During the summer volunteers hand-delivered questionnaires from George Osborne's office to as many houses as possible in Alderley Edge.
George Osborne regularly conducts surveys in the constituency and according to a representative of the Shadow Chancellor's office the purpose of this recent survey was "to seek the views of his constituents on various matters which have been drawn to his attention by them".
We recently received the following results from George Osborne's office which we were told will be passed to local councillors.
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1
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Will the new Alderley Edge by-pass improve life in the village? YES 91% NO 9% How? (answers in order of priority): Reduce through traffic; Get HGVs out of the village; Less pollution; Less noise; Pedestrian safety; Bring back the village feel |
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2
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Do you find the centre of the village attractive? YES 58% NO 42% Are there too many bars? YES 56% NO 44% Are there too many restaurants? YES 50% NO 50% |
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3
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Do you think the village is properly policed? YES 44% NO 56% |
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4
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What kind of businesses would you like to see in the village? Individual retailers like bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers etc. ; not the big chain supermarkets; DIY; Electrical; Book shops; Clothes shops; Craft shops; Picture gallery; Solicitor Do you use the farmers market? YES 59% NO 41% |
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5
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Do you think a cafe in Alderley Edge Park is a good idea? YES 66% NO 34% Would you use it? YES 53% NO 47% Should toilets be open in the park? YES 74% NO 26% |
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6
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Are you concerned about houses being demolished to make way for new houses? YES 72% NO 28% Why? Overdevelopment of site; Beautiful houses and gardens being demolished; Loss of the character of the village; Too many flats |
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7
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Would you like the Park to be used for special events? YES 88% NO 12% If so, what? Open air concerts; Fetes; Village festival; Rose Queen events; Community events; Sports activities; Children's events; Fireworks; Horticultural events |
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Therefore I challenge the validity of the responses in informing village developments.
I myself did respond and for example, challenged the question regarding businesses we would like to see - it isn't a case of what we would like to see but more what businesses people will actually use.
When No15 Wine Bar unfortunately closed, so many people told me they had fond memories of time they had spent there - but we should wise up: fond memories do not pay the bills so simple arithmetic says the place had to shut...
Likewise it is a lovely idea to have for example, a fruit shop. But margins on fresh produce are low for independents and Somerfields regrettably provide a reasonable selection at competitive prices and out of town supermarkets offer a better range and possibly even lower prices - with no parking charges and no ever vigilant traffic wardens...
In the real world it doesn't make financial sense to pander to idealogical notions of what constitutes a village shopping street, so why not let the bars and restaurants, the charity shops and hairdressers, all of which have actual customers rather than fond memories, dictate what we find down London Road?
Of course someone may have a cunning plan to introduce cut price fruit and veg or perhaps ¨affordable clothing for the more mature non driving teetotaller¨ - go ahead and rent one of the empty shops and give it your best!
And if it doesn't suit you dear shopper, then don't go there: they'll soon close their doors if they don't have enough customers!!
We have asked George Osborne's office how many responses they received and hope to be able to provide that information in due course.