The Marple Area Committee met to discuss a range of local issues, including parking charges, a new puffin crossing, and funding for community projects. The committee recommended that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services approve the implementation of a puffin crossing on Station Road, and also that they approve the introduction of charges to currently free car parks, despite a number of objections. Additionally, the committee approved funding for several local community initiatives.

Free to Charged Parking

The committee considered a report regarding objections to the proposed introduction of parking charges at several currently free car parks in Marple. The Free to Charged Car Parks Objection Report outlined that the introduction of charges was agreed at full council as part of the council’s overall budget for 2024/25.

The report detailed 62 area-specific objections and 21 general objections to the proposals. A petition against the charges for the Hibbert/Church Lane car park had also been received, containing 277 signatures.

The main points of objection were:

• Impact on specific groups, including permit costs and limitations, school parking, requests for free parking periods, and the effect on users of local facilities, residents, those on lower incomes, parents with young children, and elderly or disabled users.
• Potential displacement of parked cars onto streets, exacerbating existing parking issues.
• Impact on active travel, potentially discouraging the use of public transport from the railway station.
• Impact on businesses, including loading bays, business rates, and staff retention.
• The rationale for charging and how the income would be spent.

The report also included officer responses to these objections, stating that the car parks would remain available to all users, and that charges encourage a turnover of vehicles. It was also noted that off-street resident parking permits would be available, and blue badge holders could park for up to three hours without charge.

The committee was asked to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services make the Off-street Parking Places Orders (OSPPOs) as originally advertised, and this was agreed.

Marple Community Hub Puffin Crossing

The committee discussed a joint report from the Director of Place Management and the Assistant Director for Governance regarding objections to a proposed puffin crossing on Station Road close to the canal in Marple.

The Marple Community Hub Puffin Crossing Objection Report detailed one objection and two feedback responses received during the legal advertisement of the proposed crossing. The main concerns raised were:

• The proposed location of the puffin crossing was not safe due to restricted visibility and the speed of vehicles.
• The puffin crossing may cause congestion on Station Road and at the junctions with Winnington Road and St Martins Road.
• There was a lack of demand for a controlled signalised crossing at this location.
• The location of the puffin crossing in a conservation area.
• The money could be used on other measures such as potholes and flood prevention.
• A pedestrian refuge could be provided as a cheaper alternative.

The report included officer responses to these concerns, stating that road safety had been carefully considered during the scheme design process, and that visibility calculations had been undertaken. It was also noted that a stage 1 road safety audit had been undertaken, which did not identify any major issues.

The report stated that a pedestrian survey undertaken in May 2025 counted 148 people crossing Station Road in one hour, and that the crossing would encourage people to walk and cycle to the hub.

The committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services approve the implementation of the puffin crossing on Station Road as originally advertised.

Ward Flexibility Funding

The committee considered three applications for ward flexibility funding:

• Rural Cultural Foundation: A grant of £880 from the Marple North ward allocation was requested for a community Heritage Facts and Fun Day in September 2025 at the Roman Lakes and Mellor Mill. The event would showcase Mellor Mill and provide informative and interactive activities to engage visitors in the history and heritage of the locality. The funding would cover the costs of local experts to provide rural craft activities.
• 1st High Lane Scouts: A grant of £1,000 from the Marple South & High Lane ward allocation was requested to help two members of the 1st High Lane Scouts join a trip to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland in August 2026. The funding would contribute towards the £1,550 cost per person.
• Reddish Men in Sheds: A grant of £100 from the Marple South & High Lane ward allocation was requested towards the cost of staging the Shed Stories theatre show at The Stockroom venue in Merseyway. The play celebrates and brings to life the world of 'Men's Sheds'. The funding would cover the theatre company's fees, refreshments, and organisational charges.

Hibbert Lane/Stockport Road Junction

The committee discussed a report regarding a traffic survey commissioned by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the junction of Hibbert Lane and Stockport Road, Marple. The Hibbert Lane Stockport Road Junction report noted that Marple North ward councillors had requested that Network Management investigate the option of a yellow hatched box at this junction, following concerns that motorists turning right from Hibbert Lane onto Stockport Road were blocking the junction.

A public question was raised at the previous area committee meeting asking if the scope of the survey could be widened to look at pedestrian impact around this junction.

The cost for the survey is £1,650, to be funded from the Marple North delegated ward budget.

The committee agreed to defer consideration of this item pending further consultation and discussion between ward councillors and officers.

Marple District Centre Action Plan Update

The committee considered a report providing an update on delivering the Marple District Centre Action Plan, including recent successes and priorities for the next six months.

The report highlighted the following successes:

• Co-ordinated Marple Festoon Lighting Project.
• Worked with local artist Helen Middleton and Marple Men in Sheds to add more planters and enhance existing ones with new metal artwork.
• Installed a 36ft long public art display on the Superdrug passageway.
• Assisted Marple Civic Society with Task Day training and funding to maintain the District Centres 22 benches.
• Supported Marple Fest and volunteers to deliver two community sessions focusing on removing weeds.

The report also noted that the District Centre Manager continues to regularly engage with small businesses and retailers in Marple, and supports potential new businesses in finding premises.

Priorities for the next six months include:

• Pursuing opportunities to work with local artists on an art project to add murals to Marple Cinema and two other sites in the District Centre.
• Continuing to build up events programme in partnership with local organisations.
• Delivering a Christmas Light Switch On.

The committee was asked to note the progress made in delivering projects and events, and to provide feedback on ideas for priority projects to allocate the UKSPF funding to.

Marple Poppy Appeal Ride of Remembrance

The committee considered a report regarding an event application from Marple Area Poppy Appeal to finish their Ride of Remembrance within Marple Memorial Park on Sunday 26 October 2025.

The Park Use Application detailed that the event would take place between 1pm and 4pm, with permission requested to use the park from 1pm until 4.30pm to enable event set up and close of the event. The Ride of Remembrance will involve 100 motorbikes riding through the town, with each rider carrying one of the large street poppies with the name of one of the fallen men from the Marple area. Once in the park, the poppies carried by the riders will be transferred onto the Wall of Remembrance. Money raised from the event will go to the Royal British Legion.

The committee agreed to give approval for the application to be granted subject to the event organiser obtaining and providing the relevant paperwork at least two weeks prior to the event, including any necessary licences, health and safety documentation, insurance certificates, a satisfactory traffic management plan, and the payment of agreed fees and charges.

Area Committee Ward Highway Spokesperson

The committee considered a proposal to replace Councillor Steve Gribbon with Councillor Geoff Abell as the Marple North Ward Spokesperson with whom the Director of Place Management can consult on highway maintenance and traffic management matters. The committee approved the change.

Progress on Area Committee Decisions

The committee considered a report providing an update on progress since the last meeting on decisions taken by the area committee, and detailing the current position on area flexibility funding and ward discretionary budget funding. The committee noted the report.