HEYES LANE RE-OPENS FOLLOWING RESURFACING

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.

PARK SET FOR FLOWER BED MAKEOVER

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".

Once the new plants have arrived, we will be calling for help from local volunteers to help with the weeding and planting. If anyone is willing or able to help out for an hour or so, please send me an email or leave your details in the box below.


 

VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT OPERATION CLEARWAY

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:



Wilmslow Road - 57 vehicles speeding, with an average speed of 38mph and top speed of 40mph
Brook Lane - 40 vehicles speeding, with an average speed of 39mph and top speed of 46mph

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.

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.