Festival hall plans amended

festhall

Alderley Edge Parish Council has submitted a planning application to make changes to Alderley Edge Festival Hall.

This latest application is for minor ammendments to the internal layout, an external door, an amended window on the ground floor and to change the parking layout to relocate the disabled parking.

These are amendments to an earlier application (reference 12/1361M) for alterations and extensions to the hall to enable a medical practice to be created at the front of the hall. The earlier application was approved in November 2013.

The new planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 14/5580M.

The deadline for submitting comments is 1st January and a decision is expected to be made by 6th January 2015.

Tags:
Alderley Edge Medical Centre, Alderley Edge Parish Council, Festival Hall, Planning Applications
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Roger Birch
Tuesday 16th December 2014 at 7:52 pm
If I am reading these proposed plans for the Festival Hall – and the Medical Centre – correctly, then they clearly show that the existing planning approval was based on there being no need for the car park on the site of the Heyes Lane allotments and, furthermore, the requested changes are no different! In reality, the PC would have been derelict in their duty to proceed had this not been the case.

This brings me back to the issue of the ‘Parish Pledge’. I was in hospital when this was sent out and have only really had chance to fully read it in the past week or so. I strongly recommend all those who signed the petition to retain the allotments to look at the wording of this ‘Pledge’ very carefully as I now see it as being pure ‘spin’ and containing no hard information to justify what must surely now be evident that the PC are simply making a land grab based on the popularity of the Medical Centre.

The front page of the ‘Pledge’ states that the PC:
“has begun to build a new medical centre next to the Festival Hall. It is part of a three point plan which we believe will improve community life for everyone in the village providing local modern medical care, a state of the art community hub *and* improved parking for residents and business” (emphasis added)

As it reads, there is no linkage between the first two points of the plan and the third (i.e. the car park). I was taken to task by stating this view in my on line reply to the 25 Nov article referred to above article by Cllr Duncan Herald who stated “Please, it [the carpark] is not interlinked *only* with the Medical Centre” (ref: Wed 26 Nov 2014 10:16am) (emphasis added).

However, if you look more carefully at the ‘Pledge’, it gives the impression they are all interlinked, viz the three elevation view on each of the building on the next three pages where the three parts of the plan are listed – including the car park.

Furthermore, the opening statement on p4 of the ‘Pledge’ (parking) states : “Our new Medical Centre and refurbished Festival Hall need parking” (surely merely stating the obvious), but adds “as does the whole village...” – again suggesting a link, but without being in any way explicit in stating how many parking spaces over and above the existing plans are required.

The final page, however, is the worst containing disingenuous comments (e.g. ‘small number’ – over half the ratepayers?) and ad hominem attacks (e.g. vested interest) on the allotment holders, and, by inference, anyone else signing the petition.

Let’s be clear. Everyone has a vested interest in the allotments from the PC down. It might be revenue, wanting to preserve a green space or a desire for a parking lot. Whatever the motive, there is a vested interest and the PC should not be tarring just one group with this accusation but, in reality, should be far more accountable themselves.

Nowhere do I see in the ‘Pledge’ any evidence of a ‘Plan’ regarding the car park, it’s usage or its potential impact on drawing even more cars into Alderley from even further afield whose drivers can then simply get train to Manchester without providing any additional benefit to the residents of Alderley (other than the revenue to the PC!). All I see in that document is ‘spin’ and councillors in favour of breaching the trust given to them by generations past to justify their blatant land grab. It will take more than a few words of ‘assurance’ by Cllr Herald – words that contradict everything else I am reading – or a photo of the PC chairman in front of a couple of cars on a leafy English road to convince me personally that this is not the case.

So, to those who signed the petition, I recommend you again take a very close look at this 'Pledge' and don't fall for its ‘spin’. Then make your views known to the PC - there is still time! The Plans on the attached link clearly indicate we can have the popular Medical Centre, but also retain the allotments.
Jon Williams
Tuesday 16th December 2014 at 10:04 pm
But can we have a popular hall, where 60 cars can park during a venue and still keep the allotments -----------------------------NO !
Roger Birch
Tuesday 16th December 2014 at 11:16 pm
But, that's what the PC have sought and have had approved! I repeat, if what they sought is inadequate, they should never have given the project the go-ahead.
Claire MacLeod
Thursday 18th December 2014 at 10:28 pm
Roger Birch, well written. I concur.
Brendan Clarke
Tuesday 23rd December 2014 at 10:54 am
Quote - The deadline for submitting comments is 1st January and a decision is expected to be made by 6th January 2015. So why was this approved on 22nd December? and why were no notifications of this planning application sent to neighbouring properies?
Ruth Norbury
Wednesday 24th December 2014 at 6:28 pm
At the Public Consultation meeting for the Medical Centre some time ago, I asked Dr Hall if the allotments were included in the plans for car parking purposes.

She said they were not included in the plans for the Medical Centre.

I hope that the Parish Council's Plans for World Domination don't end up in conflict with those for the Medical Centre. The Heyes Lane allotments are a gem in a money-obsessed village. We don't really want to lose them.

Happy Christmas!