The much discussed and anticipated parking review for Alderley Edge will be starting shortly and the whole process is expected to take 4 weeks.
Paul Burns, Parking Services Manager at Cheshire East Council, told me "We are hoping to make a start in Alderley Edge at the end of this month, subject to progress with Knutsford and Handforth already in hand."
The parking review will look at parking management and control in the village centre in terms of both on and off street parking. Cheshire East will study existing parking in the village centre to identify whether any changes are needed to improve the provision, control and management of parking for local residents, businesses and their customers.
The review will cover all car parks and on street controls, as well as proposed residential parking schemes and parking areas which are not currently within a Car Park Order but are affected by parking demand in the centre. A projection as to future demand trends will be included along with recommendations for changes and improvements.
Paul Burns explained "The scope does not include a review of car park charges but rather focuses on the nature and extent of current controls and management, both on and off street, and looks to produce recommendations for change to these where appropriate.
"The review is a combination of desktop and field study by Cheshire East officers and Highway Engineers, together with consultation elements. This approach is common to all the Cheshire East towns' reviews, of which Alderley Edge will be the fifth we have done.
"As part of the review we consult our own elected ward members, as well as Parish Council representatives, plus representatives from business associations and any other concerned organizations.
"At the end of the review a report with recommendations is produced and considered by Councillor Menlove, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, and subject to his approval, we may then progress to action the recommendations. Often these involve a statutory process which includes a full public consultation."
The review will be welcomed by residents of Lydiat Lane, Carlisle Street and Clifton Street who have submitted a proposal to the Parish Council for the introduction of residential parking schemes. Local residents are hoping to put an end to "the blight of all day and in some cases all night and holiday parking" which is causing them huge problems.
Local traders have also written to Alderley Edge Parish Council and Cheshire East Council to request a full review of the parking restrictions in Alderley Edge village.
Heather Wienholt said "The present parking arrangements have been in place for decades and we feel they no longer reflect the needs of today's businesses and people's shopping habits within the village.
"Each person who comes to the village and cannot park is a customer lost for one or more of us. Each person who gets a ticket is another customer who will think twice about coming to the village, another customer lost."
During the discussion of the street parking review at this week's Parish Council meeting Councillor Mike Williamson said "We need to be able to emphasise what we the people of the village want and the traders.
"We would very much like to have a public consultation on this."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
This has obviously now passed so I caught up with Paul Burns, Parking Services Manager at Cheshire East Council, this week to enquire when it will commence.
He told me "I am still trying to finish the Knutsford review and need then to complete the one for Handforth so it may be two or three more weeks yet."
It is a nightmare pushing a wheelchair as the pavement is blocked. Does the Disability Act count for nothing? Do parking restrictions count for nothing? Do obstruction laws count for nothing? Legislation is only as effective as the enforcement.
Why do we need a review when, if the existing laws were enforced, penalties would already be applied.
He met with Councillor Matthew Lloyd yesterday, Tuesday 1st March, to begin with and he is hoping to talk to the Parish Council next week.
Maybe the PCSO could do something about it. I drove up there today and a car was driving down the wrong way. I refused to move and the person got a bit of road rage.