The governing body at Alderley Edge Community Primary School supports Cheshire East Council's plan to ban parking near road junctions to improve safety around the schools but has called on the Parish Council to address some additional areas.
Cheshire East Council is proposing to introduce an order which prohibits vehicles from stopping at all times of day on sections of Grasmere Road, Windermere Drive, Redesmere Drive, Ryleys Lane, Eaton Drive, Meadow Brow, Sutton Lane and Wilton Crescent to prevent dangerous and obstructive parking.
Additionally, Cheshire East Council is proposing to ban parking from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday on sections of Church Lane and Ryleys Lane.
Marc Asquith, Governor at Alderley Edge Community Primary School, attended the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 7th September, to speak on behalf of the school and school's governors and requested that the Parish Council supports their position regarding the proposals.
Marc said "The school's position is that we think that these restrictions are essential."
He added "We have all seen the photos on alderleyedge.com of not parking but abandonment of vehicles. The complete thoughtlessness of parents when they leave their vehicles is absolutely a miracle to behold. They just stop where they come to a halt so these parking restrictions are essential but it is essential that Cheshire East do not forget that cars don't vanish, they're going somewhere else.
"It is also worth remembering that parking restrictions for very short periods of time can be completely disregarded unless there is enforcement. The advantage of these restrictions is that the traffic wardens will be able to enforce as opposed to the Community Police Support Officers who can only enforce obstruction."
Whilst the school recognises the need for action and supports the existing proposals they would also like steps to be taken to provide some protection to the residents of Meadscroft Drive and Meadow Brow and restrictions to be placed to stop double parking between Redesmere Drive and Chorley Hall Lane on Ryleys Lane. Additionally they requested that the no waiting restriction on Church Lane is extended by about 2 car lengths and replicated at the school end of Church Lane on the church side.
Marc stressed that they would not want to do anything to delay this plan but added "What we are suggesting are small additions to the existing plan that at the very worse should come at the second stage to alleviate the problems but until we get regular enforcement then it's a waste of time."
Geoff Hall, Chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, suggested "What might be particularly useful from the enforcement point of view is that as soon as the lines go in there is immediate enforcement to convey the message clearly that people shouldn't park there and there will be consequences so if there could be a kind of blitz that maybe one solution."
For further information about the proposals for parking bans around the schools see our earlier article 'Proposal to ban parking around junctions on 9 residential streets'.
