Parish consults over staff parking

My sense is that the major parking problems are caused by illegal and dangerous parking on pavements, road corners etc, clifton street, moss road, ryleys lane, heyes lane by the bank, not by those who follow the rules. The rule is... if I have a big car, I can drive over anything and park where and when I want, because I am important and cant be bothered walking.

I completely agree with your comment above, Vin. Equally annoying are those (parents of children who go to Alderley Edge School for Girls, I suspect) who park daily on double yellow lines on Davey Lane, by the railway bridge. Just because this is off the main thoroughfare doesn't make it less illegal, and it creates a hazard for those cars travelling legitimately along this road (and for pedestrians too). Find a legal place to park, set a good example to your children, and walk. It won't kill you!

I hope this is not another way of doing nothing about the problems that beset the residents of the many victorian streets where there is little or no off road parking. These streets clearly need resident's parking schemes as a matter of urgency. Mike Taylorson of Carlisle St has undertaken a huge consultation on his proposed scheme for Carlisle St and Lydiat Lane with very little objection. Its time to stop pfaffing around and get on with schemes for Carlisle St, Lydiat Lane and Clifton Street at the very least.

By way of reminder, Clifton Street has two 1 hour parking bays. As a temporary solution whilst Tesco was being built, I pushed through the Cheshire County Council Highways Committee the disabling of the restrictions on one of those bays so that residents could at least park outside their homes without getting parking tickets. CCC's temporary solution remains in place today - CCC was abolished in 2009.

So far as I can tell - the Parish had not actually 'done' anything. Cheshire East have not actually 'done' anything.

The time for talking and thinking must come to an end sometime.

Of course, I cannot deny that all the parking problems arise because responsibility for enforcement was transferred from the Police to Macclesfield Borough Council approximately 5 years ago. It was obvious then that making cars move from parking in unenforced restricted areas would see them end up in residential streets - sadly no Councillor - either on CCC or MBC - was willing to wait for the work to be done to anticipate and find solutions to the parking problems that would inevitably ensue. I was the only Councillor who repeatedly voted for delay to allow this work to take place.

So come on CE. Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good, Let's see the implementation of resident's schemes for Lydiat Lane, Carlisle St, Clifton St and possibly Stevens St.

In any event - the first stage would be a consultation by CE for all affected residents.

Thank you to the wonderful Parish Council for once again showing their ineptitude, inability and unwillingness to react to any problems posed by the people who live in the village. Do they honestly think that talking to a couple of business owners is going to stop their employees parking all day and night outside the homes of people who live in the village? In the meantime we have to live with this nightmare. It was clear from the "recent" meeting on this issue (two and a half months ago, since which time NOTHING has been done by the council) that they couldn't care less. Perhaps we start taking matters into our own hands, including parking incessantly outside the councillors' houses day and night. I honestly don't know what the Parish Council contribute, other than an additional layer of administration.

I am recent addition to Lydiat Lane. I don’t know how long ago the above picture was taken but there is a small white van in that line of traffic. As I type this, I look out of my window and it is parked there again today. In fact, that and often another one just like it from a local business are parked there most days from morning to night. My point is not to pick on them specifically but to suggest that little will change when little is done. The council say they want to represent the residents. Well to my knowledge the residents in Lydiat Lane and Carlisle Street are above 98% in support of a resident’s scheme. Doing little to nothing is not supporting residents; it is supporting commuters and evening visitors who live elsewhere and have no interest in any plan unless forced to.

I understand the need to ensure consultation with all interested parties but if the council's plan is to run a campaign so local businesses engage with their staff in this then I don’t hold out much hope for change. How long does that run for? What are the penalties for not playing the game? That’s not a plan; it’s a wish and a hope because I cant see any consequences for those not engaging.

In the meantime the residents still can’t park near their homes, put up with noise in the late evenings when visitors leave premises and wait on THEIR council taking real action.... looks like a long wait then unless they get serious about sorting this out.

There may well be an argument for a residents scheme, but without realistic enforcement (remember also there are people locally who like to collect parking fines as a badge of honour) of it and the existing rules then nothing will really change.

Despite some vitreolic and unwarranted criticism of our Parish Council, the answer to which is for the critics to put themselves forward as future representatives on that body, I do believe our representatives are doing their best to solve this long term and extremely vexing problem. There are no easy answers and certainly, I don't have any. However, I suggest the following website presentation, whilst referencing USA parking issues, may provide suitable food for thought for those attempting to take this issue forward.

Although I recognise that much of the content of this short presentation does not apply to Alderley Edge, I believe it may offer a possible structure and a number of focal points for present local discussion.
http://bit.ly/mn0PWE

Its nearly 3 months since Lisa wrote an article where over 50 residents attended a meeting that was organised by Cllr Williamson. Many residents only found out about the meeting as he tried to keep in quiet by only inviting a certain roads. Most were astonished that they hadn’t even read the proposal and thought that the meeting was just about paying lip service.

Since then what has been done by the parish? Very little i think. Has Cllr Williamson read the proposal that Mike Taylorson and Michael Chapman had drafted on request and after meetings with the parish? Probably not!!!!

These two individuals have worked hard on producing a scheme that works with the residents and also the local traders by suggesting a mixed scheme with free 2 hour parking for visitors to the village to do their shopping. This proposal has also been discussed with James Howard at Cheshire East Council who has been told to stop what he is doing, even though he is in agreement with what they have suggested.

Surely we would be better running test cases to see how the schemes work as they have done in Wilmslow and introduce it bit by bit if it is needed, in the areas that have been suggested like Chorley Hall Lane, Blackshaw lane and Downsway where all the houses have driveways and i am sure the parking offenders would find that it is a little too far to walk and pay the £2.50 to use the local Car Park all day or even pay the £150 for a season ticket at the festival Hall.

How does the parish council intend to run a campaign to change the attitude of the employer, employees and the customers? Will people really turn up? in my view the answer will be NO and it will just waste valuable resources. How are they going to collate the information from businesses? Has any local business had anybody in from the parish council to discuss this? Which 8-10 businesses have they been too?
Do the parish need to be wasting police time when they have no say on parking and would much prefer to be out catching criminals and enforcing the law?

As a local resident, I am suggesting that everybody who is in favour of discussing the parking situation should attend the next Parish council meeting on the 18th July at the festival hall to consult with the local councillors about what they have done and what is going to be done about it!!!

Can someone help? Have I got it right?

There was a public consultation followed by a parking survey. There has been a public meeting,and they intend to run a campaign with the local press and police. They will be doing a proper assessment which will be a sophisticated and comprehensive survey, then there will be further debate. There will be a meeting with Cheshire East Officers this week and following this there will be further public consultation and discussions between councillors as to how to proceed, but at the moment activity has been suspended on the review.

All the residents of the affected streets want is a parking scheme. How much talking can we do and when will action take its place.

As said, Councillor Mike Williamson called a meeting with residents to discuss parking, despite the fact that he hadn't even bothered to read the excellent proposal presented to him last year.

The only other councillor at that meeting was Frank Keegan who was investigating the idea of park and ride, as mentioned in his manifesto, but was not even aware that the 'park' site had already been sold !!

So who needs them and do these two speak on behalf of all the parish council?

Wilmslow managed their residents parking, hassle free, without a parish or town council so why don't they just leave James Howard to impliment this excellent and fair scheme.

By the way, one of the mentioned councillors had 3/5 vans parked outside his house for many months whilst his extention was being built, 'my' workman had to drop off his tools at my house and tour A/E for a parking spot.

Oh! and Jeffrey, please note that many critics get a lot done in this community without putting themselves forward for election, e.g Christine Munro. Frank Keegan has been on the P.C. for 25 years and Melanie has just gone back on, so..............

Note to Council - the parking situation is atrocious - double yellow line parking as well as residents not finding anywhere to park outside their homes. The double parking on the yellows, narrows the road down and god forbid if a fire broke out - the fire engines would have to bulldoze their way down the street. I cannot believe that we, the residents, are being put in this situation. We want a parking scheme - how loud do we have to shout.

In relation to the parking situation as described, I concur entirely that the situation is truly awful.

Why on earth are our public servants not taking this more seriously? Aside from the points already raised, including the very valid health and safety issue, have they considered they might be losing out on a potential revenue earner? The 'cuckoos in the nest' who park outside our houses, do it because they are too mean to stump up £2 per day. That being the case, why let them away with it? Take control of the situation!

What's the worst that can happen? Happy residents & more money (parking charges) in the coffers?

I know people who have tried to post a comment on this point and in an unoffensive way and it has not been accepted - are the comments censored ????

Hi Beverley. No the comments are not censored.

They are however all monitored before being published for obvious reasons - if you saw some of the posts which were submitted then you would understand why this is necessary.

There is only one comment to this story which has not been published and that is because we think the person hasn't used their real name.

Our policy is that people post using their real name because from our experience they can be more flippant when posting under a false name or initials. Whilst we appreciate this is not always the case we need to adopt the same policy across the board. This is a community website and therefore we request that our members take responsibility for their posts by using their real name.

I emailed the person yesterday straight after they posted their comment to this story and I have not received a response to my email so the comment has remained unpublished.

I second what Beverly Chapman,Martin Petrie,Catriona Lang & Stephen Small all have to say on this subject, I for one am totally fed up with going round & round on this, the parking scheme is going to happen,it's not going to happen, now it is going to happen? It seems to me the only people against the scheme and who are responsible for the delays are the parish council. Why is that?

I have lived on South Terrace for over 20 years and witnessed parking become an increasing problem in the area. Why are the Council pussy footing on this issue which is causing so much inconvenience and distress to local residents? Talking to local businesses is all very well but what will it achieve? They have a vested interest in the status quo. The residents should have a right to be able to park close to their own front doors. Only a residents parking scheme will allow us to do this. Get on with it.

Judi Goodwin

Lots of talk about surveys.......so for the benefit of those who love the statistics of surveys, here is my 'back of the fag packet' survey to consider. In Lydiat Lane right now outside my home and the one right next door to me, eight cars are parked (roughly measured from one end of the terrace to the other which constitutes 2 dwellings that was at one time 4 cottages). Not one of these cars belongs to me or anyone in my home at present. The property next door is empty and no one is visiting that right now. I don’t recognise any of the cars to belong to anyone else on Lydiat Lane, they might but pretty sure they don’t.

Therefore, result of survey - number of residents parked outside their homes in that part of Lydiat Lane = zero. Number of vehicles not residents over that small part of Lydiat Lane = eight. Opportunity for any residents to park outside these properties right now, let’s see, oh, = Zero.

Apologies, for the flippancy in this but lots of hard detailed work has been carried out by some people giving up their time (not me I might add but I admire and support those that do so). They have taken a balanced view that has sought out the consensus of opinion from those it impacts on most, the residents, they have drawn up plans including how it would operate linking it to schemes already approved by East Cheshire Council and work perfectly well where already implemented.

How much talking and surveying does it take to see the blindingly obvious?

I should like to echo my predecessors comments and register my dismay that Mike Williamson should be attempting to sabotage the Residents Parking plan.

Mike W. stated at the public meeting, held some months ago, that he had failed to read Mike Taylorson's detailed proposal and that residents parking was nothing to do with the parish council, anyway.

His comments at that meeting failed to engender confidence or respect and he needs to keep away and let this well prepared scheme proceed as planned.

I refer back to the original article (above). The proposed campaign will be designed to 'change the attitudes of employees and customers'. This is clearly a nonsense and a mission to nowhere. The only way to aleviate this problem is is change BEHAVIOUR. That will not happen until employees and customers are penalised (i.e. fined) for parking in the aforementioned residential areas. And to take Vin's points, even then this will still not deter those with more money than sense (-the Me First Brigade.) How will talking to business owners (restaurants and bars) have any impact whatsoever on changing customers' attitudes? Looking at the posts above, it is pretty clear that residents of Alderley's patience is running out on this matter.

Councillors concerned. Why not put an end to all this procrastination and do what their leader David Cameron did.... listen, learn and display "A sign of strength". No need to show us your muscles, just common sense.

If you look at any of the streets in question now or any day during the week, you will find that c.75% of the cars belong to workers in the village. Most of these cars arrive at either 8 a.m. and stay until 6 or 7 p.m. (office workers, hairdressers, bank workers), or they arrive at 1 p.m. and stay until midnight (bar and restaurant workers). Those of us who live in the affected streets see the same cars on a daily basis and when we return from work, we have nowhere to park. Certain elderley residents of the streets are afraid to drive anywhere during the day for fear of not being able to park their car when they get back. Why should we (the residents) be providing free parking for the workers of Alderley Edge? Mike Taylorson has described us as being the unofficial car park of Alderley Edge and he is absolutely correct.

As mentioned by James Garrett, Carlisle Street, Lydiat Lane, Stevens Street and Clifton Street are all roads within close proximity to the village on which the majority of residents has no off street parking (and no facility to create off street parking). The roads that the councillors are so concerned about pushing the problem out to (which are further to walk to and therefore less likely to be affected) all have off street parking facilities and therefore would not suffer the same disruption. Why can't the Parish Council introduce the proposed scheme (which has been approved and commended by Cheshire East) and then monitor the effect on the streets which they are so worried about pushing the problem to? Surely measures such as double yellow lines can be implemented on those streets with relative ease and speed should they be required? Why must we spend several more months and years listening to alternative methods of solving the increasing problem when a simple solution is available?

The Parish Council or should I say Mr Wiliamson & Mr Keegan seem noticeable by their absense on this forum I'm sure they are aware of what has been said here,come on please share your opinions with us, if not now when? I would like to think the outcry on this issue may have made you re-consider your stance, or am I niave?

I see Mr Keegan can comment on whether Alderley Edge should be twined but not on the parking. I heard on the grape vine that the meeting that was due this week was cancelled by the parish and as yet is waiting to be rescheduled with James Howard and Paul Burns. It is also just with Mr Keegan, Mr Williamson and Mr Lloyd. So not even the whole parish council. It begs to believe if there isn’t another agenda going on here. Come on Councillors, Step up to the plate and let us residents’ know what you are going to do about this situation.

thanks Lisa for your reply on posting comments. quite understandable.

As a resident of Carlise St both myself and partner have only seen the parking situation get worse over the last few years. There is an overwhelming majority amongst residents of the street to enforce a parking scheme. Why are we being ignored?

The street has become a parking site for workers in the village and many of the culprits are not only parking inconsiderately but also dangerously, in a rush to park before they are late for work. Only the other day I witnessed a Nissan Micra being parked on the street adjacent to the elderly residents home. This is a public road that is used by drivers yet this person blocked the whole road for a full day.

On another occasion a middle aged woman driving a black BMW 3 series convertible bumped into both my car and a neighbours, forcing her car into a space too small. She walked off without leaving so much as a note. If it wasn't for someone on the street seeing it, the person would not have mentioned anything.

The sooner a scheme is put in place the better...

Residents Parking schemes have been in force in London and all over the
British Isles for many years so why are the Parish Council resisting a much
needed scheme in Alderley Edge when its residents are desperately calling
out for one?

Do they have a hidden agenda that the rest of us are unaware of?
On the surface it appears that they are merely indulging in a petty tantrum
that something in which they have held no part is proceeding without their
assistance.

The situation in Carlisle St, Thurston Green and Lydiats Lane has been assessed in depth. The residents of those streets have been consulted. A simple solution that has the backing of the vast majority of residents has been proposed. The only reason a residents scheme isn't in place is because procrastination and petty bureacracy have once again thwarted common sense. Meanwhile the frustrations and real issues, (see Beverley Chapman's valid point with regards to emergency access) faced by the residents continue, seemingly without support from the parish council.

Having read the June minutes of the parish council meeting, I would recommend that people who live in the affected areas and who are in support of residents parking do also. It seems that Mr Williamson is against the introduction of residents parking and that it is a bully tactic from residents who live in these areas!!!!. See below.

“Councillor M H Williamson also cited the problem whereby people knowingly move to houses with no parking and then try to establish localised parking schemes which affect other parts of the village”

How does the councillor know this when no scheme is in place? And I like I am sure many people who live in these areas have been here of over 10 years!!! I guess it is like planning when one person in a road extends and then when someone else in the road try’s to do the same thing the person who got the planning objects!!!

Below is what Cheshire East say about resident’s parking schemes, so why is the parish trying to block them when we are perfectly within our right to apply for the introduction of a scheme and they are working just over a mile away in Wilmslow with no problems at all.

“Cheshire East Council is now able to offer permits for Residents Parking Schemes. Any scheme will always be introduced with full consultation of all the relevant people including residents and local businesses.

In many areas it is difficult for residents to park, due to long term parking by commuters, shoppers and visitors. The purpose of any scheme is to stop this and allow the spaces to be used mainly for the benefit of residents”

In a proposal put forward by Mike Taylorson and Michael Chapman, which I would still be intrigued to know if Mr Williamson had read? They have suggested a mixture of residents and shopper parking with a 2 hour limit instead of the one hour that is currently in the village to allow shoppers to be able to shop in the local area rather than go to areas like Handforth Dean where the parking is free, thus trying to help the shops in the village. The other option, I can see is to scrap all parking restrictions in the village and allow people to park all day in all roads around the village, however, I can’t see this happening.

So parish councillors, why don’t you let us know what is happening? By either posting on this forum or meeting with Lisa or maybe by even holding a public meeting in the festival hall?

I am sure that if we hear nothing then we will all be attending the parish meeting in July to find out what is happening.

So it would seem we are suffering because one man does not agree with residents' parking schemes.

To echo Mr. Garrett's comments, it would be helpful for member of the Parish Council to comment on this issue. There are a lot of people who would like to hear their response to the issues and concerns noted above.

34 years ago, when I moved to this part of Alderley Edge, most of the residents did not possess transport. Now, a sizeable number of properties are let and the occupiers have two cars. Then, there were very few wine bars, restaurants and cafes etc. and the majority of people employed in the village lived in it and had no need to commute by car.

The situation today is very different and we simply have to move with the times. If life is remain tolerable for those people who live here, residents' parking and other controls must be introduced and soon.

Why does the Parish Council 'get it in the neck'? Its Cheshire East that has the 'power' to do things. The Parish Council can only nag away at Cheshire East, as we don't own or have any legal rights over the highways.

Let's have residents' parking is my own view; don't say the P. Council is against it, shout at C. East.

I have asked many people, in the village, what they want...some want residents' permit areas whilst others hate the idea...some want more yellow lines but others say 'no way'...some want longer parking times but some want shorter parking times... it damn well drives me mad!

We have nagged away at C. East to alter the parking time limits and to alter the speed limits.

We look hard for extra parking areas... the Festival Hall car park is never full (and the parking wardens, as far as I know, don't book you in there!) so use it?

Cllr. Williamson is not against residents' parking schemes but he has a point in saying that if all that does is push the problem onto some other street, it doesn't solve the problem. His 'conversations' with the restaurants etc. is partly to hope to persuade them to take on block booking for their staff at the Festival Hall and thus shift their cars out of the village.

We've given up trying to call out the police as its no longer their business. Our PCSO tries to move rubbish parkers along but he's only one person.

In the planning meetings we 'scream' at the C.East planners to insist on new developments/houses having to have parking spaces.

Oh and in case you see me as someone who hasn't experienced these problems; I live just off Lynton Lane and I occasionally wholeheartedly support a firing squad for those that double park there and stop me getting to my house!
And I don't have any damn hidden agenda either!

1. The problems on Lynton Lane and Eaton Drive are very different to those on the victorian terrace streets. Moms in chelsea tractors are almost unenforceable since they are in or near to their car whenever a warden approaches. They remind me of the wild budgerigar tactic - the hawk might get one of them - but all the others will escape :))

2. The PC has a strong infulence with CEC. Merely by expressing negativity James Howard and his CE officers will be put off from even considering resident's parking schemes.

The process in Wilmslow was a thorough review of parking by CEC followed by a consultation of all affected parties on the resulting proposals.

Alderley needs exactly the same process. Quite how members of the PC can express a view before CEC has come forwards with proposals and consulted on them leaves me at a loss.

Given the general shortage of resources we should all be pressing for the village parking review now, before funds run out and it becomes an impossible dream. Once we have some proposals and a consultation process completed, then we can go forwards with schemes that attract majority support.

It is essential to remember that most of those of us who live in the victorian streets came before decriminalisation. We were able to park near to our homes without difficulty. We are now affected by the displacement caused by decrim. We need help to deal with this problem that has been thoughtlessly inflicted upon us by the Borough and County Council.

How will the Parish Council help ?

Following the May local elections we have a single CE councillor, Frank - lets press the officers for the parking review that was planned long before the Bypass was completed.

Let's put Alderley First :-))

It is clear that the decisions needed to be taken by the Parish Council are difficult because of all the interested groups involved and the understandable emotions associated with what is a key village issue.

I would however encourage the Parish Council to be brave. Do nothing and you will be slated. Do something, with a bias towards residents and you will be heroes.

On reading on alderleyedge.com that ‘we’ need another consultation process I would cite 2 things:

The Parish Plan 2010 which commenced in 2007 with great effort from local, knowing volunteers acquired a huge amount of detail and put forward as part of its mission: “The aim of this Plan is to propose a number of practical steps desired by the people of Alderley Edge to protect and enhance our parish.” The Parish council now needs to be practical immediately to protect and enhance so why not do ‘what it says on the can?’

Secondly, Mike Taylorson has consulted widely on this, involving all affected by potential changes. He couldn’t have done more and the Council will never achieve this level of detail in such a period of time.

So when I read “The Parish Council is currently in the process of speaking with local businesses whom they expect to contribute to that consultation”, blood drains from every corpuscle. Why another consultation? The residents are clear. They’ve said it, re-affirmed by Mike. Just do it.

Another debate I know on the rights and wrongs but, as an example of how real change can happen, Waitrose are going from ‘zero’ to ‘operational’ in roughly 4 months. Yet we can’t take the first step on resident parking without another ‘focus group’?

For Mike W: Be brave, just introduce a local parking permit plan on 3 or 4 key streets for 12 months and if it doesn’t work then review it and change it. But please act now.

To Marc Asquith & Mike Barry I say here, here, well said! To Duncan Herald in a well meant & polite as possible way I say please research your subject matter a little more, you surely could'nt be of that opinion if you really new what has gone before. You need to understand who has been involved, who has done what & just how frustrated people are becoming over this seemingly never ending saga.

Having completed the above post I took a browse around the other pages on alderleyedge.com only to find Mr Keegan's comments on "School Transport Decision Postponed" am I the only person to think Mr Keegan is once again contradicting himself when you read how he is praising public opinion being noted and acted upon as the "future" how about he acts upon public opinion in the above instance.

Hi Gareth,
re. research/parking... I've lived in Alderley Edge for some 25 years and so I guess I'm as au fait with the subject of parking as most folks... I have recently spoken with a rep. of Lydiat Lane about their residents' parking idea and my advice was to contact C.East (Rod Menlove?) and find out whether the proposal for a residents' parking scheme there really has been 'blocked' and if so, who was it that blocked and if so get rid of the block.

Hi Mike,
I 've re-visited the Parish Plan... pages 16 - 18 deal with parking... the 9 'actions proposed' are: 2 identical ones have already been put in place (new-builds to have off road parking), 1 (enforcement of parking restrictions in evenings) is 'impossible' as the traffic wardens don't work evenings & the police ain't involved & our PCSO can't work 24/7. 1 says 'stop obstruction of residential streets' but doesn't suggest how, 2 are 'more parking on London Rd. & more medium term parking around the village but doesn't say where this can be created!,1 says alternatives to present inadequate provision' but doesn't suggest what alternatives. So not too much there alas?
I live near the village so I don't have a parking problem as I walk my fat-ass into the village; at 1.30 pm today there were a lot of vacant parking places at the Festival Hall (and its free!) which is nearer to the village that my house, so why won't people park at the Hall and walk into the village? The reason the Parish Council is speaking with local businesses is to try and persuade them to take block parking bookings at the Festival Hall, for their staff (days and/or evenings) so as to free up spaces in the village; come on, that's got to be a good thing?

The C.E. parking review should be completed soon...I understand that it has been delayed because of staffing matters. Do we have any choice but to await its publication?

Lastly... residents' parking schemes... I'm all for it... especially if its set up as a one year or two year trial rather than a once-in-place-is-for-ever thing.

Hi Marc... chelsea tractors indeed on Lynton Lane... I wonder if their drivers could be informed about the existence of rear view mirrors... I am surely large enough to be seen or were they trying to run me down? Are armed vigilante patrols legal nowadays?

Duncan,

Appreciate the clarification not least you highlighting that, in reality, the Plan was just neither realistic nor likely to be effective. If my failing memory is correct I did comment sometime during last year on the need for staff parking. These are people on very low incomes relative to the 'Alderley Edge spend profile' and need to be consulted and considered. They 'run' our village. But to continue to wait for a response we can all anticipate "We need far more staff parking in the village" isn't just a waste of time but lacks leadership.

My key point was a simple one: given how complex this appears to be and also the obvious conflicts in priorities that are in the Plan - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see all of them - let's take a first step. Set up a trial resident scheme, review the impact on staff parking and visitors with a 'straw-poll' i.e. short but effective survey and then decide what the next step needs to be. By doing this, people will just have to adjust with 'block parking bookings at Festival Hall' more likely as the only alternative, viable option.

To quote someone far greater than you or I, albeit as a metaphor, and also someone who isn't a rocket scientist.............

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
Martin Luther King

Hi Mike,
1. I understand that the latest traffic/parking survey is complete (hooray)... where can you see it? Dunno! I haven't seen it yet... try Cheshire East?
2. My own opinion is that trialing a residents' permit scheme is a good idea, but its not up to me.
3. Perhaps I was a tad harsh re. the Parish Plan and parking BUT too often we get the 'something must be done' approach...yes we all agree... now the really hard part i.e. what to do!
4. There is some movement within the C.E. complex, to possibly hand over on-street parking to the parish Council... so maybe we can at last start to do what the people want...alas, we are still bound by the need for 'road traffic orders'... come back Alexander, we have a gordian knot to cut!
5. Parish Council had a 1.5 hour meeting with a CE Officer last night re. the devolution of powers from CE to P.Councils... that would clearly involve traffic/parking... end result was that CE have decided to move the goalposts again... back to square one?
6. You may have noticed guys in yellow tops doing a traffic count in the village yesterday... 9 of them, at 3 different sites... so soon we'll have figures to compare with the pre-bypass figures... my guess is that the new figures will show a great improvement in numbers/speed of traffic flow through the village... forgive my cynicism but at a meeting yonks ago (with the then MBC I think) I came to the opinion that the figures given back then were about as sound as a chocolate teapot!

Last night on Carlisle Street, one of the commuters who parks on the road on a daily basis crashed into a resident's car, causing a substantial amount of damage. In addition to this, there were so many bar and restaurant workers parked on both Lydiat Lane and Carlisle Street that five residents had nowhere to park on any street in the vicinity and had to park on double yellow lines. What good has this "campaign" done for the residents of these streets so far? When are we going to see some proper action?

Parish consults over staff parking

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