It has been a long road but plans for a new medical centre at Alderley Edge Festival Hall should be made public shortly.
Alderley Edge Parish Council have held a number of meetings with doctors and Emerson, who presumably have the contract to carry out the required building works.
Cllr Mike Williamson confirmed at the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 12th December, that preliminary meetings have been held with both parties who are nearly ready to submit a planning application to Cheshire East Council.
He told fellow councillors "The doctors will hold a public consultation in January, with the help of Emerson and the PCT, where the doctors will present why they need a new medical centre. Residents living in the immediate area of the Festival Hall will be invited but the meeting will be advertised widely and it will be open to all."
It was hoped that the PCT would sign off the plans on December 15th but their meeting was cancelled.
Cllr Williamson said "The original target was for remedial works to start in the new year, enabling the Alderley Edge Festival to happen and then Emerson will move onto the site to start demolition of the hall.
"We might need to submit a separate planning application for the enabling works for the side entrance and relocation of the toilets."
Cllr Melanie Connor said "It is important that we get funding for the enabling works to be done so we can starts works on the medical centre. We need to sit down with the doctors and Emerson to discuss."
Cllr Williamson added "The medical centre stands as a project in its own right and it will happen, I'm determined."
Cllr Matthew Lloyd said "I think residents should be told about the plans before a planning application is submitted. They know nothing about the plans, the scale of it and what it looks like."
The History Society, located at the back of the hall, are expected to move out of the Festival Hall today and the Parish Council plan to redecorate the whole area so the new hall manager, Ashley Comiskey-Dawson, can move into offices upstairs, along with PCSO Jim Newns.
I apologise if the above information lacks detail, but unfortunately the discussion at the Parish Council meeting was a bit vague but hopefully plans will be available to view early in the new year.
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As Mike commented it seems they think it is a foregone conclusion that AEPC will develop the Heyes Lane allotments! They will have a fight on their hands if they think it is that easy!
It doesn't look as though truly open, competitive procurement processes have always been adhered to ( even though I'm sure they have) and there is a danger that perception may gain traction in respect of the new medical centre project too.
From an architectural viewpoint alone, Emerson Group/Jones Homes have a very poor track record in Alderley Edge and yet more of their formulaic, spec-build quality building is not what's needed for this site, no matter how good a deal AEPC think they've struck.
The project should be put out to tender again (as the goalposts have clearly shifted considerably from the original ITT) with a shortlist restricted to those companies that can demonstrate a good track record of delivering quality architecture within budget and on time.