Hale Independent Issue 197

3 OCTOBER 2026 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk DON’T LET THE BIG BINWIN Start using your food recycling service today! FOODWASTE BELONGS INYOUR KITCHEN CADDY Visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com/food TimperleyWedge – which has been allocated for development under the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone plan. That wider allocation envisages thousands of new homes alongside employment space, community facilities, green space and new trans- port infrastructure. Prospect Homes has revealed that an earlier version of its Dobbinetts Lane develop- ment contained 179 homes. That has now been reduced by 47 to 132 following what the developer describes as “extensive discussions” with Trafford Council. It says the revised scheme takes a more “landscape-led” approach, including retain- ing existing woodland in the north-east of the site and pro- viding more public open space. Existing mature trees, woodland and hedgerows would be retained “wherever possible”, with new trees, native hedgerows and meadow grassland also proposed. The developer says the scheme would deliver a bio- diversity net gain “substan- tially” above the statutory minimum of 10%. Vehicle access would be from Dobbinetts Lane through a new junction. Land alongside Dobbinetts Lane would also be safe- guarded to allow for possi- ble future improvements to the road, although details of what those improvements could involve have not yet been confirmed. New pedestrian and cycle routes would connect the development with the existing A MAN has pleaded not guilty to the murder of StretfordGrammar School headteacher Michael Mul- lins, who died after being struck by a car while cycling home fromwork. Simon Richardson appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court via video link fromHMP Forest Bank. Richardson pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter and dangerous driving in connection with the death of the 56-year- old headteacher. His trial has now been listed to begin at Manchester Min- shull Street Crown Court on October 13. He will remain in custody on remand until then. Mr Mullins died after being struck by a car while cycling home from Stretford Gram- mar School on April 20. He was riding along Pad- dock Lane in Altrincham, at the junction with Warburton Lane and Dunham Road, when he was hit at around 6.10pm. The car failed to stop at the scene and Mr Mullins was treated by emergency services but died from his injuries. Four people – three men and a woman – were subse- quently arrested on suspicion of causing death by danger- ous driving. Richardson was later charged with murder, man- slaughter, dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance. Mr Mullins, from Weav- erham in Northwich, had worked at Stretford Grammar School for 17 years and was previously deputy headteacher at Sale Grammar School. TRAFFORD Council has officially backed a special enforcement pol- icy designed to improve standards in the private rented housing sector. The Council’s Executive formally approved the Rent- ers Rights Enforcement Policy to help ensure safe, well-managed housing and fair treatment of tenants and responsible landlords. The policy, launched in response to the Renters Rights Act 2025 which gives new rights to tenants and intro- duces new rules for private landlords, forms a framework for using enforcement pow- ers, including penalties and prosecutions, and supports co-ordinated working across housing, trading standards, and tenancy relations. With a co-ordinated approach across private sector housing, Trading Standards and HOST, the policy tackles non-compliance, targets rogue landlords and unsafe housing while supporting responsible landlords at the same time. The Council can now man- age increased enforcement responsibilities, while promot- ing transparency, legal com- pliance, and improved housing conditions across Trafford. Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “This is a very important policy which will vastly improve standards in the private housing sector.” Man pleads not guilty to murder of school head Council supports new renters policy A visual showing the proposed housing plan off Dobbinetts Lane (Image: Prospect Homes) Plans for 132-home development PLANS have been unveiled for a major new housing development on land in Hale. Prospect Homes is prepar- ing proposals to build 132 homes on land off Dobbinetts Lane, close to the boundary with Wythenshawe. The scheme would include a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroomhomes, with 45% classed as affordable housing. Plans also include a new community park and chil- dren’s play area, public open space and new walking and cycling routes. The site lies to the north of Dobbinetts Lane, between Brooks Drive and existing homes, and south-west of Wythenshawe Hospital. It forms part of the much larger Davenport Green area – previously known as public right of way along its northern boundary and Brooks Drive to the west. Prospect Homes says a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan are being pre- pared and will examine the impact of the development on surrounding roads and junctions, as well as highway safety, parking and access to public transport. Drainage measures would include a 10-metre buffer from Fairywell Brook, permeable paving and rain gardens designed to manage sur- face water.