Alderley Edge Parish Council agreed at last night's meeting to request that Cheshire East Council (CEC) makes a number of improvements to Alderley Edge Park.
Having produced a report with Cllr Melanie Connor and Cllr Sue Joseph several months ago, Cllr Duncan Herald urged his fellow councillors to push for the immediate implementation of some of the suggested works.
The Parish Council will request that CEC removes the old railings from around the park and replaces them with new railings, installs a new gate where there is currently a gap in the hedge on Ryleys Lane, opposite the War Memorial, and tidies up the vegetation along London Road.
It was agreed that they would move forward with these suggestions rather than wait for the report from Ben Hamilton-Baillie, whose company Hamilton-Baillie Associates has been engaged by CEC to prepare a report for redeveloping the village centre.
Cllr Melanie Connor said "It is now 2012, by the time we have been through consultation, followed by consultation it could be 2015. We want to get the park back to scratch now and get the park cleared up with new railings this year."
CEC has quoted over £6000 for these works, which breaks down to £1,400 for tidying up the vegetation, £1,400 for removing the railings and £3,291 for the new railings and gate - apparently they are proposing that this money will come out of the £109,000 which has been allocated for identifying ways to transform the centre of Alderley Edge.
Cllr Mike Williamson said "Some of the figures are meticulously expensive and I object to the fact we can't get the work done ourselves. I can't believe a local gardener would charge us £1,400, we owe it to ourselves to get costs from a local supplier."
Cllr Frank Keegan said "The railings need replacing because they are damaged. CEC has a responsibility, the park is theirs and they need to fix the railings. £6.5 million is being spent on Crewe's Queen Park so I think they can afford some fencing around Alderley Edge Park."
Cllr Williamson confirmed "We are happy for them to proceed if it comes out of their budget, we are not happy for them to take it out of the £109,000. We need to make it clear we are expecting them to do this as part of their park maintenance."
Frank Keegan added "They're got a budget for parks and all we're asking is for our share and if we're not getting any then double taxation allows us to claim it."
The Parish Council are planning to meet with Ben Hamilton-Baillie on 25th January to discuss his proposals for the village.
