Work is expected to start imminently on building a new medical centre at the front of Alderley Edge Festival Hall.
The Medical Centre project, which started in 2006, has faced serious delays and obstacles but we should see workers breaking the ground any day now, with the front of the building scheduled to be knocked down in October or November.
Cllr Frank Keegan said "The main issue is the allotments, we need the allotments on Heyes Lane free. Apart from them there is the matter of the lease with the Medical Practice which we are very close to - there are one or two niggling points about service charge and we've been delayed by various people going on holiday over the summer months - but we are very close to having that done.
"It hasn't held up the spec, the spec has been agreed between Emerson and the health service, architects and the others. The health centre agree all the stuff, it's now gone to Emerson to provide final costing on the contract."
Cllr Keegan continued "The first stage is to sign the lease with the doctors then we will sign the building contract with Emerson. Despite the fact that we have not signed a building contract we nonetheless have to move forward and actually we've given approval under the contract terms that work can start on the enabling works.
"We know what the district valuers have approved as a rent which is now moving towards a final figure. What we know is we've got cover, our annual rental will be more than two times the annual interest charge and that's even without letting part of the second floor. We're comfortably covered so on that basis we have given approval to move forward."
The estimated completion date for the new medical centre, planning permission for which was granted in August 2012, is now September 2015.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
And of course I look forward to the village's parking problems being solved by the "greencrete" on the Heyes Lane allotments...
I am only sad that in 1949 (!) I met my future wife,Josephine Stringer, there at the Regal Ballroom,as was, and now I must revisit the site before all the memories disappear.
I am not clear whether the proposed adjacent "greencrete" parking will be available to all,or just to Medical Center users? And how many spaces will be created? Spaces will need to be designated if shared.
The only part of the existing Hall that is to be pulled down is the entrance/foyer; along with the Council Offices above the foyer. Everything behind will remain. Once the Medical Centre is up and the new side entrance is open (on the left side as you face the Hall) we will get on with modenising/improving the Hall. So you could have the old memories and some new ones to go with them?
re. your questions about the parking
. Firstly we shouldn't use the term 'Greencrete' as that is the name of an actual Company; if that sounds pedantic then apology.
Secondly there has not yet been a decision as to how many parking spaces. Using the South St. car park as a 'guideline' about how much space is needed per car then there would be room for about 125 if we allow greenery/landscaping etc. and probably over 200 if we 'pack-'em-in'.
My own guesstimate is that the Medical Centre will need some of those spaces: patients probably about 20 spaces and if staff park there then another 10 or so and if we lease spaces to local businesses (to get their employees' cars out of the village itself), who knows how many?
There will surely be a lot of spaces for 'general' use?
Doubtless there will be much discussion on this, nearer the time?
1. The allotments is a delay as the present allotment holders don't wish to remove.
2. The lease is a delay 'cos NHSEngland are very slow and the various lawyers don't seem to be exactly running.
3. The costing of the Medical Centre and the rent for that Medical centre are known: for details contact the Parish Councillors who are most involved (Councillor Keegan & Councillor Williamson).
4. The Contract is agreed, I am given to understand. I am also given to understand that the rent from the doctors (NHSEngland) will cover mortgage costs x2. That's without rent/s from the other floor!
Good To Go then !
Latest Hope is that work on the front begins in October. We poor Parish Councillors have already lost our Council Chamber ! 'We're poor little lambs who have gone astray, baa, baa, baa.'
Let's hope that witjhin two years, no-one will recall any delay or that there used to be allotments there or etc.
Their move elsewhere (who but a gardener would understand the years of development to make the soil fertile) is just one more step towards losing the individuality of one of the best places in the North West.
yes, quite right, it is a shame that the Heyes Lane allotments are to go BUT do we not need a new Medical Centre? and will we not need parking both for that medical Centre and for the village as a whole? and is there not on offer an increased size plot of land as a replacement allotments site?
Yes it is a pain for those individuals who will lose years of development. But unless you can reduce the number of cars, curtail the need by buisnesses for more customer parking and somehow negate the need for a new and large Medical Centre, then what alternative is there?
The Parish Council is not a bunch of demonic plotters, determined to lay waste to allotments for no good reason. If someone comes up with a 'cunning plan' to suit everybody, then please let's hear it.
just a quickie.
I have been in meetings re. Medical Centre where allthough the doctors etc.have never demanded parking spaces, it has been said that 20 or so would be most helpful. Split the difference betwwen 'want' and 'helpful'?
Please tell me why parking on Heyes Lane won't help the village parking problem?
Sadly I think Fiona will be proved right, it will be built on in time.
I think what has annoyed some people is how the requirement for the carpark has changed.
Initially the main thrust of the argument was that this carpark was needed for the occupants of the hall, particularly the Doctors. It was essential as part of the development.
Now the argument, because you appear to be getting your way, has shifted to reducing the number of cars parking in the village, particularly to permitt holders.
Although I don't disagree with your logic, it just continues (in my opinion), to feed suspicion in to the motives of certain elected officials. They maybe well meaning, but they look to deceive.
As to use of a car park: people are already parking on Ryleys Lane, as far down as Eaton Drive and beyond. So some data. From the Festival Hall to the centre of the village at approx. Barclays bank, via Stamford Rd. and Clifton St. is 385 of my paces. From Barclays bank to Eaton Drive is 645 of my paces About 40% further. So people will, perhaps because they have to, walk furthur now, than it will be from the new car park! Whether cost will be a factor, I do not know. As of now, I have no idea as to the charge/s in the new car park. As far as I am aware, the Parish Council have not debated possible charging, to any depth.
Hi Graham.
I don't think that there was ever just the single reason for the propsed new car park. I was always under the impression that there would be a part use for the Medical Centre. Other colleagues may have had different priorities in mind: you need to contact them directly if you wish to cross-question. I know that one other proposal is to rent out spaces to local businesses, for the use of their employees, thus removing those cars from the village central environment. As far as I am aware, no one wants to not have spaces for casual users and shoppers.
As to 10 years from now. Who knows. It is not likely that many of the present Parish Council will still be extant. I for one have no wish to be wheeled into the Council Chamber in my dotage!
As to houses. I have never hidden the fact that I would have preferred to demolish the Festival Hall, re-build it at the back or the very front of the site and fill the rest of the space with houses. The houses to pay for the cost of the all-new Festival Hall. No one agreed with me and so it did not happen.
To be fair I'm not really aiming my comments at you, but another Counciller, who used this site to argue the point against the allotment holders (and others). No carpark extension, no development.
This is now plainly not the case. It is now focusing on long term parking permits for local business and shop owners. As I said the logic is sound, it's the manner to which this has been approached which is disturbing.
Everything I have stated is a matter of record and is contained within the archive of this website.
It just feels a shady way to business and not particularly transparent.
A simple question coming up: if the Heyes Lane green space, at one end of the village, is lost but is replaced with a larger green space, at the other end of the village then apart from the unhappy disturbance of those currently using the Heyes lane site, what has been lost? and how has the village been changed? This is a real question and not sarcasm.
Also if you accept that there is a real and urgent need for car parking spaces, then where would you suggest they be located? Again a real question and not sarcasm.
Secondly - surely a green space is being lost?
Currently, according to your statement there is a green space at both ends of the village (the current allotment site and the proposed allotment site) and one is to be lost to car parking so two green spaces are reduced to one???
thank you for the compliment: the next elections are May 2015 (hint hint!).
You do have a point about 1 of 2 green spaces being lost but:
what we have now is a smaller allotments site and a field that is 100% unused. That will be replaced by a larger allotments site and no unused field. Is that not, in context, reluctantly acceptable?
As to those who have suggested simply putting the car park on the field: the road down is very narrow and un-made-up, so the practicality of ingress and egress is rather a no-no? I can't see the people of A/E wanting to spend a huge amount of money on the road etc.?
Also the people living in the vicinity of the field might be o.k. with an allotments site appearing, but would take great exception to a car park. A car park at Heyes Lane would, I hope, not offend any of the inhabitants close to the Hall, as ingress and egress would be via Heyes Lane?
I too agree that the spaces would be underused. I am also disappointed that the Parish Council and CEC have not seemingly fully considered all other options before landing on this site. I have not seen any recent posts regarding any negotiations regarding the permit holders spaces which are in abundance around the village nor, apart from Cllr Duncan Heralds explanation above why the second site is not appropriate and what it would take to ready such a site for a parking solution. A unused field may take more planning and expense but surely this is better than evicting a long standing allotment site which I think is used to capacity?
CEC also look to be using force to evict the Allotment holders. It is my understanding that the site, and allotments, are protected under a covenant which those in favor of this redevelopment are trying to overturn. If this land was gifted to the council it should remain as it's intended use. I agree a solution for parking is needed, but not at the expense of a fully utilized green space.
I further agree with others in that, if this plan goes ahead, this land will eventually turn in to housing in the not too distant future. As a parting thought, why didn't the council use the old Royal Oak land for this venture when that site became available?
By the way, I share Kirsteen's appreciation for your efforts to respond to people's concerns. At least you are listening, although clearly you are not the one driving this unpopular project through against the electorate's clearly voiced objections. I'm surprised you still think it's a good idea.
It's well known that the Festival Hall is making a loss or at least lets say the rate payers of Alderley Edge are subsidising the running costs.
Luckily this burden was lessened when on 1st April 2014 the Festival Hall car park converted to a private contract holders only car park - I'm sure the revenue being currently earned far exceeds the mere £4000+ Cheshire East banked for the FH car park in the 2011 published report - so who cares that this reduces the available spaces in public car parks by 25% - AEPC clearly think that this will not have an impact to parking in Alderley Edge!
So on to the Festival Hall development - great we are getting a new medical centre - NHS England are willing to pay their portion of the re-development and the 20 car park spaces they require. But where are the funds coming from to pay for the re-development of the Hall portion of the building?
Will the predicted increase in private function lettings cover the cost of the hall portion re-development? Probably not or at least a risky financial assumption.
The obvious solution - expand the private car park by annexing the Heyes Lane Allotments. This may well pay for the re-development of the hall but at what cost and benefit to the residents of Alderley Edge?