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.