'How many weddings before a funeral?'

Motorists, pedestrians and school children were left struggling to pass Ryleys Lane safely on Thursday, 27th July, after guests attending a wedding at St Philip and St James Church abandoned their cars wherever they saw fit.

Vehicles were parked on both sides of Ryleys Lane right up to the junction with London Road and many were parked on the pavement, making it very difficult for pedestrians to pass.

Whilst others had abandoned their cars in the school grounds blocking the turning circle and occupying spaces allocated for disabled drivers and visitors.

Local mum Yasmin Din said "There was a wedding today at St Philip's in Alderley Edge. We are fortunate there was not also a death.

"The parking demonstrated by guests at this wedding had to be seen to be believed, but then anyone driving up Ryleys Lane this afternoon could not help but see it. Cars were parked on both sides of Ryleys Lane right up to the junction with London Road. Not only were they parked on the yellow lines but also on the pavement making it impossible for pedestrians to pass.

"I was walking back to school with a class of children from the Primary School. We were almost unable to pass. To reach the crossing on Ryleys Lane we had no choice but to put the children at considerable risk - one car after another parked illegally, dangerously and selfishly.

"On reaching Church Lane the situation only got worse. A car parked on the corner of Ryleys Lane and Church Lane reversed towards the children as they crossed wearing their hi visibility jackets. There was a wedding car parked half in the driveway to the vicarage and half on Church Lane with nobody in, making emergency vehicle access impossible. Outside the school there is a turning circle marked with yellow hashes, occupied by another parked car. The disabled space, visitors space and headmasters space were all filled by other cars, and two further cars had been abandoned in front of school."

Yasmin added "Are we now living in a society where it is more important that guests can walk no more than 100 yards to the church rather than the safety of our children is protected?

"Would it make for a memorable wedding ceremony if the service was interrupted by an ambulance driver or fireman interrupting to ask the driver of the car with wedding ribbons if they could please move their vehicle?

"Or for people to really remember this ceremony, would the guests like to drive past emergency services attending to a child knocked down on the road as a result of their selfish parking?

"Or would the guests at a wedding next week perhaps like to stand to one side while the coffin of a child killed in our village leaves the church?"

"Nobody has right to park their car wherever they wish, but all our children should be able to walk safely to and from school and around our village."

Mr Chris Perry, head teacher at Alderley Edge Community Primary School said "These images show, yet again, the thoughtless and dangerous parking of some extremely selfish drivers when leaving their vehicles in and around the village. These drivers clearly showed no regard for where they parked including in front of our school so blocking the main approach to our school for emergency vehicles should one have been required. I am extremely relieved that no emergency occurred during this time as these vehicles totally blocked the front entrance to the school.

"Equally, parking on pavements is not only inconsiderate but potentially dangerous. We had two classes of children out on walks through the village and to The Edge at this time which meant they had real difficulty negotiating blocked footpaths on their return. Thankfully, no one was hurt but the potential for an accident was extremely high as other road users, in their frustration, were rushing to pass these cars which were blocking Ryleys Lane/London Road. It was also noted that one elderly lady was trying to cross the road at the top of Ryleys Lane having just about squeezed through a space between the hedge and a car parked on the pavement. She then had to cross behind one of these parked cars so reducing her visibility and that of cars to absolutely nothing."

He added "I know Councillor Browne has done an awful lot of work around the local issues of parking but with an increasing number of events like this taking place in the village simply means the situation is only going to get worse. Perhaps, in the short term, making the car park opposite Church Lane a short term car park (e.g. 2 hours) would allow greater use of these spaces not only for visitors to our lovely shops, cafes and restaurants but also the need for short term parking for weddings and funerals at the Church of St Philip and St James."

"I urge our councillors and the village community to work together to help resolve these problems and reduce the risk to our most vulnerable groups – children, those with disability and older residents."

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Alderley Edge Community Primary School, Parking , Parking, Ryleys Lane