The government has confirmed that plans to connect Stockport onto the Metrolink are being “actively studied”.
The Greater Manchester borough is one of a few areas that is not currently connected up to the region’s expansive tram network, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed during PMQs in the House of Commons yesterday that the Department for Transport (DfT) is “actively studying” ways to get services running through the town soon enough.
The PM made the comment after Cheadle’s MP said that she now wanted the town on the tram network after the green light had been given for plans to build a new central railway station.
The single-platform railway station is due to open in 2025, and will connect Cheadle to Stockport town centre and beyond.
However during PMQs yesterday, Cheadle MP Mary Robinson said that she now wanted to see the mid-Cheshire line made into a double line with an extension of the Metrolink into the town, as she feels that improving connectivity is “key to economic growth” and the future of the government’s Levelling Up agenda.
The PM’s confirmation comments also come after it was announced this week that nearly £14 million has been secured for Stockport from the government’s Towns Fund – which will go towards the construction of the new train station.
ADVERTISEMENT
The government has confirmed that plans to connect Stockport onto the Metrolink are being “actively studied” / Credit: TfGM & SMDC
Money from the funding will also go towards two other projects.
One project being a north-south cycling and walking route – which will link the new station to the town centre – and the other being the building of a new Eco Business Park on Bird Hall Lane.
MP Mary Robinson said in her question to the Prime Minister: “After securing almost £14m in my town’s fund bid for Cheadle, I was delighted last week to get the green light for our new Cheadle rail station, and £4m for our state-of-the-art eco business park.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I have had tremendous support from the Cheadle Towns Board and local community who understand how important it is to have connected towns and villages bringing investment and hi-tech jobs to our area.
“I’m ambitious for Cheadle, and I now want to secure the re-doubling of the mid-Cheshire line and the extension of Metrolink through my constituency.”
It comes after nearly £14 million has been secured for Stockport from the government’s Towns Fund / Credit: TfGM
Mr Johnson said in response: “It’s thanks to the massive exertions of this government in levelling up with the £650 billion investment in infrastructure that we’re having a new railway station in Cheadle, for instance Mr Speaker.
“I know that the bids that my honourable friend just mentioned are now being actively studied by the Department for Transport and she should feed in more to them.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The extension of the tram network through to Stockport is something that has been discussed as far back as 2004, and in 2020, Andy Burnham announced plans to bring Metrolink to the borough within the next 10 years.
Stockport’s new transport interchange, which is currently under construction on the site of the town’s old bus station, has also been designed to to leave space for the addition of any future Metrolink or Tram-Train extensions.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Emily Sergeant -
14th July 2022 
