Alderley Edge Parish Council are proceeding with their plans to create a landscaped car park adjacent to the Festival Hall, on land which is currently occupied by the Heyes Lane allotments.
As the plans progress to deliver a modern medical centre and refurbished Festival Hall, the Parish Council says it is clear that there will be a need for significant additional parking in the vicinity.
The number of existing parking spaces on the site will be reduced and the Parish Council projects there will be a requirement for an additional 40 to 60 parking spaces, with increased demand coming from the medical centre, the refurbished Festival Hall and local businesses. The new car park will allow for this increased demand to be satisfied without putting extra pressure on the residential roads around the hall, where significant daytime parking is already in evidence.
The Parish Council voted unanimously in March last year to convert the allotment site into a car park and enter into discussions with Alderley Edge School for Girls to establish a new statutory allotment site at Lydiat Lane, on land owned by the school.
The relocation of the allotments to Lydiat Lane relies upon Alderley Edge School for Girls being able to use another plot of land off Wilmslow Road, which is currently owned by Cheshire East Council, to build a new sports facility on. The Parish Council are still waiting for confirmation as to whether this former farm land will be given to them.
In the meantime the Parish Council has confirmed that those who currently have allotments on Heyes Lane and live in Alderley Edge will be offered plots on an alternative site within the village.
Cllr Matthew Lloyd, chairman of the Parish Council, said "Whilst the parish council fully understands and regrets the disruption caused to the existing allotment holders, there is a clear and overriding benefit to the whole village. It is essential that we provide the new medical centre and Festival Hall with the parking facilities such a fantastic community centre will clearly require.
"The Festival Hall and new medical centre will not only provide outstanding facilities for the village but will generate an income over the long term to the parish council for the benefit of all Alderley Edge residents and businesses."
Work is to commence in the first half of 2014 with completion due in the first half of 2015.
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The society is more than willing to meet the parish council to discuss options.
I look forward to future discussions and dialog.
"A clear and overriding benefit to the whole village"