CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SURVEY - THE RESULTS

Alderley Edge Parish Council recently carried out a survey of your preference for new Christmas Lights in the village. We presented three different options for column decorations and we were delighted that 148 residents completed the survey and gave us their views. I am now pleased to confirm the results which were as follows:

Option 1 (Star Blizzard) received just 10% of the first preference votes (3rd place)

Option 2 (Star Turn) received 33% of the first preference votes (2nd place)

Option 3 (Star Delight) received 57% of the first preference votes (1st place)

Having received over half of the first preference votes, Option 3 (Star Delight) was therefore the clear winner and an order has now been placed for this decoration to be installed on the fourteen lamp columns on London Road, from Piccolino's to Coggles in time for this year's Christmas Lights Switch-On event which will take place on Thursday 21st November.

The Parish Council have carried out a tender exercise to obtain the best price for the column decorations, which we will have for the next three years (although they will be taken down each January and stored securely until the following November). In order to allow us more time to fundraise, we have taken the decision to delay the replacement of the tree lights until next year.

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH - THURSDAY 29TH AUGUST

On Thursday 29th August I joined local residents and members of our Community Speedwatch team on Brook Lane, between 10am and 11am. On this occasion we recorded a total of 30 vehicles exceeding the speed threshold (this is on the approach to a school safety zone, where the speed limit is 20 mph, although of course being August the schools were not in). The results in full were:

22 vehicles travelling at or above 36 mph (the speed threshold) but below 40 mph
8 vehicles travelling at or above 40 mph
The average speed of all vehicles was 39 mph

Our next session will be on Thursday 26th September. We are always keen to welcome new volunteers to the team, as the more volunteers we have the more sessions we will be able to run. If you are interested in joining the team, please drop me an email (craig.browne@cheshireeast.gov.uk).

THE SHELL TROPHY - FINALISTS 2019

We are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Shell Trophy (awarded in memory of Ian Miller), which will be presented at the Annual Village Show tomorrow afternoon at the Festival Hall. This year’s competition was judged by Parish Cllrs Mike Dudley-Jones, Bev Chapman & Craig Browne after careful consideration of approximately 80 contenders.

We would like to congratulate this year’s winners and runners up and thank them and all the other contenders for their contribution to the visual appearance of the village. The key criterion for each entry is that the display or garden must be visible from the public highway. The winners for each category are as follows:

Best Residential Display (Winner): Mr & Mrs B Kerr, 10 Moss Road
Best Residential Display (Highly Commended): Mr & Mrs P Smallwood, 18 Windermere Drive
Best Residential Display (Highly Commended): Mrs E Jackson, 3 Beech Cottages

Best Retail Display (Winner): Grantham’s Fine Food & Wine, 68 Heyes Lane
Best Non-Retail or Office Display (Winner): McAlister Family Law, 4 West Street
Best Cafe, Restaurant or Bar Display (Winner): De Trafford Arms, 2 Congleton Road
Best Church, Charity or Community Display (Winner): St Philip & St James, Church Lane

COMMUNITY SURGERY - SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST

I am pleased to announce that my next community surgery will be held on Saturday 31st August, from 10-11am at Alderley Edge Library. Please do call in and join me for a coffee and a chat about any local issues that may be giving you cause for concern. I look forward to seeing you there.

PARISH COUNCIL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SURVEY

Over recent months, a Parish Council Working Group led by Cllr Liz Marshall, Cllr Rachael Grantham & Cllr Craig Browne has been looking at ways of improving the Christmas Lights in our village. A catalyst in this decision has been the fact that the existing tree lights on London Road have reached the end of their natural life and are not expected to function beyond this year.

Last year the Parish Council invested in new lights for the three Christmas Trees (one at the junction of Ryleys Lane, one at the junction of Macclesfield Road and one at Wood Gardens); ideally we would have liked to replace the tree lights on London Road this year, but the cost of doing so has proven prohibitive, meaning that we need more time to fundraise for this project.

This year therefore, we have been working with a range of suppliers to obtain designs and costings for decorative lights on the lamp columns along London Road (from the junction with Ryleys Lane to the junction with Macclesfield Road). The LoveAlderley Traders Group have helped us to shortlist the various options, which we would now like to put to the village for your feedback.

We would like to invite you to indicate your order of preference from the shortlist of three designs, by following the link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CDTGQF3 or scanning the QR code below. The supply costs are the same regardless of which option is chosen and are in the region of £5,000 to cover the 14 lamp columns concerned.

The survey will remain open until Monday 26th August and we hope to publish the results on Tuesday 27th August.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES AT THE LIBRARY

I am pleased to share details of a number of events that are being at Alderley Edge Library this summer, many of which are being subsidised by Alderley Edge Institute Trust to help make them accessible for everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of the events being organised and to support our library staff in their efforts.

- Weds 14^th August from 10.30am, children are invited to create simple circuits to create playable instruments and make a badge to take home. Suitable for ages 7-11, £2 per child;

- Thursday 15^th August at 3pm, children are able to come and create  their own solar system wooden mobile.  Suitable for ages 5+, £3 per child if registered for the Reading Challenge at Alderley Edge Library, £5 for non-participants;

- Tuesday 20^th August 10 -11 am, children can try using augmented reality to bring their pictures to life during an interactive storytime. Suitable for ages 4+, £2 per child;

- Wednesday 21^st August at 10.30am, come and take part in Oliver’s Chocolate Party where you can make edible slime and chocolate lollipops! Suitable for ages 5+, £3 per child if registered for the Reading Challenge at Alderley Edge Library, £5 for non-participants;

- Thursday 22^nd August. Macclesfield Astronomical Society will be talking to the children about Space and missions to the Moon! Suitable for ages 5+ with a £1 donation to the society.