STATEMENT ON CHESHIRE EAST COUNCIL BUDGET SETTLEMENT

 

EXTRA INVESTMENT HELPS ENSURE LOCAL ROAD REPAIRS

Many of you will be aware that Cheshire East Council recently approved an extra £19m investment in our Highways Capital Programme (this includes Level 2 carriageway patching and Level 3 resurfacing), including an extra £7m to be spent during 2022/23. This has had to be funded through borrowing, since the Council's funding from the Dept for Transport for road maintenance has been cut by 21%.

Nevertheless, I am pleased that the Council has made this decision. Whilst I have successfully fought for repairs to our local roads over recent years (including Heyes Lane, Macclesfield Road, Brook Lane, Wilmslow Road, Mottram Road & Trafford Road - to name just a few), the condition of our road network across the wider borough has continued to deteriorate due to continued underinvestment.

So, I am delighted to share the news that this extra investment will deliver results for several of our local roads and that during the first quarter of 2022/23, Level 2 carriageway patching works are to be implemented on South Street, Stevens Street, Eaton Drive and on Church Lane. As always, I would like to thanks Highways Officers for working with me and responding positively to my requests.

The additional investment the Council is making over the next three years is expected to prevent an additional 6,000 potholes from forming across the borough and this in turn will have a positive impact on the amount the Council has to spend from its day-to-day budget on reactive pothole repairs (which are the least efficient and least cost effective form of repair, but necessary to keep the roads open).

DROPPED KERB TO BE INSTALLED ON CHURCH LANE

In response to a request from the Parochial Church Council of St Philip & St James, I am pleased to confirm that Cheshire East Highways are to install a dropped kerb outside the main entrance on Church Lane. I was first approached by the PCC last year and before Christmas held an onsite meeting with our Local Area Highways Officer.

The PCC have asked for a dropped kerb to help visitors using the two disabled parking bays on Church Lane, as well as to assist funeral directors who are attending services at the church. Following my discussion with the Local Area Highways Officer, I am delighted that the dropped kerb will be installed next week (between Monday & Wednesday).

As well as the PCC, I have also emailed Mrs Lindsey Walsh, Head Teacher at Alderley Edge Community Primary School, to advise that the footway on Church Lane will be closed (along with a number of the existing parking bays) next Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday and to ask parents not to use Church Lane for pick-up and drop-off on these days.

Traffic management will be in place whilst the works are being undertaken. As always, I would like to thank officers from Cheshire East Highways for responding positively to my request.

LIBRARY OPENING HOURS TO BE EXTENDED

A number of residents have recently contacted me to ask about the current restricted opening hours at Alderley Edge Library. Firstly, I would like to reassure everyone that the future of the library is not under threat; however, the Library Service has lost three members of staff over the course of the last few months, including one to retirement, one to long-term sickness and one to alternative employment.

I have spoken to the Library Manager to ask for an update on recruitment and am pleased to report that so far there has been a healthy number of applications both for the 18-hour post and the two 16.5-hour posts (the deadline is this Friday, 4th March). Once the interview process has been completed and offers of employment both made and accepted, the proposed new opening hours will be as follows:

Monday        Closed

Tuesday        09:30 - 17:00 (13:00 - 17:00 volunteer-led)

Wednesday   09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:00

Thursday      09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:00

Friday           Closed

Saturday       09:30 - 13:00 

I have also asked what can be done to extend the opening hours at Alderley Edge, pending the recruitment of new staff, since our local volunteers are currently covering more hours than the paid Cheshire East Library Officers and am pleased to report that as a result, from w/c 14th March, the library will also be open on Wednesday mornings between 09:30 - 12:00.

This will mean that library staff will be on hand on both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for the foreseeable future and that visitors will have access to the full range of library services (including blue badge applications and people's network) during these times. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our group of local volunteers for their support on Tuesday afternoons.

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