From Newsletter, January 2007

Dear Member
Welcome to 2007's first newsletter, and I hope you've not suffered too badly in the gales. (I can't see where that piece of slate sticking in my front lawn came from, might be from next door's roof?) There are reports of trees blown down on Mossgrove Road, the golf course, Clay Lane and on Kentmere Road and Brook Avenue that were mentioned in the Messenger.

We have had some good meetings since the last newsletter and of course the Timperley Country Fair. Boy did we get wet! The planned photo quiz was abandonned because of everything getting soaked, so we will re-run that for next time. The provisional date is 15th Sept 2007.
At the AGM we had a good turnout and a fascinating talk from Mrs Rykz from the RSPB with super photos. The October Quiz Night was again a success, with thanks to Sandra Bingham and her helpers for the supper. At the November meeting, David McNulty, chief executive of Trafford Council gave us an introduction to his background and his work and Trafford policies. He said he has "significant ambitions" for the borough!!
For the Christmas meeting Mr. Slater gave a fascinating and informative talk on Victorian Theatre which he illustrated with (animated) readings from the period. The plays, which now seem a little quaint, were also a commentary on the times and attitudes which were held then. Mr. Slater gave us a social history as well as an interesting talk. A very good evening, with nice punch and mince pies.

It's all Changes
Well the old pear tree on Brook Close is down, and the Loos on Thorley Lane car park are gone, and you can't use the ones in the Library on Friday afternoons any more, 'cause it shuts at one! The old 298 and 299 circular Bus service via Deansgate Lane and Delaheys Road has been terminated (after at least 50 years that I can remember). The new number 20 provides a service to the Airport (26 minutes from the village), useful if you haven't got too much luggage. But for some people it has been a bad move. The buses used are not always the easy access, low-step ones. Arriva say if you phone their Wythenshawe Depot on the day you intend to travel they will say which kind of bus is going to be on. In the meantime some older residents have been marooned at home and lost their independence by not being able to get on the bus. People along Park Road have also complained that they are now without a stop between Heyes Lane and Riddings Road.

Watling Gate The saga of Watling Gate continues. Our chairman wrote asking the Trafford executive to reconsider the proposal to sell. The decision to sell was called back for scrutiny, and the Friends of Newton Park put forward an alternative solution, but there is no decision from Trafford as yet. It appears that there has been an application made to designate Newton Park as a 'common', and this has delayed the process.

Planning Applications One of the latest applications will impact on the village if it goes ahead. The plan is for the area at the back of Flower Craft Cottage as-was, including their yard and garage onto Baker Street, for alterations to the shop and a four-storey office block at the rear. No parking spaces will be provided, the assumption being that they will use the public car park at the rear of the library. We have already objected to this as being over-development of the site.
There has been an application for The Broomwood Pub site on Mainwood Road. This is for a nursing home, with 60 beds. The pub has been closed for over a year.

The footpath across Larkhill field from Thorley Lane to Mosley Road has been causing problems, in particular one lady wound up with a broken ankle after slipping on the muddy path. We'll see if Trafford can find a solution to this problem.
Also it has been suggested that seats be put on Larkhill. A while back there was an idea that one of the trees needed felling and the trunk could be made into seats. What do you think?

Neighbourhood Forums - These are a good opportunity to make your point with both Trafford officers and local councillors. Altrincham North covers Village, Timperley and Broadheath wards. For those living in the Hale Barns and Altrincham ward parts of Timperley go to the Altrincham South meetings. They start at 6pm for you to speak to councillors and Trafford staff about individual concerns, then the meeting is at 7pm. At the last Forum someone raised the refurbishing of Pickering Lodge Park, to make it more than just a bare grassed area.
You could use the Altrincham South Forum as a chance to see inside Altrincham Town Hall now it has been refurbished. There are three ground floor rooms which can be used by the public and some Altrincham artefacts are displayed in the entrance hall. There is a lift and a light refreshments area. See Forthcoming Events page for dates.

The new Notice Board is now up on the corner of Paul House - check it for local events.

Timperley Walks Leaflets
Hazel and Naomi have been trying some walks round Timperley footpaths. Leaflets 50p each for the first two written up by Hazel (more to come later).