GULLY CLEANING

As many of you will have perhaps noticed, gully cleaning will be taking place on Wednesday 31st May. As a result, there will be temporary "No Parking" restrictions on the following streets: George St, South St, West St, Clifton St & Lynton Lane. I would like to thank CE Highways for visiting Alderley Edge as one of their first "Clean & Cleanse" days in 2017.

MARLBOROUGH AVENUE STREETLAMP

I am pleased to report that the damaged lighting column outside the Electricity NW Sub Station will be removed and replaced this coming week.  The column was damaged earlier this year, but remained hidden by overhanging trees.  I have also asked Cheshire East Highways to prune back the conifer trees, to try and avoid this happening again and to ensure the light does not remain on during the day.

HOUGH LANE SURFACE DRESSING

I am pleased to confirm that surface dressing will be taking place on Hough Lane next week, as part of the latest phase of improvements to our local roads.  Later in the year, Wilmslow Road and London Road are due to be resurfaced, all the way from Horseshoe Farm up to Natwest Bank.  There will be a three-day road closure whilst Hough Lane is being done, so please allow extra journey time.

SID REPORT (APRIL)

I have now downloaded the SID data for the month of April (if see me climbing the wall opposite Woodlands Court on Congleton Road, you will know what I am up to!) and am pleased to publish the figures.  A total of 116,471 vehicles were recorded and the average recorded speed was 29.8mph, whilst the highest speed was 73.0mph.  Over the period, 53,115 (46%) vehicles were travelling at or below 30mph, whilst 52 vehicles were travelling at 60mph or faster.  Seven vehicles were recorded travelling in excess of 70mph!

HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

The results of the Housing Needs Survey recently carried out by Engine of the North on behalf of Cheshire East Council are now available.  736 survey returns were completed (a response rate of 30%).  63% of respondents (Alderley Edge residents) were in favour of a small development in order to meet the need for affordable housing.

Of those respondents in favour of more affordable housing,  the reasons given were:
- a need for greater diversity within the community (32 respondents)
- a need to support the working population (including low-paid, or key workers)
- a need to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder (16 respondents)

13 respondents were against any kind of development (affordable or otherwise)

VILLAGE PLANTERS

This morning I joined Parish Councillors Geoff Hall, Christine Munro & Mike Taylorson to help remove the old wooden planters from the village.  Led by Mike Dudley-Jones, the Parish Council have been fundraising for 12 new planters, which have been ordered and will be in place by early June. This is in preparation for this year's entry to North West in Bloom.

OAKFIELD RD & MOSS RD

I am pleased to report that the footpath upgrades and resurfacing on Oakfield Road and Moss Road have now been completed. I hope everyone will agree that they are a vast improvement and I would like to thank Cheshire East Highways for the work they have done on our behalf. Later this year, the junction with Moss Road and Heyes Lane (opposite Grantham's) is also due to be resurfaced.

COMMUNITY SURGERY (MAY)

I am pleased to announce that my community surgery will again be taking place on the last Saturday of the month, Saturday 27th May, starting at 10am at Aldeli.  Once again, I will have hard copies of the development proposals for the land off Beech Road and the land opposite Horseshoe Farm (Whitehall Meadow), in case anyone would like to have a look at them.

FOOTPATH UPGRADES

At Monday's Annual Parish Meeting, I reported that footpath resurfacing was imminent on Beech Close, Oakfield Road and Moss Road.  I am delighted to confirm that the work on Beech Close was completed earlier this morning and that work has now begun on Oakfield Road.  Hopefully, Oakfield Road will be completed tomorrow and then the team will move on to Moss Road next week.  I have been working hard for a long time to get this work carried out and I am sure everyone will agree that it is a huge improvement.

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH

Today I joined Parish Councillor Geoff Hall and a group of local volunteers in a "Community Speedwatch" session on Macclesfield Road.  We recorded several vehicles travelling between 30-40 mph (the limit is 30mph) and also some travelling between 40-50 mph up the hill. We are are always grateful of more help, as the more volunteers there are, the more sessions they can do.  If you could spare an hour a month, please let me know.

 

PARISH COUNCIL PLANTER APPEAL

Alderley Edge Parish Council are asking for your urgent help and support to launch a new look to London Road, which has been carefully researched over recent months.  It is proposed to line the road with twelve large "self-watering" planters which will be professionally planted and maintained on an annual basis. With most of the Parish Council budget committed to repaying the loan on our new Medical Centre and completing the development of the Festival Hall, we are seeking individual donations from residents and businesses to help the ‘look’ of the Village for 2017/2018 and then to incorporate the ongoing planting and maintenance regime in the Parish Council budget for April 2018 and beyond.

We need £11,000.00 to fund the planters and the planting/maintenance this first year and to do this we need to ask for the generosity of 185 local residents or businesses to assist the fund with either: a Standing Order of £5.00 per month for one year; or a cheque for £60.00 as a one off payment.  Each Parish Councillor has agreed to make a personal contribution to the fund.  If you are able to help, please could you contact me with your name & email address in the comments box below, or send me an email to craig.browne@cheshireeast.gov.uk