe, as well as the village centre which offers a good range of local amenities. The houses them- selves would also be highly sustain- able, with ener- gy-efficient fabric, solar PV panels and electric vehi- cle charging points, as well as low-car- bon heating to be determined at the detailed plan- ning stage. “We are com- mitted to building new homes which meet the needs of local communities and have worked closely with Chesh- ire East Council on this project as our plans have evolved, as well as carrying out public consul- tation in February this year.” The planning application can be viewed on Chesh- ire East Council’s Huw and family met MP Esther McVey Huw puts best foot forward for charity planning portal by searching for reference 26/1143/ OUT. WELSH LANGUAGE SIGN AT HANDFORTH STATION Presentation of the new sign from Lowri Joyce and James Nicholas to Mike Bishop of FoHS. (Image: Supplied) A major element of our campaign is to decorate the station fore- court and platforms, and make it as welcoming a place as possible. Until they complete the lift work, Network Rail limit how much improvement we can make to the station, so we welcome simple yet pleasing enhancements like this new station sign.” Photo: Presentation of the new sign from Lowri Joyce and James Nicholas to Mike Bishop of FoHS.