Motorists are continuing to drive to The Edge despite the lay-by on Macclesfield Road being closed to discourage people from traveling and help to ensure social distancing is observed during the current coronavirus lockdown.
Cheshire East Highways have put traffic cones out to stop vehicles from using the lay-by at the top Macclesfield Road, adjacent to Castle Rock, at the request of the police as it had been packed with cars, whilst the National Trust car park is closed.
However, some motorists are continuing to park there or they are parking on Macclesfield Road, at the brow of the hill instead. The photo above was taken on the afternoon of Friday, 24th April.
PCSO Callum Edwards said "8 cars were given Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for unnecessary obstruction by being parked at that location on Saturday. The Edge is on my patrol plan, so I patrol there each day that I am on shift."
Update: Tuesday, 27th April. Cheshire East Council has extended the closure of the lay-by until Friday 8th May.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Who at Cheshire East voted/decided on closing? Officers or Councillors?
Have you been up to the edge in an afternoon and watched what actually goes on.
Total faith in my MP by the way.
Let’s have some consideration for others here. Parking wherever you feel is quite common around here. I am glad those cars have been ticketed. I walked near there last week and a tiny car had parked on the lay-by having squeezed itself between the bollards. Also a couple of cars were on the grass verge opposite the lay-by and I had to walk on the road to pass. Why are people so selfish and self-centred. We need to think about others and the risks to others during lockdown.
Please be considerate. The rules apply to everyone and some people who think they are exempt should have a rethink.
People that are “shielding” live in this area.
Stay away unless you live here.
Parking where there are cones is inconsiderate but if they aren’t yellow no waiting cones then I think - but please correct me if wrong - then there’s no offence.
Leaving cones in place when the government has announced that driving to a place to exercise is OK so long as the exercise period is substantially longer than the drive is churlish.
Equally churlish is referring to “our local facilities” - the area in question doesn’t belong to local people and I suggest that particular comment clearly indicates selfish resent and not concern for any potential hazard.
I understand the concerns of people not wanting to turn the Edge into a mass gathering but as someone who lives just outside the village on a country lane (I don't know if that makes me "non-resident" or "non-local" maybe someone could let me know where the new boundary is?) which is national speed limit and has motorbikes and cars using the road as a race track, I HAVE to drive somewhere to walk safely.
a goodish while ago I had need of trying to find out the 'rules/laws' re. parkiing on verges.
It was a Parish Council thing, back then.
It turns out to be fairly complicated! Now there's a surprise, given the centuries of 'Ye Olde English' laws?
The house-owner where the verge is outside MAY own the land/verge or not BUT the rule of thumb, by the Local Authority, back when I 'researched' this, was to leave the house-owner alone as most house-owners maintaned 'their' verge; maybe that still applies?
Hi Chris,
I'll not get into a its illegal or not; I'm not a lawyer.
As to going to the edge; I have a record of self and a succession of three springer spanials using the Edge, over many years. I found nothing wrong ever and found other users to be friendly and polite. Perhaps the current peculiar times have adversely affected things up there? If so hopefully matters will return to pre-Virus days!
However do you sometimes wonder if our 'Lords and Masters' may forget that they exist to serve us and not just to chivy us around?
I quite agree with your support for our M.P. as she works her socks off to help the voters. I'd love to see Boris bring her back into Government!
It is not illegal to park on a pavement as long as the pavement is not blocked. As a guideline, there should be space for a pram or wheelchair to pass.
However in London apparently it is illegal to park wholly or partially on a pavement.
I wasn’t going to reply, however I agree the edge is a beautiful escape and it’s a strange thing that in such a densely wooded area nobody you speak to ever feels threatened. No matter the time of day.
There has been change in the last six weeks . People are driving up to the edge (in groups) from out of the area to shall I say do things they shouldn’t be and then get in their cars and drive off.
Do we let this carry on and become the norm,or do we do what we can and jump on it?