CONVERSATION WITH THE LEADER & DEPUTY LEADER AT CHESHIRE EAST

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving openness and transparency at Cheshire East Council, the Leader and I recently recorded an online question and answer session. We received more than eighty questions in total from members of the public and whilst there wasn't time for us to answer all of them individually, we addressed as many as possible within the time available.

Some of the common themes that residents contacted us about included:

• Investment across the borough
• Gritting routes
• Potholes and road maintenance
• Climate change, biodiversity and managing the environment
• Car parking
• House building and infrastructure
• Planning applications
• Middlewich Eastern Bypass
• Cost of councillors
• Role of councillors

Following the success of this question and answer session, we will be looking to hold similar events in future and questions that we were not able fit in this time may be rolled forward to a future session. In the meantime, if you would like to watch a recording of the session, please do click on the link below - https://youtu.be/Mnv3Gaf_Snw

FRIDAY 18TH FEBRUARY - AMBER WEATHER WARNING FOR CHESHIRE EAST

On Friday 18 February, we are expecting widespread disruption due to Storm Eunice, with high winds of at least 50-60mph expected from tomorrow morning from 6am with the potential for speeds up to 70mph, until around 3pm, when we expect the weather to slightly improve.

Amber warning for Cheshire East and the region.

An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office. This means that there is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property.

People should consider changing their plans and taking action to protect themselves and their properties. This includes making sure that wheelie bins are stored away securely, and that any outdoor furniture is fastened or stored safely, too.

You can keep up-to-date with weather warnings by visiting the Met Office website.

What to expect

We must prepare for disruption and damage caused by Storm Eunice. This could include:

·       It is highly likely that there will be falling branches and some uprooted trees

·       Some roads, bridges and railway lines may close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

·       There is a chance that flying debris could cause serious injury

·       Damage to some buildings and homes is likely

·       There is a good chance that power cuts could occur

·       Large waves could occur in coastal/ tidal areas

Preparations

The council has set up an adverse weather desk to help coordinate our response to the storm tomorrow and emergency teams have been set up.

The following parks will be closed to the public tomorrow:

• Tatton Park, Knutsford
• Queens Park, Crewe
• Westminster Street, Crewe
• Fountain Fields, Middlewich
• Lacey Green, Wilmslow
• The Moor, Knutsford

Report any issues

If you see a fallen tree, faulty streetlight or blocked gully within the borough, you can help us by reporting it online if it is not urgent. If it presents an immediate danger, please call 0300 123 5020 during working hours or 0300 123 5025 outside of working hours.

Fallen trees will be prioritised for clearance based on where they are and will at all times consider the safety of our staff. During the peak of the storm, the focus will be on maintaining the primary route network, such as roads to hospitals.

If residents in your ward experience a power cut, they are advised to call 105.

Further advice on how to prepare and stay safe in a storm can be found on the Met Office website.

For the latest updates on the storm locally, including road closures, please follow @CECHighways and  @CheshireEast

COMMUNITY SURGERY - COME AND MEET OUR NEW PCSO

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all residents to my next Community Surgery, which will take place on Saturday 26th February between 10.00 - 11.00am at Alderley Edge Library. On this occasion, I will be joined by our new Police Community Support Officer, PCSO Lisa Gamble, who will be on hand to listen to any concerns residents may wish to bring to her attention.

Please do come along and join us for a cuppa and a chat about any local issues that may be causing you concern. Parish Councillor Bev Chapman will also be joining us for this surgery, so whether you would like to discuss something that relates to the Parish Council, to the Police or to Cheshire East Council, there will be someone available to listen to and act on your concerns.

We look forward to meeting you on Saturday 26th and can I also take this opportunity to congratulate Lisa on her appointment and welcome her to our village.

ALDERLEY EDGE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL REVIEW

Historic England recommend that Local Authorities carry out periodic appraisals of local Conservation Areas, allowing a full assessment of their characteristics. Appraisals are also intended to highlight the implications for future preservation and enhancement of Conservation Areas.

The last review of the Alderley Edge Conservation Area was carried out in 2005, following which it was placed on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. This means that there has been no re-appraisal of the Alderley Edge Conservation Area since Cheshire East Council was formed.

A management plan has been produced as part of this appraisal (Section 7) which provides guidance to owners and their agents about how the special interest of the Conservation Area should be managed in the future. A summary of the key changes set out in the management plan, includes:

- to remove permitted development rights for certain classes of operational development, which will control the treatment to all dwellings in the Conservation Area marked Townscape Map (Appendix 1);

- all the buildings noted on the Townscape Analysis map as “making a positive contribution to the character of the Conservation Area”, will have an Article 4 Direction;

- new development must respect historic plot ratios (usually one detached dwelling within a large garden);

- plot sizes for each individual dwelling must be no smaller than 0.3 hectare or 0.7 acre (this means that terraced or semi-detached buildings will not acceptable);

- new development should not impinge on the setting or mature landscaping of adjacent properties

There are a number of ways in which residents or residents' groups can provide feedback:

- by completing an online survey (Alderley Edge Conservation Area Review (cheshireeast.gov.uk))

- downloading, completing and returning a survey form (https://files.smartsurvey.io/2/0/I6F3672R/Alderley_Edge_Conservation_Area_Review_Paper_Survey.pdf); or

- speaking to a conservation officer by telephone

Residents can make an appointment to to speak to a Conservation Officer on Tuesday 1st March 2pm-4pm, Thursday 3rd March 5-7pm, or Friday 4th March 10-12am. To make an appointment, please contact built.heritage@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Paper copies of the appraisal have been deposited in Alderley Edge Library, along with the survey form which can be filled in and sent via post to: Development Management; Heritage (Macclesfield), C/O Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe CW1 2BJ. The deadline for returning the form is 14th March.

I am pleased that Cheshire East Council is now bringing forward these proposals to review and protect the character of one of our most prominent Conservation Areas. The Alderley Edge Conservation Area, in particular, helps to define the character and visual impression of our village.

The loss and erosion of significant elements of the conservation area over the last two decades have served to undermine its significance as a designated heritage asset and I would encourage all residents and community groups who share my wish to see it better protected in future, to complete the survey.

SADPD - INSPECTOR PUBLISHES INTERIM FINDINGS

Following a process of public hearings which took place over a ten-day period in October and November last year, the independent Planning Inspector has now published his findings. This "interim report" into the policies within Cheshire East Council's revised SADPD (Local Plan Part 2) has concluded that the document is "likely to be found to be sound and legally compliant". 

The inspector's key interim finding include:
- the approach towards meeting residual housing development needs at Local Service Centres (LSCs) through a windfall rather than allocations-led approach is sound;
- the approach towards defining settlement and infill boundaries is justified and soundly based;
- the proposed designation of ‘safeguarded land’ around the Local Service Centres in the north of the Borough is sound;
- the Council’s evidence of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs is robust and up to date, and the proposed supply of pitches through allocations and permissions would meet the identified need;
-the SADPD makes adequate provision for specialist housing accommodation for older people.

In late 2020, the Council made significant amendments to the previously published version of the SADPD, removing in particular a number of green belt sites that had previously been earmarked for development. Locally within Alderley Edge, this meant that the following sites were removed: (ALD1) land adjacent to Jenny Heyes; (ALD2) Ryleys Farm, north of Chelford Road; and (ALD4) land north of Beech Road. Site (ALD3) Ryleys Farm, remains safeguarded for potential development after 2030.

The inspector's interim finding that the approach to meeting residual housing needs at Local Service Centres (such as Alderley Edge) can be found through windfall rather than through green belt release is sound, is very good news for the village. Whilst this is not a final conclusion, it is a vindication of the current administration's policy at Cheshire East Council of protecting precious green belt land.

Following publication of the inspector's final conclusions, the amended version of the SADPD will need to be formally approved at a meeting of Cheshire East Council later this year.

PARISH COUNCIL FREEZES PRECEPT FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

Parish Councillors in Alderley Edge have voted to freeze the Parish Precept (that part of our Council Tax which is collected by Cheshire East Council, but paid to Alderley Edge Parish Council) for the fourth successive year. As a result, the Parish Precept for Alderley Edge for the coming financial year 2022/23 will remain at £185,400 which is equivalent to £68.50 per Band D property.

Speaking about the decision to freeze the Parish Precept once more, Chair of Finance, Cllr Myles Garbett explained "the Parish Council are very conscious of the difficulties caused by the pandemic and the financial pressure this has put upon many residents and families. Many people have seen a reduction in their income over the last two years and the decision to freeze the Parish Precept for what will now be the fourth year in a row, seeks to recognise the difficulties many are facing."

Cllr Garbett added, "We initially raised the precept in the 2016/17 financial year in order to help fund the construction of Alderley Edge Medical Centre and to support the restoration of the Festival Hall. At the start of that project, the Festival Hall had been losing up to £100,000 a year, but by the start of the pandemic we had reduced that loss to just £40,000. Had it not been for the pandemic, the Festival Hall was on target to be cost neutral to the Parish Council and residents of Alderley Edge."

Chair of Alderley Edge Parish Council, Cllr Mike Dudley-Jones explained: "Initially, we had hoped to reduce the precept this year; however, we were mindful of a number of community projects that the Parish Council has planned, including some enhancements to the park, improved signage in the centre of the village, creation of some further on-street parking spaces, additional Christmas lights, better facilities for cyclists and access improvements at St Philip & St James' Church."

"We also wanted to arrange a fitting tribute to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of HM the Queen and to bring the village together to celebrate the occasion. We will be announcing the details of our plans to mark the Platinum Jubilee over the course of the next few weeks".