Having served as chairman of the parish council for the last year I have renewed appreciation for the village. There is enormous community spirit in Alderley Edge, and many many people, often unsung, who do so much to make this the happy, friendly place we all choose to live. This past year as chairman has also allowed me to truly appreciate the hard work of our parish clerk, Anne Ross. So I would like to start off by thanking her for all her help and support throughout the year. I literally couldn't have done it without you. Thank you, Anne.
The past year has seen much progress on the project to secure a modern medical centre for the village, a revitalised community centre at the Festival Hall, and with the much needed additional parking.
A project committee has been established to expedite the parish council's decision-making in regard to these vital initiatives, with the committee reporting back to full council at every parish council meeting.
It is unfortunate that these projects are still being resisted by some of the allotment holders on one of the three allotment sites in the village; but the council will, it is needless to say, continue to act in the best interests of the the village as a whole, including all its residents and our local traders and businesses.
It is worth reiterating the enormous benefits to our community of the forthcoming move of the Heyes Lane allotment to Lydiat Lane. Not only will this allow for the provision of additional parking, making the soon to be refurbished Festival Hall financially viable, but will meet the needs for further parking capacity of local businesses along with the parking provision for the staff and visitors of the new medical centre.
Further, it will provide extra parking spaces for shoppers visiting the village, helping support our hard-pressed traders and therefore keeping Alderley Edge a vibrant and prosperous village for all who live and work here.
I would also like to make it clear that the parish council are working hard to ensure that not only are the Heyes Lane allotment holders provided with an alternative, superior site, but have been offered compensation by the council in recognition of the inconvenience to which the move will put them.
I again want to stress however, that their inconvenience in being moved to a superior site, for which they are being compensated, must be weighed against:
- maintaining (significantly enhanced) medical services in the village
- our hard-pressed traders and local businesses being supported with the provision of much needed additional parking
- safeguarding the Festival Hall as a community venue for the residents of Alderley Edge
Ashley Dawson has done a really super job of managing the Festival Hall; increasing revenues whilst balancing both the business needs of regional bookings with the community-supporting role of the hall as a venue for local groups to use cost-effectively. He has recently selected and implemented a new modern EPOS system for use by the hall bar, which will provide us with detailed management information to ensure the hall continues to be professionally managed even as the number and size of bookings increase.
Christine Lees was taken on by the parish council in February on an apprenticeship scheme to work with Ashley, and we have all been impressed by her attitude and commitment. Ashley has taken her under his wing and is helping her get the most out of this opportunity.
Thank you, Ashley. I don't know what we would do without you.
Earlier this year the Friends of The Cemetery was formally established; and I would like to express the council's appreciation to this group of volunteers for their hard work. The difference they have already made is startling, but much more significant investment is urgently needed at the cemetery which requires the support of Cheshire East Council.
It was wonderful to see the May Fair enjoy such glorious weather this weekend, and I would like to thank Christine Munro, and all the volunteers and local traders who put so much effort into putting on such a well-loved village event. It was also pleasing to see that the park itself looked resplendent and I would like to thank Cllr Duncan Herald for his passionate campaigning with Cheshire East Council to ensure the park has been so well maintained. I would also like to thank him for supporting me so ably this year as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council and for stepping in, often at short notice, when business commitments have called me away.
Parking continues to be a particular, and growing, challenge for Alderley Edge. Thanks must go to Jim Newns, our PCSO, who works hard to keep the highways clear and safe; including his tireless efforts to bring order to the parking outside our local schools; a task, like cleaning the Augean stables, that seems unending.
Sometimes the issues of traffic management in the village might seem intractable. However, working with Cheshire East parking and highways departments, plans are being developed to address a wide range of problems. A small but important success was having the parking restriction notices and lines reinstated to ensure compliance with the existing regime can be enforced.
Further, Cllr Sue Joseph, through her work with the LAP (Local Area Partnership) and Cllr Nigel Schofield, a board member of the Cheshire & Warrington LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), ensure as a council we work in the wider regional context in trying to resolve such problems.
Alderley Edge is often characterised in the media as a rather two-dimensional village with little to worry about other than the rumoured global-shortage of Champagne. The reality, as all of us who live here appreciate, is rather different. PCSO Newns deals constantly with low level crime in the village, and with troubled individuals who take up an enormous amount of his time. He, along with the lead councillor for policing, Cllr Mary Maczkowiak, deserve our deepest appreciation for both their persistence and compassion in dealing with these difficult, and often sensitive, issues.
As chairman of the Plans Committee, Cllr Mike Williamson delivered his report on the year to Council last week. However, given that this is one of the most arduous and time-consuming roles on the parish council, I want to take this opportunity to express my deep respect and admiration for his dedication to this important brief. Not only has he managed this demanding role with diligence and expertise but, along with Cllr Keegan, has put in a huge amount of effort over many years working to bring the Festival Hall redevelopment to fruition. We all owe a large debt of appreciation to them both.
It is often a thankless task, or worse(!), being a parish councillor. But if it were not for people prepared to give up many hours of their free time to pour over planning applications at 10pm, or battle with local council officers for gullies to be unblocked, the village, indeed our democracy, would be much the worse for it. Thank you to all my fellow councillors for not only supporting me in my year as chairman, but for all you do for the village day in, day out.
Cllr Matthew Lloyd
Chairman, Alderley Edge Parish Council (2013/2014)
Editors Note: Cllr Mike Williamson has been elected as Chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council for the new Council year and Cllr Melanie Connor has been elected as Vice-Chair.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
It was a heated meeting and all parties had frank views, even Frank !
But Matthew did a great job of chairing the meeting. A lot of our plot holders said as much after the meeting.
So thank you again Matthew.
Fenton simpson
Chairman Alderley Edge Allotments and Gardens Society