As 2011 draws to a close I thought I would take a look back at the biggest news stories of the past 12 months in Alderley Edge and share some statistics with our readers.
During 2011 the alderleyedge.com web site has been visited over 260,000 times and generated over 900,000 page views!
Over the course of the year we've managed to publish nearly 600 articles and those articles have received over 1,700 comments. Also our free iPhone app, which we launched back in February, has been installed on over 1,300 devices.
The year started with the news that Cheshire East Council (CEC) will be carrying out a parking review in Alderley Edge which was initially expected to start in February.
I understand that the review was finished in the summer and the report was seen by Alderley Edge Parish Council in September/October time. However, the Parish Council has chosen not to sign it off yet and at their December meeting Cllr Mike Williamson commented "Paul Burns' car parking report is sitting in a file on his desk because we politely suggested he shouldn't publish it yet".
I have requested further information from CEC about the Alderley Edge parking review, its purpose, findings and when they intend to publish it, so hopefully we will have some news early in the new year.
At the end of January, John and Jane Connolly's jewellery shop at The Parade closed its doors and the future of the village Post Office remained a concern.
In February the Co-operative confirmed they were interested in taking over this vital service but, having carried out a public consultation, they changed their mind about operating the Post Office in August. Since then Interim Enterprises have been running the Post Office and last week we announced that Bluemantle have applied for planning permission to convert a property on West Street into a retail unit for the Post Office, which will be DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant.
March saw the closure of Hi Ho Silver and the opening of Alderley Eyecare, then in April we broke the news that Waitrose was coming to Alderley Edge, which was our most read article of 2011.
In November 2010, a group of local residents submitted a proposal to the Parish Council for the introduction of a residential parking scheme on Lydiat Lane and Carlisle Street. Following on from this proposal, over 50 local residents attended a meeting with representatives from the Parish Council at the beginning of April to discuss parking issues in the village.
In October another resident's meeting was held with James Howard, Projects and Development Officer at Cheshire East Council. Since then, those residents affected by the plans have been sent forms asking them to indicate whether they are for, or against the proposed residents parking scheme. I am still waiting formal confirmation but the result was expected to be in favour.
My husband Martin made his contribution to the editorial on April 1st with 'Ancient gold bars found at construction site', which he is very proud of! Our April Fool brought a smile to our faces, generated lots of chat around the village and made it into the top 10 articles of 2011.
Local elections took place on May 5th, when Conservative candidate Frank Keegan won the Alderley ward election with 72.5% of the vote.
However, there was no election for Alderley Edge Parish Council because it was not contested, only nine candidates registered and there are nine seats on Alderley Edge Parish Council. Alan Jones, Paul Tomlinson and Yvonne Wrinch decided not to stand for re-election this year so they were replaced by Joseph Bergin, Melanie Connor and Sue Joseph - all of whom are members of the Conservative Party.
In May Oxfam bookshop was officially opened with a visit from George Osborne MP and the village played host to the Alderley Edge Centenary Festival which proved to be an outstanding success with over 2000 children performing in nine venues across the village.
The following week the first Alderley Edge May Fair was held which also proved a tremendous success as thousands gathered to enjoy the fun packed day. The celebrations started with a procession through the village, led by the Wizard, following which the crowds headed down to Alderley Edge Park, which was packed with attractions, stalls, entertainment and refreshments.
In June I met with the Lord of Alderley who was furious when he discovered the farmer's market has been taking place in the village without his permission. James Hadfield-Hyde claims to own a Royal Charter, granted to his predecessor the de Ardennes in 1254, which means that any market held within 6.5 miles of the Manor of Alderley requires his permission.
The dispute over market rights continued in September as the Lord of Alderley wrote to organiser Christine Munro asking for a percentage of the profits from the Alderley Edge Farmers' Market - as far as we are aware there have been no further developments.
Johnsons Cleaners closed its doors and was replaced with the upmarket brand 'Jeeves of Belgravia' in June, which is also owned by the Johnson Service Group Plc. In the same month Fruitcake shut down, Alan Jackson Butchers closed suddenly after more than two decades in the village and The Medicine Shop closed after 18 years on Alderley Edge high street, saying that the parking restrictions had finally got to them.
The Alderley Edge Village Fete was held in glorious sunshine at the end of June and was another fantastic community event. Over 2000 people gathered at Alderley Edge Cricket Club to enjoy this traditional summer fete which raised over £1500 for East Cheshire Hospice.
The Royal Oak public house, which had been in existence for many years and was a prominent building on Heyes Lane, was demolished in July. Having closed in April the site was cleared to make way for a new housing development of four semi-detached and one detached dwelling.
The Mandarin restaurant also closed its doors in July after 42 years of trading in Alderley Edge. The family owned restaurant, considered by many to be a village institution, was run by Colin Lee and his family.
Heddy celebrated his final evening at Stay Bar and Restaurant in July, having spent two years running both Stay and Heddy's in Wilmslow he decided enough was enough and sold the business. Fuad Sabbah and his business partner Salah have since opened a new restaurant Yara which specialises in traditional Lebanese and Syrian food.
In July we also reported on plans to demolish Alderley Motor Co. and the JN Bauer car showroom on Trafford Road and replace them with 4 semi-detached family homes. Our article 'Two businesses threatened by housing plan', generated 51 comments from our readers and was the fifth most read article of 2011.
In October, the Council refused to grant planning permission on the grounds that the proposal would result in the loss of a commercial activity which assists in maintaining the economic base and is an important and well supported service to the local community.
On Sunday July 31st we were devastated to report that Alderley Edge resident Ian Daglish had tragically died, having suffered extensive burns after the plane he was flying crashed in Salford.
Ian was a devoted family man, as well as an active and well respected member of the community who was particularly interested in the history and conservation of the area. Over 350 people gathered at St Philips and St James' Church on August 11th, to pay their respects at Ian's funeral.
On Thursday 11th August, Waitrose opened its new convenience store at The Parade, occupying the former Fruitcake, Mandarin and HSBC units. Over 400 applications were received for the thirty five new jobs created.
In September there was another very popular addition to Alderley Edge when Mr Simms' brought a taste of yesteryear to the village. Over 100 people were waiting outside for the traditional confectioners to be officially opened in the building previously occupied by Hi Ho Silver.
Later that month two art galleries opened on London Road and Deli Ice, a frozen yoghurt bar, opened at Highams garage. This was followed by the transformation of the round showroom into Aldeli, a New York style deli, which George Osborne MP officially opened in October.
Restoration of Alderley Edge Methodist Church was completed at the end of September. Work on the £275,000 project was finished when the clock and bell in the spire, which had been out of service since November 2010, rang out the time for Alderley Edge residents once more.
In October Alderley Edge Parish Council confirmed they intend to relocate the Heyes Lane allotments to a new site, at the end of Lydiat Lane which is currently owned by Alderley Edge School for Girls, and replace the plots with a car park. Cllr Keegan also confirmed he is looking into the possibility of relocating the Alderley Motor Co. from Trafford Road to the land on Heyes Lane.
This news was followed by confirmation from Cheshire East Council that the Heyes Lane allotments are protected by a covenant which restricts their use as; an open space; recreation ground; playing fields; allotments; or public gardens, and the formation of a community action group to save Heyes Lane allotments.
The new Edge Hockey Centre at The Ryleys Playing Fields on Wilmslow Road was officially opened in October. Alderley Edge Cricket Club teamed up with the Ryleys School to provide the new, purpose-built facility.
Also in October, Matthews Garden Centre lost their appeal for an extension to their original planning consent, granted in 2005, because the inspector concluded that the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development no longer exist.
Whilst there is no association between this appeal and Dobbies, it was viewed as very significant by those opposed to Dobbies' plans because the consent for Matthews' relocation is a "material consideration" in Dobbies' Garden World application (reference 09/3109M), submitted in September 2009.
Cheshire East transformed its waste and recycling collection service with the Think Silver, Think Recycling scheme in October. This saw the introduction of the new silver bin, enabling residents to recycle more using just one bin. The latest figures show that the amount being sent to landfill by CEC has reduced by 2000 tonnes which represents a saving of £200,000.
In November we reported that Steve Leyland, who runs the flower stall on Grove Street in Wilmslow, has taken over the lease at 27 London Road where he will be opening a greengrocers in the premises previously occupied by Alan Jackson Butchers. Steve had been hoping to open the new shop at the beginning of the month but his plans have been delayed by the amount of refurbishment works required.
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 has held a number of meetings with doctors and Emerson, who presumably have the contract, and Cllr Mike Williamson confirmed at the December Parish Council that the parties are nearly ready to submit a planning application and the doctors will hold a public consultation in January.
Hundreds of people wrapped up warm and headed to The Parade to see racing driver Oli Webb switch on the Christmas lights to mark the start of the festive season on November 17th.
Christmas celebrations in the village this year included the new Alderley Edge Adventure, which saw the village decorated with 24 unique Christmas themed windows, and the first Alderley Edge Christmas Fair and Market, when the monthly farmer's market came into the village centre for a very wet day.
Looking forward to 2012 hopefully this year's wonderful community events will take place again. In addition, Cllr Melanie Connor is currently working on ideas for celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in the village, during a special 4-day bank holiday at the beginning of June.
Alderley Edge Parish Council have also said they are keen for the Christmas lights switch on to be moved from The Parade to London Road next year to enable it to be a much bigger affair. Though, interestingly the same thing was said last year and mentioned in my 2010 review so I wonder if we will be partying in the street next Christmas.
We would very much like to thank you all for your support and the very generous feedback we have received to date. We also want to express our gratitude to all the local businesses who have supported us by advertising on alderleyedge.com. Those who have advertised with us for some time include: Alderley Edge School for Girls, Alderley Pilates Studio, Collect Art, Gusto, Highams, James Doyle Opticians, Mailboxes Etc, Pepperberry Nurseries, Pinewood Hotel, The Saffron Room and Wilmslow Prep School.
We would like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful new year and please do email me at [email protected] if you have any news you would like to share, a story you wish to be followed up or if you know of a local event we can help to promote.
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Do share your highs and lows of life on The Edge in 2011, and your predictions for the new year in Alderley Edge via the comment box below.
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