WEST STREET FOOTPATH TO BE RESURFACED

I am delighted to be able to confirm that the footpath on West Street is to be resurfaced, with the work scheduled to start next week. A temporary footpath closure will be in place whilst the work is being carried out. I had originally asked for West Street to be included in the 2018/19 capital programme, but following the decision to resurface Heyes Lane earlier this year, I had not expected the work to be funded until the next financial year. Following my recent meeting with a Senior Highways Engineer, I am delighted that it has been possible to bring this work forward.

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH - BROOK LANE

On Thursday 14th February I joined other local residents and volunteers for our monthly Community Speedwatch session. This time we stationed ourselves on Brook Lane, just before the bridge over the bypass and we had one of our busiest sessions to date, recording 52 vehicles speeding (one every 69 seconds). Most of the speeding vehicles were travelling towards the village centre.

We felt that it was important to carry out a session between 3pm and 4pm so to coincide with the end of the school day, as this section is on the approach to Alderley Edge School for Girls and is used by many parents as a picking-up location. The School Safety Zone (20 mph limit) begins only another hundred yards along Brook Lane, which makes the results even more disappointing.

- 39 vehicles speeding but under 40 mph
- 15 vehicles speeding between 40-49 mph
- 2 vehicles speeding in excess of 50 mph
- highest recorded speed was 52 mph

As always, we are grateful for the help of our volunteers, without whom we would not be able to run these sessions. If you are able to give an hour a month to help us run more sessions, please contact me.

COUNTY HOTEL APPLICATION APPROVED

I am now able to report that this application for 22 apartments and 4 townhouses was approved earlier today at Northern Planning Committee.

Whilst not particularly enamoured of the choice of design, I welcome the fact that this gateway site to Alderley Edge which has been derelict for years, will now be redeveloped. I am disappointed that yet again, a developer has managed to avoid providing affordable housing on-site and that a majority of members agreed with a commuted sum instead (which may not end up being spent in Alderley Edge).

I am also disappointed by the way in which the Vacant Building Credit (VBC) has been interpreted, which has allowed the developer to reduce their affordable housing contribution by over half. National Planning Policy Guidance states that the VBC applies where a building has not been abandoned and that it should not be applied in circumstances where this might result in no affordable housing being provided. I believe the process by which CEC applies the VBC needs subjecting to further scrutiny.

Having said this, I am pleased that we have been able to protect and retain (by planning condition) the stone wall at the entrance to Harden Park, which is a feature of the area and that the Ward Councillor will be consulted on the final landscaping details. I am also pleased to have negotiated the addition of a pedestrian refuge on Wilmslow Road, which has to be installed prior to occupation of any of the new dwellings. This should help to narrow the road and improve pedestrian safety.

Finally, I am delighted to have secured a Section 106 contribution (payable on commencement of the development) of £84,000 towards Public Open Space, part of which will now be used to fund the creation of a Skating Area in Alderley Edge Park. This is something that our Youth Councillors have long been asking me for and which gained overwhelming public support at a consultation event we held at the Festival Hall last summer.

NEXT COMMUNITY SURGERY - SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY

I will be holding my next Community Surgery at Alderley Edge Library on Saturday 23rd February, between 10am and 11am. Please call in for a coffee and a chat about any local issues that may be causing you concern or where you feel I may be able to help.

CCTV REPORT - DRINK DRIVER APPREHENDED

I am pleased to publish the 3rd Quarter's CCTV report for the village, which I have just received from the Control Room at Macclesfield. During the final three months of last year, 26 incidents were recorded, with information being passed on to the police on 11 occasions. As a result, one driver who was found to be over the legal alcohol limit was taken into police custody, whilst CCTV footage was also used to assist the police with a burglary investigation and to help identify a number of shoplifting suspects.