Inspired by the improvements made to Wilmslow town centre over recent years, some parish councillors are working on ways to make the centre of the village look more attractive.
At their meeting on Monday 13th April, Alderley Edge Parish Council agreed to spend up to £575 on hanging baskets and tubs for the village centre.
Councillors allocated this sum for the planting of nine tubs and 14 hanging baskets.
These will be completed next month and the hanging baskets will be made available to the shops and businesses who would like them.
Additionally, they are planning to install three large planters with edible plants, similar to those planted and maintained by Incredible Edible in Wilmslow.
The location for these large planters has yet to be finalised but Cllr Melanie Connor confirmed "We have thought of three places but we are not sure yet as we need to measure and leave space for pedestrians, wheelchairs etc. They won't be in front of the restaurants though as they do lovely planting themselves."
Cllr Connor added "Cheshire East Council (CEC) have planted the beds at the bottom of Macclesfield Road, the park looks great with daffodils now and the new baskets and boxes should all look lovely and make the village cheery.
"One of the other things I would like to do is to have permanent baskets/ boxes attached to the railings of the parade."
Councillors are hoping that these initial plans will be built upon over the next few years by adding more planters and involving the three local schools as a community project.
Melanie said "I would love to add more smaller planters in the future - we have to do more now that CEC don't do that much outside their own areas."
What do you think about the attractiveness of the village centre?
Did you see all the planting in Wilmslow last summer which won them three awards in last year's RHS North West in Bloom competition, including a Gold award, in their third year of entry?
Would you welcome more planting in the village, or do you feel it is not important? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
the debate on whether or not to do this and the vote to do it was 'in hand' well before we got close to election time.
The councillors most involved are Mel. Connor and Sue Joseph (with me bringing up the rear !).
There have been previous attempts to do something like this.
In any case, I very much doubt that Alderley Edge people will be in any way swayed by flowers appearing.
By the way, when this was first mooted, some weeks ago, Fenton offered to help. Then he withdrew the offer of help. Which is partly the reason for the delay.
My offer was withdrawn as you know because I was getting threatening letters from another parish councillor on allotment issues.
Don't dare lay this at my door.
The allotment society is happy to help maintane these beds with a new PC if that PC doesn't behave like this current one.
if you had a threatening letter, rest assured that I have no truck with anything like that. If you involve the appropriate authorities then 'good for you'.
However I did send you an email asking if you were still going to involve yourself, as you had asked, in the park; I never received a reply from you.
As for your withjdrawing your offer to help with brightening London Rd; you did withdraw, by sending us an email.
If the aforementioned letter so upset you that you chose to withdraw your two offers, then so be it.
Hopefully it will be possible, in the future, to re-visit possible working together. Depending on the voters of course !
As per our emails today I know it was not you involved so rest assured I don't blame you.
Hopefully post election we get back on course, Voters depending !
I read with concern your comments about receiving threatening letters. If this is indeed the case I would wish to support Duncan's comments on the subject.
I welcomed your offer to get involved with the tubs in the village and was saddened when you withdrew but was not aware of why.
Hopefully we may be able to work together in future - elections permitting!
V
as I understand 'purdah', no-one is supposed to offer what might be construed as a 'bribe' to the electors (no rotten borough here eh?).
I don't think that a statement that the PC wants to go ahead with announcing a decision re. a few flowers is to anyone a 'bribe'. Anyway its been in the minutes for a while. If we could have gotten it up and running before the election, that would have been best. But as per above, that was not possible. Since folk knew it was planned, does announcing confirmation
really offend purdah? Purdah does not seem to be holding back our various noble leaders? Are we country locals being too 'precious'?
I am not sure your use of the term bribe or rotten borough is appropriate , the issue is simply one of fairness , in that an incumbant party in any election has the power to influence by decisions it might take , hence the reason for "purdah"
Perhaps more significant than flowers is the announcement re refurbishment of the festival hall. I am not sure when the decision was taken , or whether it would be regarded as breaching purdah ; but it is a major decision that could influence people either way .. see also http://bit.ly/1wlFFUD
the Festival Hall has been undergoing a re-furb for a long time; it ain't a new thing.
The biggest item of the re-furb is the new side entrance and that has been in the public domain for ages.
You'll have to look for a better stick to try and hit the PC with.
"The builders have produced a quote for £540,000 for the renovations to the hall and the extension, which is not a guaranteed price, and the councillors voted unanimously to approve this sum of money at the Finance Meeting on Monday 13th April."
I have no idea whether its a breach or purdah or not , but agreeing to spend an uncapped amount of money just before an election is a bit odd, in many respects.