Yesterday I had the chance to download the data from our new SID (Speed Indicator Device) on Heyes Lane. The SID has been in operation for just over two weeks, so I was able to download the data for a full two-week period. The device collects data from vehicles travelling in both directions and comparative evidence suggests those driving towards the display, reduced their speed.
Data shows that the average speed of vehicles travelling towards the speed display was 31mph, whereas the average speed of vehicles travelling towards the village (with the speed display behind them) was slightly higher at 32mph. It also shows that almost 77% of vehicles travelling towards the display were under 30mph, but this dropped to 69% of vehicles travelling with the display behind them.
With the help of a group of local residents, we will be launching a new volunteer-led library session from Tuesday 8th January. This is in response to a proposal by Cheshire East Council in 2017 to close Alderley Edge Library (which was subsequently overturned) and then a reduction in the number of staffed hours from 25 hours a week, to 20 hours a week from August 2018.
Working with a group of local residents who felt strongly that the library provides a much valued community resource, I have been working to re-open the library on a Tuesday afternoon and early evening between 1.30pm and 5.30pm. During this time, the full range of borrowing services will remain available although initially, access to the People's Network computers will not be available.
I am pleased to confirm that Level 2 patching work has been carried out on Carlisle Street this morning, following my recent report to Cheshire East Highways. The work has been completed quickly and with minimal disruption and I am sure everyone will agree that it is a welcome improvement. As always, I would like to thank officers for responding to my request for repairs to be carried out. I do regularly report areas of the village where repair work is necessary, but if there are any near where you live that are in need of attention, please let me know in the comment box below. Many thanks.
Earlier today I joined local residents and volunteers on Ryleys Lane to carry out our monthly Community Speedwatch session. On this occasion, we were also joined by our PCSO, Anna Jenkinson. Stationed near to the junction of Chorley Hall Lane, we were able to record vehicles travelling in three directions and the results were as follows:
I am pleased to confirm that this scheme, which is being funded through the Local Area Highways Partnership, has now been signed off and will be implemented once the legal order has been drawn up. This follows a recent traffic survey undertaken during October which found that over a 24-hour period, the average number of vehicles using this junction was as follows:
I am pleased to confirm that my next community surgery will take place on Saturday 24th November, starting at 10am. As usual the venue will be Alderley Edge Library and on this occasion I will also be joined by our PCSO, Anna Jenkinson. Do come and join us for a coffee and a chat about any local issues that may be causing you concern.
I am pleased to report that the line painting team from Cheshire East Highways have today been out and marked the two disabled parking bays on Church Lane. I put this scheme forward over 18 months ago, following a request from the Parochial Church Council which was also supported by the Headteacher at Alderley Edge Primary School. Although the scheme has taken a little longer to implement than I had anticipated, I am pleased that it has now been completed and hope that it will help make the church, the school and the new heritage centre more accessible to all visitors.
Earlier today I joined 16 other residents and volunteers at our first training session at Alderley Edge Library. Together, we are hoping to re-open the library on Tuesday afternoons from January. This is in response to Cheshire East Council's decision not to close our library, but to reduce the number of hours when paid staff are available, from 25 hours to 20 hours per week.
Our next training session will take place on Tuesday 20th November and any resident who is interested in helping working with us to keep the library open, is welcome to join us. We will also need to elect a Volunteer Co-ordinator(s) and start to think about any special events we might want to organise on a Tuesday afternoon, such as a book club or local history group.
On Thursday 8th November, I joined our PCSO Anna Jenkinson and local volunteers on Congleton Road (near the junction with Whitebarn Road). This is an area we have targeted previously, as the evidence we have collected suggests that there continues to be a problem with speeding at this location. The results on this occasion were:
The #LoveAlderley traders group recently organised a "Halloween Hunt" where children were encouraged to work their way around the village shops searching for letters to uncover a secret phrase. Entry forms could then be left at various "pumpkin
locations" to be in with a chance of winning a
prize! The draw was recently made and the three winner received prizes donated by Chafes, Margaret Dabbs, Edge Gin, the Bubble Room, Coggles, Daniel, All About Flowers & the Potting Shed. I would like to thank everyone who took part in making this event a success.
Emma Mason (Manager at the Bubble Room) commented “The hunts we have put on this year have proved really popular and we’ve had some really lovely feedback from those who have taken part. I’m lucky to see it from a trader and parent perspective:Following the decision by Cheshire East Council earlier this year not to close Alderley Edge Library, I have been putting together a group of local volunteers to help keep the library open for an extra half-day. During the summer, Cheshire East Council cut the opening times from 25 hours to 20 hours per week, which means that there are only two occasions (Thursday & Friday) when the library is open in an afternoon. With the help of local volunteers, I am seeking to re-open the library on Tuesday afternoons, between 1.30pm (when the staff currently close up) and 5.00pm.
Earlier today, assisted by a number of local volunteers and officers from ANSA Parks Maintenance, I helped take delivery and plant 500 new perennials in the park. The Parish Council agreed that the flowerbed by the bandstand should be a centrepiece attraction in the park and approved the spend of £477 at its September meeting.
On Thursday 4th October, I joined local residents and volunteers from the Community Speedwatch team to carry out a session on Ryleys Lane. Between 2-3pm, we recorded 40 vehicles in total with the full results as follows:
I am supporting the campaign to #ChangeCheshireEast from the existing Cabinet System, to a new Committee System of governance. The campaign, which is non-political, aims simply to ensure that whichever political group is in control of the Council has to make decisions in a way that is more open, transparent and democratic. Under the current system, the majority of the decisions are made by just eight members of cabinet who then ensure that other members of their group are "whipped" to support them. Under a Committee System, all decisions would be debated openly and all Councillors would get an equal say. I would like to ask all residents to support this campaign by signing our petition at www.changecheshireeast.org or by using the QR code to the right of this article. Thank you!
I am delighted to confirm that Heyes Lane has now re-opened to traffic, following the completion of resurfacing work. The resurfacing of a large section of Heyes Lane, from the junction with Moss Road, to the unmade layby at Mole End has been completed at a cost of over £100,000 and although the work was long overdue, it is nonetheless very welcome as it has also included a section at the entrance to The Circuit. This hopefully brings to an end a period of disruption to the local road network, which began with the closure and resurfacing of London Road Railway Bridge in August. On behalf of Alderley Edge residents, I would like to say a huge thank you to both the officers and engineers from CE Highways for their efforts and for making this work possible.
At our Parish Council meeting on Monday, I presented our plans to create a new centre-piece flower bed in the Park. The area next to the bandstand was cleared some months ago at the request of the Alderley Edge in Bloom group; the Parish Council agreed but felt that given its location at the centre of the Park, the area should be given a makeover. We had originally planned to plant rhododendron; however, ANSA (Parks Maintenance) told us that they want to keep an open vista so that all areas of the park are visible (to discourage anti-social behaviour).
Having been provided with a list of perennials by ANSA, who have also put us in touch with a their regular supplier (Lubbe & Sons, based in Lincolnshire), the Parish Council have now placed an order for approximately 500 Salvia, Crocosmia & Rudbeckia plants which should be arriving shortly. I am also delighted to confirm that, following further discussions regarding the three smaller flower beds, these will now be replaced with a new single flower bed which will be sponsored by local company "Alderley Edge Windows & Doors".
On Tuesday & Wednesday this week, local Community Speedwatch volunteers have been supporting Cheshire Police with “Operation Clearway”. The operation has been targeting drivers using excessive speed, as well as inappropriate/dangerous parking across our village. During two one-hour sessions (one on Wilmslow Road and one on Brook Lane) we recorded 97 vehicles exceeding the speed threshold, with the full results as follows:
I am campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on Wilmslow Road, to assist children from the Ryleys School in accessing their sports field more safely. The details collected during our Speedwatch sessions help to provide evidence of the need for this as an important road safety scheme. The drivers will each receive an advisory warning from the Cheshire Police. Our PCSO, Anna Jenkinson, also recorded eight speeding vehicles on Congleton Road, with the drivers receiving fixed penalties.
