Bah Humbug - No Christmas tree at The Parade

Unfortunately, for the first time in many years there is no Christmas Tree in the centre of the village.

In the past the Council has put up three Christmas Trees in Alderley Edge. As usual trees have been placed at the top of Ryleys Lane and at Wood Gardens, but the Parish Council has not been able to put one outside Waitrose this year.

Councillor Craig Browne explained "Unfortunately, it has not been possible to have one in the usual position at Waitrose because of a company policy on flammable objects within a 6m distance of their building. The footpath is too narrow for a tree to be sited further up the slope, plus there is no available power supply.

"We did explore the possibility of a Christmas Tree on the island at the bottom of Macclesfield Road and also on the footpath to the side of the Royal Bank of Scotland, but on this occasion, neither were possible. In both cases we came up against the same issue of a lack of available power supply for the lights.

"We will continue to explore further options over the next twelve months and hopefully have three trees again next year."

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Comments

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

Duncan Herald
Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at 3:32 pm
F.Y.I.

Would C.E. be willing to allow taking electric power from the nearest street light?
It is quite feasible I am informed?

I am told that Waitrose suggested putting a tree where the many sided 'carousel thing' is, outside Waitrose.

I understand that they offered to then pave around that site.

Their offer, I assume, was based upon the intention (of a while ago) to demolish the 'thing'.

Too late for this year now I guess ?
Alan Brough
Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at 5:23 pm
Might I respectfully suggest that the whole Waitrose precinct requires a facelift?

The above photo shows it for what it is - a poorly designed, drab concrete space, littered with items of redundant "street furniture."

A nice fresh Norwegian Spruce would look lovely in place of that horrible obelisk notice board thing.
Helen Gaughan
Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at 8:18 pm
What an absolute shame !! Come on Waitrose , you community minded retailer you ! There has been a tree there at Christmas for as long as I can remember !

So our " lights switch on " is to consist of the trees being illuminated ?? Wow.

Welcome to Christmas in Alderley ....


Postscript : A tree at the bottom of Macclesfield Road would add to the already poor visibility at a very dangerous junction .....
Louise Mason
Thursday 24th November 2016 at 9:39 am
What a shame! Surely there is a workaround? The tree was there last year so is this a new policy for Waitrose? Bah Humbug indeed!!

(I agree that the area in front of the entrance could do with a face lift - in particular the unsightly village notice board.)
Duncan Herald
Friday 25th November 2016 at 9:36 am
Does it not seem a trifle unfair to heap blame upon Waitrose?
After all, in the past they have done/paid for such as re-painting benches etc.

I don't think the site of the tree in the past would actually fit in now.

Why not engage the Waitrose management in a friendly discourse and see what happens? They talk to me (and no doubt others) quite openly. I'm sure they'd be happy to talk with our C.E. councillor and/or the Chair of AEPC ?

If that involves getting rid of the multi-sided eyesore then hurrah!
By the way, who/which 'body' actually owns the eyesore? In the past it was 'decided' that it should come down, but to whom should that wish be addressed?

What do you think of the tree at the junction of R's Lane and L. Road? Bit of a 'secret garden' ?
Susan Dawson
Friday 25th November 2016 at 1:26 pm
HI, we are supposed to be part of the Golden triangle ,what a shame no tree in the actual
village Come on Waitrose get into the festive spirit.
Merry Christmas to all the people of Alderley Edge.
Helen Gaughan
Saturday 26th November 2016 at 12:30 am
Waitrose cited they were unable to "have the tree" because of "health and safety" ... Really ? End of .

It was not a problem last year , or indeed in years gone by ... Kwik Save , Somerfield , Co-op , and indeed , Waitrose ....

Of course the tree near to the Church ( and indeed the one on Wood Gardens ) are both lovely !! Such a shame a tree couldn't be "enjoyed" in the centre of the village .

I really hope this Us versus Them : Past versus Present culture can be buried .... Sooner rather than later !!

Quite Frankly (!) It's boring and tedious .

Fact : There's no tree outside Waitrose .
Fact : NOT the fault of our current PC
Fact : Our Parish Council consists of elected individuals striving to make our lovely community a wonderful place in which we are able to live and work
Fact : A new home needs to be established for the village tree ASAP for 2017 !! ( unless negotiations with Waitrose prove to be fruitless )


A postscript : Totally unrelated , but over early doors drinks this evening we feel our lovely village should be "twinned" with another village . Preferably in France . In the south . Actually Villefranche would do . Or Menton .. X
Duncan Herald
Saturday 26th November 2016 at 10:02 am
Hi Helen,

1. I/we had a look at twinning some years back. To my surprise, there did not seem to be any national twinning body. Nor was M/C Town Hall able to help.
Stockport is twinned with Bezier in S. France (or at least used to be).
One reason that I didn't persist in attempting twinning back then is that at that time no one seemed especially interested. Perhaps times have changed? Twinning may be just the thing for an interested group to take up? A letter from you to the Mayor of Villefranche ?
Or to Marine Le Pen ?

2. Perhaps I am being obtuse but I truly can't see anything in the postings above, to do with 'Us versus Them' or any fault finding or any adverse comments re. the parish Councillors; elucidate please.
Are you suggesting that my suggestion that Waitrose be approached by either our C.E. Councillor or the AEPC Chair was a criticism; if so, you are wrong. It simply seems to me that an approach by both/either would be the best way forward. When I ever approached Waitrose (or those that came before), I did it as a parish councillor 'cos that suggested a modicum of authority. So why should I not suggest that today's guys might do the same as I did?

3. Unrelated: the new structures in the park are coming along swiftly. Which is good to see.

4. FYI In the past there was a suggestion that an xmas tree might be put into the 'semi roundabout' at the bottom of Macc. Rd. To be powered from a nearby lamp. Alas it would have meant putting a power cable either across the road surface or buried in the road; and so it never happened. The possibility could be re-visited of course.
Graham Hallworth
Tuesday 29th November 2016 at 5:50 pm
Flammable objects within 6 mtrs of the store!!! What about the fire lighters, charcoal and other combustible items that they have just outside the entrance to the store?? Bah Humbug indeed.