16th October Friends of Chadkirk Meeting at 1-30 pm in Chadkirk Chapel

The future of Chadkirk is being considered in the current round of budget planning and cost savings. 

As a means of making budget savings,  proposals being considering include:

• (b) Offer local organisations the opportunity to run the visitor and refreshment facility at Chadkirk Chapel and for the Council to cease operating the museum offer at the site.

Removing the chapel from the list of museum sites has many potential implications. 

How then will the fabric of the building be maintained to ensure the chapel’s future use by our community? How will that be taken care of? Funded? Which part of the Council will be responsible for the Chapel?

Will this change of status affect it’s continued use by our community?

Without adequate maintenance will it be available to the community as a safe, beautiful place to meet and celebrate the passing of the seasons? What will happen to it’s key role as a focal point for community use of Chadkirk and Chadkirk Chapel? What of the future of events such as Weekly Tai Chi, annual festivals such as Harvest Supper, Easter and Christmas celebrations? Well Dressing ? Well Dressing Blessing Day? Bat box making?

A consultation process is under way. Now is the time to make your views known about the future of Chadkirk.

May (and the Gardening Team) in the Walled Garden at Chadkirk

A new planting scheme in the Walled Garden.

The Gardening Team planting up a new bed in the Walled Garden, Chadkirk.

2019 : What’s happening, when

Gardening Time:
The team will meet by Chadkirk Chapel and in the Walled Garden, on two days each month: on the first Saturday of each month between 2.00pm – 4.00pm
and on the third Thursday in the morning between 10.00 am – 12.00pm

Meetings of Friends of Chadkirk
These take place on the second Thursday of every other month
starting 10th January 2019, 1pm in Chadkirk Chapel.
then 14th March 1pm in Chadkirk Chapel
May
July
September
November

Tai Chi is held at the Chapel on Mondays (except Bank Holidays and August) 10am to 11am. Cost £3.50p per session. Tea/coffee after session.

JANUARY

Gardening Team Times
Saturday 5th 2-4pm
Thursday 17th 10-12 am

FEBRUARY

Gardening Team Times
Saturday 2nd February 2-4pm
Thursday 21st February 10-12 am

MARCH

Afternoon Saturday 2nd March 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

Sunday 3rd March St. Chad’s Day Celebrations at 2pm in Chadkirk Chapel.

Thursday 14th March Annual General Meeting in Chadkirk Chapel starting at 1pm. All welcome.

Thursday 21st March Morning 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

APRIL

Gardening Team Times
Saturday 6th April 2-4pm
Thursday 18th April 10-12 am

Sunday 21st April
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE 3pm in Chadkirk Chapel

Monday 22nd April
EASTER MONDAY CHILDREN’S EASTER TRAIL 2 -4pm
(Open to children under 10 yrs – charge: 50p)

MAY

Saturday 4th May 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

Thursday 9th May Meeting of Friends of Chadkirk in Chadkirk Chapel at 1pm.

Thursday 16th May 10-12am Gardening Team Time

JUNE

Afternoon Saturday 1st June 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

Our Annual Plant Sale takes place on Saturday 15th June 2.30pm – 4pm
on the lawn just inside the gardens.

Morning Thursday 20th June 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

Task Days 1st & 20th

PLANT SALE on lawn 2.30pm – 4pm 15th

JULY

Afternoon Saturday 6th July 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

Thursday 11th July Meeting of the Friends of Chadkirk in Chadkirk Chapel 1pm

Morning Thursday 18th 10-12am Gardening Team Time

Tuesday 23rd July – Friday 26th July 11am – 3pm
WELL DRESSING in the making…come along and join us in Chadkirk Chapel.
11am – 3pm refreshments available.

Saturday 27th July
Blessing of St Chad’s Well at 1pm
Followed by Stockport Silver Band, stalls and refreshments.
Join us in the gardens and Chadkirk Chapel until 4pm.

Sunday 28th July
“PETERLOO PICNIC” – 3pm

AUGUST

Morning Saturday 3rd 2-4pm Gardening Team Time
Afternoon Thursday 15th 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 7th 2-4pm Gardening Team Time
Thursday 19th 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

Afternoon Saturday 7th September 2-4pm
BIRD and BAT BOX MAKING
£6 per box, please bring a hammer if possible.

Thursday 12th September Friends of Chadkirk Meeting in Chadkirk Chapel 1pm.

OCTOBER

Afternoon Saturday 5th October 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

HARVEST SUPPER & QUIZ 11th
7.30pm – 10 pm (approx.)
£6.50p per person – BOOKING ESSENTIAL
To obtain tickets contact Stockport Tourist Information
Office at Staircase House, Tel: 0161 474 4444.

HARVEST FESTIVAL SERVICE 3.30pm 13th

Morning Thursday 17th 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

NOVEMBER

Saturday 2nd 2-4pm Gardening Team Time
Thursday 21st 10-12am Gardening Team Time

Thursday 14th November Friends of Chadkirk Meeting in Chadkirk Chapel 1pm.

DECEMBER

Saturday 7th 2-4pm Gardening Team Time

Sunday 8th December
CAROL SERVICES 2.30pm and 4pm
(FREE BUT BOOKING ESSENTIAL)

Thursday 19th 10-12 am Gardening Team Time

CAROL SERVICES 2.30pm and 4pm 8th
(FREE BUT BOOKING ESSENTIAL)
Tai Chi is held at the Chapel on Mondays (except Bank Holidays and August) 10am to 11am. Cost £3.50p per session. Tea/coffee after session.

Sunday 3rd March Celebrate St Chad’s Day at Chadkirk

Looking to get out and about now that spring is officially sprung?

A stroll around Chadkirk and a visit to the Chapel might be just the thing. Perhaps a short walk, followed by a hot drink and a slice of cake in the shelter of Chadkirk Chapel? Just the right balance of fresh air and convivial comforts.

We are hosting our annual St Chad’s Day event on Sunday 3rd March 2019.

There’s a presentation DVD on the life of St Chad.

The presentation starts at 2pm. Tray bakes for sale. Drinks from the kiosk.

From the car park, it’s a short walk to the Walled Garden and Chadkirk Chapel.

It is spring time at Chadkirk

Yes. Despite the wintry weather, our spring programme of activities at Chadkirk has begun.

While the blizzards fresh from the Baltic kept some people at home, as soon as the weather eased just enough for local folk to get out and about, a walk to Chadkirk Chapel allowed people to experience just the right balance of bracing and comfort.

Strolling through sub-zero temperatures took care of the bracing part. In Chadkirk Chapel, Friends of Chadkirk took care of the comfort. Hot drinks were available, but it was the extra treat of tray bakes that seemed to nourish and keep the chill at bay. As people enjoyed the cakes, they were entertained by our annual showing of the story of St. Chad. Over the hours when the chapel was open, there were 3 showings of the film and our cakes were sold out by the end of the afternoon.

Cakes sales raised £120. And just in case you need to feel that the cakes were more than a foodie treat, by eating the cakes you were supporting the upkeep of Chadkirk. The money raised goes into the funds which the Friends of Chadkirk use to maintain and enhance Chadkirk Chapel, the Walled Garden and the footpaths (among other things).  A bracing walk, a comforting cake and supporting a much loved part of our local landscape. An afternoon well spent.

Future opportunities to take part in events at Chadkirk this spring are planned for the Easter weekend.

1st April  Easter Service

Easter Monday: Easter Egg Hunt (open to under 10 yrs)

The next Friends of Chadkirk meeting is Thursday 10th May at 1pm in Chadkirk Chapel.

Good News for Valentine’s Day

Stockport Council would like to make more of the beautiful chapel and surroundings by using it as a venue for civil wedding ceremonies.

Their events team held a meeting with the Friends of Chadkirk to discuss their plans. We were advised that there might be up to 12 weddings a year. On those days the chapel would be closed to the general public. For the rest of the year it would be business as usual, with members of public able to enjoy the gardens and with Chadkirk Chapel open to visitors at weekends on days when there are no weddings booked.

Weddings are usually planned months in advance so there will be plenty of notice of any closure.

Regular events at Chadkirk, especially the well dressing, will not be affected and will take place as usual.

The Friends of Chadkirk and representatives from the events team were present at the Werneth Area Committee meeting on Monday 29th January and spoke in favour of the proposal.

The Chadkirk wedding brochure can be accessed here.

Homes for wildlife

Make something new.

Provide a home for wildlife.

Have fun!

Bats and birds need places to nest and roost.

And you can do a little something to provide them.

Here’s the link to previous posts about this annual event at Chadkirk.

In the Chapel (if weather wet) or outside in the sunshine and fresh air.

People of all ages welcome. Making: by young ‘uns. With assistance from adults and Friends.

Bird and Bat Box making by the Chapel, Chadkirk. Photo: Artemisia

One of each – bat box and bird box. Each with a different entrance. Photo: Artemisia

New Bat Box. Proud owner/maker. Photo: Artemisia

Chadkirk Chapel…before it had Friends

Our Friend from South Africa has recently shared her stories of the renovation of the gardens. I wonder if there are people out there, reading this, who have been involved in the renovation of the Chapel at Chadkirk? This black and white photograph reminds us that Chadkirk Chapel was in a sorry state. If you have stories to tell of how the semi-derelict building was transformed into the building we enjoy today, we’d love to hear from you. Did you take part in the restoration? Or create any of the art works that are displayed there today? With your experiences, memories and photographs we can tell the tale of Chadkirk.

Saturday 9th September: Bird and Bat Box Making

The Bird and Bat Box making, where children can assemble the boxes, is held in the Chapel (or outside if fine) on Saturday 9th September from 1.30pm until 4pm. The cost is £6. No need to book, just drop in.

All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. All the necessary materials are provided but please bring a hammer if you have one.

Our activities are listed in the Stockport Museums Exhibitions and Events Guide – available at all their Museums including Chadkirk Chapel and, of course, Staircase House.

Back in the year 2000…

I lived and worked in Greater Manchester 20 years ago. During that time, the peace and spiritual essence in Chadkirk estate, together with the company of the garden team, really helped me through difficult times.

I worked hard with Pat and Mary and remember John for his enthusiasm, knowledge of the natural history, birds etc. and his wonderful estate work.

We were a small group: myself, Pat, Mary, Sheila and her husband Peter, and John plus another couple. Pat and I went on an apple tree / orchard course over two weekends and I remember the seeds she and Mary grew.

Awaiting funding for the restoration of the walled garden, we had numerous meetings at Pat’s home during which we studied maps and plans. Renovators of the chapel in previous years had discarded material into the walled garden seemingly using it as a junk heap. So then there were weeks of weeding out bricks, stones and glass from the garden beds which had been constructed by Stockport council, following Pat’s design. Eventually we started the planting. I remember the joy of watching plants growing, and the satisfaction working on maintenance in the garden we had helped to create.

I had five happy years working at Chadkirk and seeing the walled garden transformed for all to enjoy.

Thank you for a most informative and fun blog.

Warm regards
Janice.

Dressing up

Well dressing : the work of the design team

St Chad’s Well is still looking good down at Chadkirk.

2017 Well Dressing: St Chad’s Well

Map of Chadkirk

Local landscape (in petals and bark). A map of Chadkirk Country Park and Estate.

Chadkirk mapped.

And for Well Dressings in previous years see https://www.flickr.com/photos/hjggreen/albums

A big thank you

…to everyone who joined us at Chadkirk on Saturday. There were over 500 visitors, who all played their part in creating such an enjoyable and successful event.

2017 Chadkirk Well Dressing Blessing and Celebrations

For many years, many people have reserved the last weekend in July for our annual Chadkirk Festival.Then in 2016, the re-opening of Bramhall Hall meant that the Festival couldn’t happen as in previous years. Instead Friend of Chadkirk organised a smaller event while we all hoped for a return to the full festival.However, this year I understand that funding/staffing issues have meant that Stockport MBC is unable to offer the support to enable the kind of Festival we have come to know and love. Nevertheless the Friends of Chadkirk are an adaptable bunch and they have a different kind of day for your delectation!

Yes, it’s on a smaller scale, though now there’s free admissions as well as free car parking. It will have some of the hallmarks of the bigger festival: music and stalls, refreshments and games, crafts and treats. As usual, it offers an afternoon in a delightful space, milling and chatting with other fine folk in a friendly setting.

Proceeds from the Friends stalls will add to their funds and so help Chadkirk Chapel and Country Park thrive and continue to offer a place for all to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 29th July 1-4pm.

It’s on Saturday 29th July 2017 from 12 noon onwards, presented and organised by the Friends of Chadkirk.

The Well Dressing Blessing will take place at 1pm.

Stockport Silver Band will be giving performances at 2pm and 3pm.

Delicious and tasty light refreshments will be available.

The plant stalls will offer healthy plants at bargain prices. As these sell out fast, keen gardeners get there early.

Friends of Chadkirk stalls with items for sale including cards, & 2nd hand books.

There will be a chance to have a go on our Tombola.

Other stalls of local interest will include The Organic Food Store.

ADMISSION – FREE

A message from Cape Town…

Having returned to Cape Town in 2005 I have just discovered your blog and am so enjoying maintaining my connection with Chadkirk and learning of improvements.

Changing the chapel window is a project I am delighted to read about and the bridge is a wonderful idea. It was a long walk from Marple, where I previously lived. I was a Friend of Chadkirk and a member of the initial gardening team, restoring the herb and walled garden.

A question: When did the Friends start motivation for and the process of the walled garden restoration? Was it 2000 or later?

My regards to those who may remember me. Keep up the great work.
Janice.

Lovely to hear from you, Janice. And interesting to read your comments.
There are people from all over the world who visit the blog, and as you say it’s a great way to keep the connections going across the miles and down the years.

I have only been involved with the Friends of Chadkirk since 2012. While we haven’t had a chance to meet, some of the people who were in the team when you were an active member of the Friends of Chadkirk continue to spend time in the gardens at Chadkirk, helping the gardens to thrive.

Now that your message is on the blog, I hope they’ll be able to get in touch. I’m sure that they will want to send their greeting to a fellow Friend!

Pat leads the gardening team. Her enthusiasm and skills are an inspiration. She has been a driving force in the garden and knows the full story of how the transformation of the walled garden was initiated and completed.

I wonder if you have read the earlier post about the history of the garden? I have often thought about writing another post filling in some of the gaps. Perhaps your message will inspire me to do that.
Thank you, Janice!

Well dressing

This year, for one year only, there’ll be Well Dressing Blessing on Saturday 30th July.

With the Blessing at 1pm, an opportunity for refreshments in Chadkirk Chapel, and the plant stalls and Friends of Chadkirk stall with a range of small treats on offer. Outside the Stockport Silver Band will play.

We’ve had some beautiful designs in the past on a range of interesting themes.
What will this year’s design be?

The preparations can be viewed in the Chapel
from Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th.
Modest refreshments will be
available on these days from 11am till 4pm.

Drawing the design on the clay block

Preparing the clay blocks

We are already looking ahead to a full festival in 2017. As part of the celebrations there’ll be a special publication. Chadkirk High Teas.

This special recipe book will be for sale at our 20th Chadkirk Festival.

We are looking for contributions from cooks and budding Masterchefs out there. Please give your recipes to Lesley at any of our friendly gatherings. Alternatively you can email…

Well dressing for beginners

Preparations for this summer’s Chadkirk Festival are well in hand. There are opportunities for people to get involved…

Each year the Festival begins with a ceremonial unveiling of St Chad’s Well. Our well is dressed each year by a team of enthusiasts. Members of the team include those with years of experience, real skill and artistic flair. They develop a unique design, reflecting current themes and then explore ways of realising the image.

In addition to the more experienced members of the team, there is always an opportunity for others to take part in the process of creation.

On Wednesday 1st July at 7pm there will be a chance to gather in Chadkirk Chapel and learn more about this year’s design and be part of it’s assembly.

Then later in the month in the days before the festival, you are welcome to join us to complete the process.

On Wednesday 22 July and Thursday 23 Chadkirk Chapel will be open between 10 am and 4pm. Join us for an hour or for a morning or afternoon. Or spend a day or two. Then enjoy seeing the fruits of your labours ceremonially unveiled on Sunday 26th July at the start of Chadkirk Festival 2015.

The design for the well dressing for 2013 was based on the newly installed East window

The team of craftsmen towards the end of a long day’s work. Photo: Artemisia

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend at Chadkirk

Yesterday’s vernal equinox marks a change. From now, until September, days will be longer than nights. At first, by minutes and then by hours. As we move into spring and look towards summer, there are more daylight hours to spend out and about.

This coming weekend, there’s even more to celebrate. Our clocks spring forward by an hour at midnight on Saturday 26th March, so there’ll be an extra hour of light in the evening.

Plants affected by the lengthening daylight add new growth, or open into flower. A recent spell of dry weather, some blue skies, sunshine and warmth, all encourage growth and blossom in the woodland, meadows and hedgerows of Chadkirk.

By the time the weekend arrives, there’ll be newly invigorated bees and butterflies visiting the flowers in the garden, searching for food. A little something to energise them for their spring activities.

Bees and butterflies will feed off the nectar of the spring flowers. Meanwhile, there’ll be something sweet on offer for the young of our own species on Bank Holiday Monday.

On Monday 28th March between 2pm and 4pm, volunteers from the Friends of Chadkirk offer a bit of fun and a sweet treat for participants in our popular Easter Egg Hunt.

Hidden eggs in the garden and grounds wouldn’t be much fun for anyone – they might melt in the sun, get washed in the rain, eaten by animals. So as an alternative there’s a game of scrambled eggs. Follow the clues and at the end, there’ll be a creme filled egg for each child taking part.

Entry is 50p per child. The game is suitable for children up to 8 years of age, accompanied by adult carers.

In 2015 this was one of our most popular events, organised by volunteers, in a spirit of generosity. They made a choice. The emphasis is on attracting young ‘uns. Time enjoyed here means that they, like us , will have a special connection with this special place. For the Friends of Chadkirk, while this event may not add much to our funds, it spreads the joy… what Easter, holidays, friends and Chadkirk are all about.

There’ll be a different kind of delight for those who join our Easter Sunday service on 27th March at 3pm which will be led by Rev Jon Lyndsey-Scott of St Chad’s Church in Romiley. At this service there will be an opportunity to donate to a local charity. All money collected will contribute to Romiley Arc.

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A is for Access : A tale of two footpaths

Do you remember Autumn 2014? And, among other things, the surprising news that somehow someone had the idea to close one of the most popular footpaths at Chadkirk? The footpath threatened with closure was the one from the main car park, alongside the stream, over the bridge, through Little Wood and out on the lane by St Chad’s Well.

One way it seemed possible to save this footpath was to apply to have it dedicated as a footpath. Any footpath that is dedicated and recorded on the Definitive Map showing public rights of way could not be closed. So Friends of Chadkirk started the ball rolling….

The appropriate forms were filled in and submitted to the appropriate officials. Most of the land is owned by Stockport MBC. A small part of the path is not. Establishing that walkers have used the path as a right of way for many years can be a way to have a footpath dedicated. Setting this process in motion seemed vital, given the proposals to close the footpath. The application has been in the hands of Public Rights of Way officials since June 2015.

In the event, after a series of meetings, the Werneth Area Committee rescinded the plans. The footpath remains open. For now. But what of the future? As an application has been submitted and supporting statements made by regular users, might it be best to continue to see if the footpath can be dedicated and thus protected for future walkers in Chadkirk Country Park?

If you visit Chadkirk and have been walking this path for a period of years, then this experience can be the basis of a brief user statement. This can then form part of the evidence that would be part of the case for footpath dedication.

The link to the form to be filled in is here:

http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/leisureculture/walkinginstockport/publicrightsofway/

Completing a form (under Form tab) and passing it to the Friends of Chadkirk is one way that you can take part in the process of protecting this footpath for future generations.

Issues of Access in Chadkirk Country Park Estate.
Come along to a Friends of Chadkirk meeting.
New friends welcome.

What are friends for?

Resourceful and energetic, friends can help us make the best of life.

At last night’s AGM you’d get a clear sense of the difference that Friends make.

They make a difference through their funding of projects on the Chadkirk Country Park, Farm Estate and in Chadkirk Chapel. In the past that has included the design and installation of the East Window. Later this year, footpaths in the Walled Garden will be repaired and re-surfaced, funded by the Friends of Chadkirk. There are many ways that funds raised and donations are used to benefit the environment and the community here.

While raising funds for Chadkirk is a big part of what we do, Friends of Chadkirk also raise money to make donations to a wide range of other causes. Our treasurer reported back at the AGM about money donated to charities local and global. At the Carol Service in December, the collection raised nearly £300. The collection of £296-64 was donated to the British Red Cross fund, this small contribution to a global fund to take compassionate action within the refugee camps of Syria. In previous years, similar donations have been made to funds to support those affected by the flooding in Cumbria, Guide Dogs for the Blind and other diverse organisations.

It is a reflection of the place that Chadkirk occupies in people’s hearts, that along with funds raised at events, we also receive donations and bequests. At the meeting last night, we were moved to learn of a bequest from a special friend of Chadkirk who had travelled by bus to help us get our beehives established and to take good care of them. Although that baton has been passed on, the continuity of his affection for the bees and this place has been movingly expressed. If Wilf’s family read this, we’d like to say a very special thank you. Please get in touch. Together we might be able to tell a little of his story and honour his achievements, the part he played in helping create the Chadkirk we enjoy today. Many visitors would be interested to learn more about our hives and his work with the bees.

Moving through the agenda from the happenings of 2015 there was talk of plans for 2016. The events, which generally have a monthly pattern, start this weekend.

On Saturday 5th March the gardening team will be active in the Walled Garden (as long as today’s snow has melted away).

On Sunday 6th March Friends of Chadkirk will be offering something a little bit different by way of treats, entertainment and convivial chat. For this year we’ll be doing what we can with our existing technology to show our little in-house life story of St Chad, back by popular demand. By next year we hope to be able to use an upgraded system which we are currently checking out and plan to install soon. This upgrade has been made possible by a significant donation from a member of the local community.

No upgrade is required for our popular Easter Egg Hunt. Last year this attracted many youngsters and their carers and at 2pm on Easter Monday – 28th March – there’s another chance to seek out what’s hidden in the gardens of Chadkirk.

A different kind of delight for those who join our Easter Sunday service on 27th March which will be led by Rev Jon Lyndsey-Scott of St Chad’s Church in Romiley. At this service there will be an opportunity to donate to a local charity. All money collected will contribute to Romiley Ark.

For Friends of Chadkirk there’s a familiar seasonal rhythm to the activities, though with a little twist each year. Things change, so there’s also adaptation to make the best of what’s going on here and further afield. As a result there has been a change to the pattern of some of our regular activities.

This year, for one year only, there’ll be Well Dressing Blessing on Saturday 30th July. . With the Blessing at 1pm, an opportunity for refreshments in Chadkirk Chapel, and the plant stalls and Friends of Chadkirk stall with a range of small treats on offer. Outside the Stockport Silver Band will play.

At the AGM, the retiring Chair passed round a letter from the organiser of the Chadkirk Festival which stated that:

The council will be working with the Friends of Chadkirk on the format for the festival for the weekend 29th/30th July 2017.

This means that we’ll be celebrating our 20th Chadkirk Festival in 2017.

Our expanding team of enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to.

Down at Chadkirk, Friends of Chadkirk make a difference to all most every aspect of this special place. It can be life enriching, community enhancing, ecologically sustaining, landscape protecting. Beneficial. Be-friending.

Want to make a difference? Take part. Join in. Be-friend.

Minutes from the meeting: July Werneth area Committee 2015

This is a cut and paste blog post.
Just the minutes from the meeting for those who are following the bridleway/footpath debate.

* * * * * * *
Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.
 
Five public questions were submitted as follows:-
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and whether there were plans to canvass the views of users of the current footpath; assess the extent to which pedestrians would be displaced off the footpath should horses be permitted to use it; and how any risks associated with such a proposal would be managed.
 
In response, it was stated that that there had been consultation with the Friends of Chadkirk and the Stockport East Area Bridleways Association.  Although a consultation had not been carried out on the basis suggested by the questioner, members confirmed that they were aware of the potential conflicts between different users of the footpath.
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and why the Stockport East Area Bridleways Association had not been notified that an item had been placed on the agenda for the meeting relating to the proposal.
 
In response it was stated that in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to respond to the questioner in writing within seven days.
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and why other stakeholders such as the British Horse Society and Natural England had not been consulted on the proposals and that the Area Committee should defer consideration of the proposals pending such a consultation taking place.
 
In response, it was stated that members considered that they were sufficiently aware of the various issues surrounding the proposals and consequently did not consider that it was necessary to defer consideration of the item.
 

Bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate  PDF 73 KB
• View the background to item 5.
To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.
 
The report details a proposal for the Area Committee to give further consideration to the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, as marked A to B on the plan attached to the report.
 
The Area Committee is recommended to
 
(1) Reconsider the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, marked A to B on the attached plan given the considerations listed.
 
(2) Support the creation of an extension to the existing pedestrian footpath to in improve accessibility (E to F on the plan).
 
(3) Comment on the proposal to permit equestrian access to route (G to H on the plan) or to retain the route for pedestrians only.
 
(4) Acknowledge the need to improve visibility at two points (K and M on the attached plan).
 
Officer contact: Ian Walmsley on 0161 474 4382 or email: ian.walmsley@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
• Enc. 1 for Bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate , item 5.
 PDF 2 MB
• Plan , item 5.
 PDF 326 KB
Minutes:
A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for the Area Committee to give further consideration to the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, as marked A to B on the plan attached to the report.
 
RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the rescission of that part of the resolution made by the Area Committee at its meeting on 10 March 2014 with regard to the ‘Dedication of bridleway and footpaths on land owned by the Council on Chadkirk Estate, Bredbury and Romiley’ and pertaining specifically to the dedication of a bridleway over the route between points A-B as detailed on the plan attached to the report.
 
(2) That the remaining element of that resolution pertaining to the dedication and creation of a footpath between the points E-F as detailed on the plan attached to the report remain extant and the Area Committee’s support and approval for this be reiterated.
 
(3) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be recommended to investigate whether it would be feasible to widen the existing footpath, marked G-H on the plan attached to the report, to permit equestrian access.
 
(4) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be recommended to investigate the introduction of measures to improve visibility at the two points marked K and M on the plan attached to the report.