SPEEDWATCH SESSION SEES TWO NEW RECORDS SET

Earlier today, I joined volunteers from our Community Speedwatch team on Brook Lane. Two new records were set, but not the kind we wanted to see: the highest speed ever recorded at one of our sessions; and the highest number of speeding vehicles recorded in a single session. The total number of vehicles recorded exceeding the speed threshold was 55 (that’s one every 65 seconds). The full results were:

- 39 vehicles exceeding speed threshold but under 40mph
- 15 vehicles exceeding 40mph but under 50mph
- 1 vehicle exceeding 50mph
- highest recorded speed of 58mph (in a 30mph zone)
- average speed of all recorded vehicles was 40mph

We desperately need more volunteers from the local community to help us run more sessions and to raise awareness of speed as an issue and a danger to other road users. If you are able to give up an hour a month of your time to help, please send me an email (craig.browne@cheshireeast.gov.uk).

HEYES LANE RESURFACING DATES CONFIRMED

I am pleased to announce that the resurfacing of Heyes Lane (from Grantham's shop down to the unmade layby at Mole End) is to carried out between Monday 10th September and Friday 14th September. During this time, there will be a complete road closure on this section of Heyes Lane* and residents are kindly asked not to park on the road surface between the hours of 08.00 and 17.00. I am delighted that this work is now being carried out and would like to thank Cheshire East Highways for making this one of the first projects to be completed as part of this year's Highways Improvement Programme.

* dependent upon works to the railway bridge having been completed by this date!

BRIDGE RE-OPENING DELAYED UNTIL 10TH SEPT

I am pleased to confirm that United Utilities have returned to the site over the past couple of days and are due to complete their repairs shortly. Temporary traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Heyes Lane to allow engineers from CE Highways to recommence work on the new kerbs and footpath widening; the temporary permit for these traffic lights expires on Saturday evening, by which time that part of the job is expected to be finished. Resurfacing of the road is scheduled for the end of next week, with the road now expected to re-open on Monday 10th September. To ease traffic flows once the schools go back, the southbound side of the bridge will temporarily reopen next week, to allow school buses through only. I will provide a further update early next week.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE BRIDGE

A number of residents and businesses have been contacting me to ask for an update on where things are up to with the works on the railway bridge. I'm pleased to confirm that Cadent Gas completed their repairs to the gas pipe last Wednesday, but we have since been waiting for the utilities company to come out and repair the leaking water pipe, as well as filling the void that has been created by the running water. It is believed that when the utilities company finally arrived on site on Tuesday, a power cable supplying London Road was damaged. Fortunately, Electricity North West have been able to isolate the damaged cable without loss of supply to any of the businesses, although as a result the adjacent lamp column will be temporarily out of action. The utilities company have now promised to work over the weekend, in order to complete their repairs. This is entirely in their hands, but provided they keep their promise, the works to the footpath and road surface will recommence on Monday. I would like to thank CE Highways for committing extra staff to the bridge next week, in an effort to ensure that the work is complete by Monday 3rd September in time for the schools reopening.

LED STREETLIGHTING UPGRADE SET TO COMMENCE

I am pleased to confirm that the upgrade to more energy-efficient LED streetlighting, which I reported some months ago, is scheduled to commence next week. There has been a slight delay to the programme, whilst works were completed in Wilmslow; however, I have now received the revised programme from Cheshire East Highways. The following roads will be upgraded between 28th August and 6th September:

Haddon Close, Eaton Drive, Windermere Drive, Heyes Lane, Sutton Road, West Bank, Beech Cottages, Lydiat Lane, Redesmere Drive, Devonshire Drive, Beaufort Close, Marlborough Avenue, Wilton Crescent, Grasmere Road, Blackshaw Lane, Downesway,  Netherfields, Chorley Hall Lane, Thirlmere Close, Meddings Close, Wilmslow Road, Ryleys Lane.

Other roads, not included above, will be scheduled as part of next month's traffic management report. I will provide an update on this as soon as I receive this report from CE Highways.

CCTV UPGRADE NOW INSTALLED

I am pleased to report that the planned upgrade to the village’s CCTV system has now been carried out. Stuart Hobson, CCTV Control Room Manager confirmed that “the images are absolutely perfect and better than I was expecting. I think this is because the lighting in Alderley Edge, although not good for the old cameras, is the perfect lux for the new ones.” New signage has also recently been ordered and should be arriving shortly; a deep green background has been chosen at the request of the Parish Council, so that the signs remain complementary to the Conservation Area.

PROPOSED SITES & HOUSING ALLOCATIONS REVEALED

Cheshire East Council are proposing to carry out a consultation on the first draft of their Site Allocations & Development Policies Document (Local Plan Part II). A meeting of the Strategic Planning Board on Wednesday 29th August, is expected to recommend that the consultation period begins on Wednesday 5th September and continues for six weeks. 

In summary, the proposals for Alderley Edge are:
- allocation of site ALD1 (adjacent to Jenny Heyes) for approximately 10 dwellings*
- allocation of site ALD2 (adjacent to Ryleys Farm) for approximately 75 dwellings
- allocation of site ALD3 (adjacent to Ryleys Farm) of 2ha safeguarded land for housing**
- allocation of site ALD4 (Horseshoe Farm) of 0.75ha of safeguarded land for employment**

Whilst the proposed housing allocation is slightly lower than expected and may yet fall further by the time a final version of the document is sent to the inspector, the proposed locations still represent a significant challenge for us if we are to ensure that the necessary investment in parking and green infrastructure is to be delivered concurrently. I would strongly encourage all residents to register their views via the official consultation portal.

The consultation, as well as the proposed allocations and supporting documents can be found at: http://cheshireeast-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/cs/sadpd/evidence

* this site is actually in Wilmslow, but in planning terms is considered part of Alderley Edge
** safeguarded for development during a future plan period, i.e. after 2030.

NEW INTERACTIVE SPEED SIGN IN POSITION

I am pleased to report that our new Interactive Speed Sign, which has been purchased by the Parish Council, has arrived and is now in position on Congleton Road. Assisted by our Parish Lengthsman, Paul Redwood, I installed the new sign on Thursday morning and at the same time, moved the existing Speed Indicator to its new home on Brook Lane. These locations have been identified as particular hotspots over recent months by our Community Speedwatch volunteers. Later in the year, the Parish Council will be purchasing a further Interactive Speed Sign, with the intention that it will be installed on Heyes Lane which has also been identified as having a problem with speeding vehicles.

AUGUST SPEEDWATCH - CONGLETON ROAD

Last Tuesday afternoon, volunteers from our Community Speedwatch team carried out a session on Congleton Road between 4-5pm. Unfortunately, despite our PCSO recently targeting this location with the Trucam and issuing speeding fines, the problem continues. On this occasion, the volunteers recorded 32 vehicles travelling in excess of the speed threshold over the course of an hour. The results in full were:

- no. of vehicles speeding but below 40mph (18)
- no. of vehicles speeding at 40mph or above (14)
- highest recorded speed was 48mph
- average recorded speed was 40mph

Our next session will take place on Thursday 30th August. If any local resident would like to join the team, please do go in touch by sending me an email (craig.browne@cheshireeast.gov.uk)

AUGUST COMMUNITY SURGERY - SATURDAY 25TH

I am pleased to confirm the date of my next community surgery, which will be on Saturday 25th August at Alderley Edge Library, between 10-11am. Please come along and join me for a coffee and a chat about any local issues which may be causing you concern. Do also take the opportunity to visit and use our library, which is a fantastic community resource.

THE SHELL TROPHY - FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION

At Monday evening's Parish Council meeting, Cllr Mike Dudley-Jones announced the winners of this year's Front Garden Competition. As reported in the Parish Council newsletter, the competition was free to enter to anyone with a garden visible from the public highway. Judging was carried out by Cllr Mike Dudley-Jones, Alderley Edge in Bloom volunteer Bev Chapman and myself. The results were as follows:

Winner - 27 Heywood Road (Mr & Mrs Annie McLelland)
Highly Commended - 6 Beech Close (Mr Ray Mottram)
Highly Commended - 8 Orchard Green (Mr & Mrs Caroline Francis)

The winners and runners up will be presented with their awards at the Annual Village Show on 1st September at the Festival Hall.

HEYES LANE RESURFACING CONFIRMED

The 2018/19 Highways Investment Programme has finally (four months into the financial year) been published. I am delighted to confirm that Heyes Lane has been included in this year's programme for complete resurfacing, from the junction with Moss Road (Grantham’s), to the unmade lay-by (known as Mole End). I have been campaigning for this for almost exactly two years and it is great to get the news we have all been waiting for, although of course it would have been preferable to have the whole length of Heyes Lane resurfaced. The cost of the work was estimated in the summer of 2016 at just over £100,000, but to put the news in context, it is one of only 12 roads across Cheshire East that have been included in this year's programme for full resurfacing. As the news has only just been announced, I cannot yet give a timetable for the work, but will provide everyone with an update as soon as possible.

ALDERLEY EDGE REFLECTS - EVENT

This Thursday afternoon, an event is taking place at Alderley Edge Library to mark the centenary of the end of World War I. Aimed at young people aged 7+, this event is free to attend and will involve writing letters and telegrams to send back to solidiers in 1918, via the Keeping Watch portal. The event will be taking place on Thursday 16th August between 2pm - 4pm and our library staff have asked me to promote it via my blog, which I am very happy to do. This is one of a series of special events that the staff have arranged this summer and I would encourage as many residents as are able, to go along and support them and our library, which continues to be a valuable community resource.

MOTTRAM ROAD SET FOR CARRIAGEWAY PATCHING

I am pleased to confirm that Mottram Road has been included in the 2018/19 carriageway patching programme. Patching work will be carried out later in the year, along the length of Mottram Road from Alderley Edge into Mottram St Andrew and up to the point where Alderley Road starts. As this news has only just been announced, I will give an update on the likely timescale for the work once I receive more information. Further details of the 2018/19 Capital Programme will be announced shortly.

RAILWAY BRIDGE CLOSURE - UPDATE

I would like to update residents and businesses with work on the railway bridge. Unfortunately,  engineers have discovered a cavity running under the footpath, which appears to be linked to a water pipe running parallel to the kerb. The pipe, installed in 1937 was apparently the subject of a burst back in 2002. From early indications, it would appear that the egress of water over time has washed away the earth, leaving a sink hole underneath the road and footpath falling away to the adjacent car park. On the other side of the carriageway, a steel gas pipe has been discovered (which is leaking); engineers from British Gas are currently drilling pilot holes to determine the point of egress.

Naturally, this is likely to lead to the bridge remaining closed for a significantly longer period than was first envisaged. Unfortunately, I have received a number of reports of abuse towards the engineers and whilst I understand that the situation may be frustrating, it is better that this problem was identified whilst the bridge was closed to vehicles, rather than the alternative which could of course have had disastrous consequences. I would ask everyone to join me in supporting the engineers to carry out their work and allowing them to get on with the job in hand (albeit one which is now significantly more complex than was first envisaged).

In the meantime, as Davey Lane is being used an unofficial diversion route, I have asked CE Highways to put out some "Slow Down" signs to advise drivers, as well as some "Businesses Open as Usual" signs to help the village traders during this prolonged closure. I will provide residents and businesses with regular updates, as and when I am able to.

SPEEDWATCH RESULTS - WEDS 1ST AUGUST

On Wednesday 1st August, I joined volunteers from our Community Speedwatch team. In response to concerns from residents, we began the session on Trafford Road (by the junction with Stamford Road); however, during half an hour we did not record a single vehicle speeding along this section. We therefore decided to spend the second half an hour on Heyes Lane (next to the allotments) and during this time we recorded ten vehicles exceeding the speed threshold. Two of the vehicles were travelling at 40mph or over and the highest recorded speed was 43mph. We are still looking for more volunteers to help run these sessions, so if you are able to give up an hour a month, please let me know.