A year in review: 2015 on The Edge

As 2015 draws to a close it is time to take a look back at the biggest news stories of the past twelve months in Alderley Edge and share some statistics with our readers.

During 2015 the alderleyedge.com website has been visited 466,340 times and generated 1,223,527 page views!

Over the course of the year I've managed to publish 837 articles which have received 2,712 reader comments.

Topics which appeared regularly in the news this year once again included parking problems in the village, the future of Heyes Lanes allotments, the development of a new medical centre and the refurbishment of the Festival Hall as well as the future of Alderley Park.

Additionally 2015 saw a group of disgruntled residents form AlderleyEdgeFirst to challenge the Parish Council and achieve a comprehensive victory in the May local election - taking all 9 seats on the Parish Council and promising to make solving the parking problem their number one priority.

This year also saw Craig Browne defeat Frank Keegan to represent the Alderley Edge ward on Cheshire East Council, the creation of a memorial garden at Alderley Edge Cemetery, Waitrose take over management of the car park at The Parade and a development company applied to demolish Yesterday's nightclub and replace it with ten 4-bedroom detached bungalows on the 1.67 Ha Green Belt site - a decision was expected by September but the application is still to be determined.

Story Homes also revealed they have been selected as the preferred developer to promote over 100 acres of private land at Ryleys Farm, which stretches from A Pearson & Sons tomato farm to behind Sutton Drive and Wilton Crescent, for a residential led development, plans for a major retail development at Handforth Dean were unveiled and Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council announced his resignation.

2015 saw us welcome a number of new shops and businesses into the village including The Railway Cafe, The Clubhouse, Tomfoolery at 34, Yu Restaurant & Bar, Piccolinos opened their flagship restaurant in the village and a new ice cream parlour was launched at Aldeli.

We also said goodbye to the North West Air Ambulance charity shop, The Tea Alchemist and Loch Fyne. In 2016 we look forward to welcoming Margaret Dabbs who will occupy the premises which was previously home to Wine Rack and has been vacant for over 5 years.

Also please don't forget we now invite reader's to send in their photos of the local area and letters covering local issues to [email protected].

Most read articles of 2015

1. Man dies after being hit by a train

2. Chinese restaurant set to open in Alderley Edge

3. Clean sweep for AlderleyEdgeFirst in Parish Council election

4. Candidates announced for Alderley Edge Parish Council election

5. Time for PCSOs to take hard hitting action on parking

6. New group to challenge status quo of Parish Council

7. Plans for alderations at Panacea site for new restaurant

8. Council confirms its position on Chorley Hall Lane playing fields

9. Browne defeats Keegan to take Alderley Edge ward

10. More likely parking problems will take 5 years to solve

11. New landlords aim to create a leading local pub

12. Restaurant chain closes Alderley Edge branch

13. Sneak preview of the Railway Cafe

14. The Clubhouse offers the key to a luxurious lifestyle

15. Piccolinos flagship restaurant set to open

16. Plans for new multi-sports facility progressing well

17. Waitrose take over car park and increase charges

18. Sneak peak inside Tomfoolery at 34

19. Parish Council election candidate: Duncan Herald

20. 37-year-old woman found dead at The Edge

I would like to publicly thank those local businesses who have booked our annual visibility packages and kindly allocated some of their marketing spend to our local independent business, enabling them to promote themselves and their events throughout the year.

Without the support of the following it really would not have been possible for us to continue to provide this service: Bupa Care Homes, Just Resorts, Orbit Developments, TWP Wealth, Alderley Edge School for Girls, Aldeli, Destinology, Fairerpower, Highams, Kimble Roden Architects, Nick Allen Window Cleaner, Royles, Royles Jaguar and The Ryleys - all of which are featured in our advertisers directory.

We were also delighted that Waters Corporation chose to support the service we provide to the community by sponsoring our weekly newsletter for the third year running.

If you don't yet receive our weekly newsletters all you need to do is register on the site, it's free and only take a minute. Please do tell your local family, friends and collegues about this free service. Also please remember the weekly newsletter is only a summary, we are publishing the latest news as it happens on a daily basis on alderleyedge.com so do come back and visit regularly.

Share your highs and lows of life on The Edge in 2015, and your predictions for the new year in Alderley Edge via the comment box below.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read alderleyedge.com, wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.