Plans to convert the existing bandstand in Alderley Edge Park into a cafe have been passed by the Northern Planning Committee.
The planning application, submitted on behalf of Friends of the Park, will make use of the existing structure of the bandstand and an outdoor seating will be constructed.
The proposed cafe will be able to take approximately 15 covers inside with an additional 26 covers on the outdoor terrace. There will also be level access into the cafe and a disabled WC.
The site is on council owned land and designated as an Existing Open Space but committee members decided that the proposed development would not cause harm to the integrity of the park, was of an acceptable design and not considered to impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties.
Cllr Frank Keegan spoke against the proposal at the Northern Planning Committee on Wednesday, 14th May.
He said "If we look at the park now and the existing facilities there is nothing that Friends of the Park have done, we have no idea who they are so we think it is rather premature to be giving permission to a group that is not easily identifiable in the village."
Cllr Keegan also raised concerns about vandalism, saying "the pavilion already has vandalism on an annual basis which costs us thousands of pounds every year to maintain", and the concerns of neighbours on Redesmere Drive "who are all fearful of lots of noise".
He added "Cheshire East are looking to hand parks back to local councils so in a few years the park will come back to the Parish Council and we'll be committed to sustaining something which we have not supported in the first place.
"This is taking away what is an extremely attractive proposition for something which can't possibly be a viable option. The project cannot be controlled and we should not expected to have such a lack of control."
Marc Asquith spoke on behalf of the application.
He said "This is a very exciting project which arises from the Parish Plan which was generated within Alderley Edge and has very strong support from the vast majority of people in the village."
Mr Asquith added "The cafe will be a pleasant amenity for the park, the intention is for a quiet and constrained affair."
The issue of toilets was raised by Cllr Keegan who pointed out that the bowling green is closed during the winter months, along with the toilets so they would not be available for use.
When asked about this by Cllr Bill Livesley, a member of the Northern Planning Committee, Marc Asquith replied "The council funds the toilets but they are kept closed, you spent £500 on loo roll last year, you are funding toilets for the use of a small group of bowlers."
The issue of control was also raised, given that the land is owned by Cheshire East Council (CEC). An officer confirmed that "permission runs with the land and the person who owns the land has the ultimate control over it". The Northern Planning Committee were also reminded that they were "assessing whether the proposal is acceptable in planning terms".
Peter Hooley, Northern Area Manager Development Management, told committee members "Issues of assets must be put aside as we are just dealing with the planning issue. We need to distinguish between the planning issue and land management issues."
The planning application was granted, by five votes to two, on the grounds that taking into account the cafe would utilise an existing structure within the park and the cafe would provide a complimentary service to existing facilities it is not considered to cause harm to the integrity of the park.
Speaking after the meeting, Susan Holland of Friends of the Park said "We are obviously delighted with the outcome and now hope that we can work together with CEC, Alderley Edge Parish Council, local people and businesses to make this wonderful project happen.
"We are fully aware that the idea was conceived at a difficult time financially and when budgets were being cut both locally and nationally. Given this and because it has since become increasingly clear that councils need to find new ways of funding assets such as parks, it could be argued that proposing opening a cafe at this time is very prescient.
"Historically, Alderley Edge Park has had around £33,000 spent on it annually and it may be that in future such sums will no longer be forthcoming. Whilst we have been lead to believe that income generated from the cafe cannot be specifically ploughed back into the park, we hope that it will help in a more general way; for the village as a whole. It should perhaps be made clear that profit was not the driving force of The Friends of the Park. Providing an additional amenity in the park was our goal; where local people, families and friends could be together and enjoy this underused space. The positioning of the cafe, almost in the centre of the park and near the childrens' play area will provide a warm, comfortable space for them to congregate and enjoy all that the park has to offer.
"Whilst we understand that some six residents, living local to the park, lodged their disapproval to the application on the Cheshire East planning web site, we hope that given time, we can alleviate their anxieties by adhering to all the conditions made within the application and that a properly managed cafe will also be somewhere they can enjoy.
"We now need to take the project to the next stage and raise money to build the cafe. The present building will remain, almost unaltered, apart from a small storage area to the rear. Glazing between the pillars will provide light and help to keep the integrity of the existing structure. We had hoped to have decking for outside seating but having taken on board health and safety reservations made by Cheshire East, we have decided to provide a flagged area as an alternative.
"We were originally told that a figure of between £75,000 and £100,000 would be needed to complete the project but this figure has yet to be confirmed. We have had offers of help with various elements but still need substantial funds to realise the idea. Once we have actual figures, we will be calling upon local people to come forward and help.
"We are keen to involve as many people as possible in the project and it may be that if we can create some sort of social enterprise partnership which would not only make the whole project more community based but also help with the arduous task of funding.
"We would like to thank all those who have been involved including Chris Oakes of Huntsmere and Neil Collins of NCH Architects, Wilmslow who kindly helped with the planning application. Thanks also go to various members of the Parish Council as well as Cheshire East Councillors and also those Friends who have worked particularly hard from the start of the project."
Friends of the Park still have a lot of issues to sort out, including legal issues with the land owners CEC, but Chris Oakes, Director of Huntsmere, has already offered to build the new cafe at cost.
He told me "We've offered to undertake the work on a cost basis to support the project as we feel it is something which is strong and for the community. We will take whatever role we can."
The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East planning portal by searching for planning reference 11/3397M.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
1. All very well to have an offer to build the cafe at cost...what is the cost (if its been costed, please release the figures) and who will pay it?
2. The 'design statement' 'says' that drainage and foul drainage and power will come from/be connected to the bowlers' pavillion. What is the cost and who is to pay it?
3. Susan Holland is the 'public face' of the 'Friends of the Park', but who else makes up that group? It would be good to know some names.
4. I have been told that there is in existence, from long ago, a covenant on the park which forbids the use of the park for business. I have no idea whether that is true but would the F. of the P. need to check on that?
5. There is a huge lack of information about who/how/cost etc. in the public domain; either the detailed plans are being kept confidential or there are no detailed plans. Which is it? C.E. wish to hand over the park, to the Parish Council, at some future date; taking on a park with a flourishing cafe is one thing but taking on a park with a deserted white elephant in is quite another. As the old saying has it, 'if you fail to plan, plan to fail'.
Sorry if I seem a wet blanket but I'm reluctant to support something about which so very little seems to be known.
The main topics on this forum are litter, parking and dog fouling; with these issues running away from us, it's short sighted to continue growth before resolving them.
I would be very interested to see Duncan's points answered.
Kriss has worked tireless on behalf of the village. Her efforts in the park have been particularly exemplary: assisting with the acquisition of new play equipment, getting the football pitch drained, painting fences and litter collection. In the knowledge of this, we are naturally disappointed with your response but fear that yet again, you, as a compliant Parish Councillor, take your lead from Mr. Keegan (who incidentally, signed up as a Friend of the Park when he was photographed in the park supporting the idea with George Osborne in June, 2009).
This is a community project, in a public space and as I said above, now is the time for everyone to pull together; time is precious and playing games and point scoring is petty.
To answer your questions:
1. I said above, we need actual figures before we can embark on fund raising and these will be available shortly. The above is a ball park figure; excuse the pun!
There are several good sources of funding and this depends partly on whether or not we either enter into some form of social enterprise/community partnership or rely on sponsorship,grants, the generosity of local people and businesses or a mixture of both.
As you will know, in your capacity as a Councillor, helping young, disadvantaged, people and involving them in such projects elicits financial support. We have always wanted to involve young people in the cafe; they need to feel they are ‘part of something bigger than themselves’. This would undoubtedly help to combat vandalism and other anti social behaviour.
Details of the various sources will also be provided and I should perhaps point out that in the Strategy Plan for the park, complied with the help of local residents, back in 2002/3, it was decided that in 2005/6 some £32,000 should be spent ‘for the development of the shelter (bandstand) as a cultural and community resource’, the scope of the work had been agreed and a ‘number of cultural events were taking place’. The funding sources would be ‘Sponsorship, Section 106 revenue, Awards for All, Millennium Commission’. ‘Partners’ would be ‘MBC, Community Group, Local Business’ . All this came under the ‘Planning and Design/Meeting Peoples’ Needs/Community, Enterprise and Business’. Numerous other proposals were identified to improve and make better use of the park.
Given the effort, time and money that went into this particular study, it could be argued that the Friends are merely bringing to fruition long standing, agreed improvements to the park.
2. Currently, the costs of these are included in the overall costs of the cafe. The connections may or may not be taken from the ‘bowlers’ pavilion; the most cost effective and least disruptive route will be used. I have a copy letter from Fuel Solutions who kindly carried out a survey on our behalf (working alongside Birse Civils, they were going to help with these works but due to Frank Keegan and Paul Tomlinson as Parish Councillors impeding our progress this generous offer was lost). Being a public building and offering such a facility, it is a little disappointing that CE have, thus far, not offered help with this; as current ‘owners’/managers of the park.
It may have been a Freudian slip on your part Duncan but you are right; it is the 'bowlers' pavilion and used solely by them. As you rightly say: costs are clearly an issue and as you know, of the £33,000 (annual) spent on the park, almost £20,000 was spent on the bowling green, pavilion and lavatories; for the benefit of a small number of people who use the facilities for a maximum of 52 days a year!
Local people will no doubt be outraged to hear this; given that the lack of loos has been a key reason people haven't/don’t visit the park/remain there for long periods. These costs include cleaning and inspecting the loos as well as locking and unlocking them. Charges have also been made for cleaning the pavilion: daily, weekly and quarterly; all for those mysterious bowlers. Some £552.17 was spent on loo rolls..
Again, the question must be asked ‘what did the Alderley Edge Parish Councillors do for (the rest of) us’?
3. Kriss Coombes, Marc Asquith, Mike Dudley Jones, Jessica Churchill, Denie Croll, Claire Booth, have all been active members. Sarah and Emma from the Lavender Tree , AE Cricket Club, Travel by Design, Alderley Edge School, Birse Civils have all been keen supporters from the outset, arranging for proceeds raised at the revival of Alderley Edge Fete to be sent to the Friends. The Rotary Club also donated monies to The Friends from funds raised for the run on the bypass. Many local businesses support the idea and will no doubt help in due course. Kriss can provide names of the 500 + local people who signed up to the project and became Friends back in 2009. Obviously, these numbers have increased over time and we continue to receive support for the project.
4. As you should already know Duncan, this was dealt with at the meeting The Friends had with AEPC back in March, 2010. No such covenant exists and again, we have verification of this from CE’s legal department.
5. Duncan you have had access to all the information. The Friends have kept everyone informed at all times and nothing has been ‘confidential’. Costs and how we raise them has been covered above and of course, a tendering process will need to take place and a lease created.
Yes, CE will hand over the park to the Parish Council at some stage; this devolution was proposed years ago.
Perhaps even more pertinent to this, David Cameron’s Big Society is precisely that, devolving power and therefore assets to local people. It is well known that community partnerships/social enterprise projects can be more successful than those run by Councils and officials alone (the costs of the bowling green/ pavilion/loos clearly illustrate this). The Localism Act will add further to this.
Councillors continue to fail members of the public and properly address their needs and wants. You do know the true situation (and if you don’t, you should). Please stand up for yourself and be more transparent; we need you to work with us on this.
Drew, it could be argued that it is a pity to commercialise open spaces but unfortunately, the reason the calm and peacefulness of the park exists is because it is empty most of the time. An empty open green space in the centre of the village that costs a lot of money to maintain seems an extravagance to most people; especially when certain, much needed facilities are lacking. The cafe will be discreet, and enable young families and local people to properly use the park. It could also be argued that a well run cafe will help with litter problems and dog fouling within the park; outside is another matter and I am saddened at the seemingly lack of social responsibility here. Parking is an issue within the village and clearly doesn't fall within our remit although it hasn't gone unnoticed that parking on the park car park continues to be free for those that use it and most are not users of the park. Food for thought perhaps?
Parish Councillors objecting?
Double standards?
The park was given to the village under a covenant which CEC seem to have "misplaced".There is one it was seen in the times of the Village Enhancement Society and certainly Macclesfiled Borough Council had it, as it was passed on by the Urban council that was.
The PC and many residents objected to the plan and feel that the Friends of the Park have been very sly on this.
The park is being handed back to the PC and the village next year. This is not a great plan by the PC but the devolution of powers back into the village. it may be that a new Friends group will be reformed with a wider remit. So why are the F of the Park doing this. They surely have no regard for the preservation of open spaces? CEC are to be challenged on making decisions such as this whilst legally planning the hand back. It is all very suspicious. However it will come to light.
Questions are now being asked of the Planning Officer and those in involved on all levels with this decision.
The bandstand is a very important symbol of what the park is about. It is also a great place for families and all to huddle under during our frequent rain, as well as a meeting place for youth ( not misbehaving) who now will probably hang around the side streets or infront of Tescos. Good work!
I also think that the demand for such an event is very small. We have 9 restaurants/ cafes in the village, at least 5 take away coffee places, 5 places selling ice cream - the list goes on.
There is a reason the icecream van doesn't visit the park - there isnt enough business. The local plan is against extra eating/drinkling establishments. The park is not exempt.
and to Mike Norbury, not quite sure what you are refering to,( suspect it is all the tittletattle) but the PC has fought to maintain the park over the years and is not giving in now. We will have control of it and so the Friends of the Park should be negotiating with us on lease, rent etc, not just CEC.
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Please consider this when deciding the fate of our green spaces.
1. I have indeed had lunch and coffee with Kriss Coombes ( a delightful and positive person) and meetings in the park, including with C.E. Officers and employes of the By-Pass Constructors. Face to face meetings achieve so much more than 'phone calls and emails, i.m.h.o. Indeed it was Kriss & I who met with the By-Pass Constructors employees to request freebie works in the park... alas the Contractor chose not to spend much money in the park.
2. The new play equipment, land drains to turn the swamp into a footy pitch etc. were my ideas and I did the meetings & emails etc. with the C.E. Officers to bring these about (isn't it boring, reading of a man blowing his own trumpet? sorry!). In passing, words of thanks to C.E. Officers who were very helpful (take a bow Roy Lowndes & Marianne Hodkinson).
3. I'm happy to accept Susan's point (on the 'phone) that exact costings and exactly where the monies might come from cannot be available yet ,but that the F.o.t.P. will work towards getting such.
4 Is the £32,000 to be spent on the bandstand development still available? If so might we try to get our hands on it? I'm happy to confess having no knowledge of that money!
5. It is laudable to try to help the young; in passing may I tell you that the Parish Council are taking me up on my suggestion that we take on board a young apprentice, at the Festival Hall and may I urge all local businesses to do the same; the gov. pays the apprentices' wages so you won't be much out of pocket!
6. Power supply to a cafe; some time ago when the land drains were being laid under the footy area, we were told that it was safe to dig there... they didn't tell us about the power cables under the footy pitch (oops!) and we only found out when one of the mechanical diggers sliced into a cable (sorry if you were one of the houses blacked out!). I asked the elec. guys if we could tap into these cables as a source of power for any cafe and/or for lighting in the park... when they'd finished laughing, they tried to explain the physics that made such a suggestion impossible! So any power source for a cafe needs to come from the bowlers' pavillion (I was told at the time that such would cost circa £7.000) or the sub-station by the Park's car park or some other unspecified place. Is there anyone out there that has expertise in supplying power who would care to give us a free & expert suggestion?
7. Use of the bowlers' pavillion. The situation there is historical... well before my time, so no 'mea culpa' from me... it has oft been suggested that the toilets in the Pavillion should be open to the public... I am told (again before my time) that its been tried and on each occasion the toilets were vandalised. I did approach C.E. to ask whether the public toilet in the West St. car park (which is moveable) was underused, in which case might it be moved into the park... apparently its in constant use and so 'we' can't have it in the park ( no idea is too outre for your friendly parish council!). Could some of the users of the bowling green please make us aware of their point/s of view?
8. I feel that it is a tad unfair to say that 'councilors fail members of the public'... as to this specific matter, 'to cafe or not to cafe'... I have asked people using the park, fellow dog walkers, my neighbours and people on the main street... to my surprise, the majority of them were against having a cafe in the park; actually I suspect that the majority of people don't really care overmuch one way or the other! So its probably down to two entranched groups, the 'yes a cafe' and the 'no way a cafe'... if I ever have to actually vote on the matter, I'll try to work out the majority vote and go with that i.e. trying not to fail the majority of members of the public.
9. Susan mentions that parking on the car park is free... indeed it is... but if C.E. have their way, that won't be for much longer. We are trying to find out whether those who use the park are locals, commuters or whatever... there is a method called 'capture/re-capture to estimate that... if only I can find someone to carry out the mechanics for me. I am sure that any attempt by C.E. to make you pay to park your car whilst taking your children into the park has to be a no-no!
BRIAN...so glad you enjoy the tennis courts...the new ones went up a year or three back... the impetus etc. came from the Parish Council and the cost from C.E.
MIKE... covenants; I am told that there is one relating to the park... if it does indeed exist, we need to see it... what if a cafe is built and then the covenant emerges and the cafe has to be demolished... yes, that would be the fault of the Parish Council? Similarly the covenant re. the Heyes Lane allotments... let us all see what it says before we try to beat each other over the head with it?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a plebiscite on all our local plans etc. Any charitable rich folk out there that might care to stump up the costs?
Of course if the cafe was to go ahead the water and electricity supply would then be available for other commercial ventures such as concerts or markets, or is that just me being cynical?
Very succesful events have been held without those services such as the May Fair, Millenium and church celebrations. Ok, so its a chore having to hire generators, bring water on to the site etc.. but it brings out the best in a community.
However, Cllr Keegan's sincerity is less clear. In the Wilmsow Express edition (25. 6.09 ) he is photographed with George Osborne MP and 'Friends' glass in hand, toasting the future success of the cafe, and, I quote, "Anything that adds to the facilities is a welcome addition," and signs " A very worthy cause", Perhaps this was said whilst under the influence of orange juice or the strength of George's support for the cafe, but certainly in sharp contrast to his present objections.
Melanie, I'm sorry that you feel so disgusted with the 'Friends' and allow me to try to allay your fears. The first thing we did was to ensure that we were not in breach of any covenent and received written confirmation from the legal dept. at MBC that providing alcohol would not be served then we were clear.
Our record of openess includes:
Extensive survey of residents from nursing homes, children and their parents, teenagers and park users etc etc, almost 500 people signed and expressed their views, (open for your inspection)
George Osborne's questionnaire "Do you think a cafe in the park is a good idea?".... 66% in favour.
Oct. 2009. Included in the Parish Plan public meeting in the Festival Hall where we displayed 3 sets of plans for the residents to view, discuss and offer their comments.
March 2010 A meeting with the Parish Council to explain our ideas for a cafe.
June 1010 A further meeting with the PC when they approved the idea in principle.
We were advised by local business people who had expressed an interest in aiding us with raising funds for this project to get the planning consent first. Stage 1 now completed.
By the way, it's interesting to note that a substantially large amount of support came from the older generation who would love to spend more time in the park, have somwhere to sit with a cup of tea, enjoy being closer to younger people in a safer environment. Will it happen for them (and me) ??
The Friends have followed a proper process and been utterly transparent. We went through the correct channels at all stages. We could not have worked harder to canvass opinion and inform people.
With the help of Lisa and this wonderful site, concerns have been addressed and questions honestly answered.
We were specifically told by AEPC that we ‘did not need their permission to proceed with the idea’. Personally, I was always sceptical about this. In the knowledge that we didn’t actually need the Parish Council’s consent, we nevertheless felt that because this was a local, community project, in a public space, their support was paramount; hence our particular efforts in this.
Unfortunately, your comments and Mr. Keegan’s appearance at the Northern Planning Committee last week merely confirm my scepticism.
Fortunately, The Friends have had tenacity as well as integrity. On reading this and the comments above, I hope local people will have been given a good insight into why the project has taken over 3 years to reach this stage.
I reiterate: Mr. Keegan offered his support at the outset, the Parish Council voted for it and local people would like to see it happen; the idea should be embraced, for all the reasons previously stated.
The user groups desirous of a facility in the park will be young families using the play areas, older people using the bowing green and others seeking refreshment after a game of tennis or football / rounders etc etc.
With the possible exception of Costa and Fosters in the village, the other establishments are more "high end" and are largely there to serve less athletic individuals who like to park their expensive vehicles illegally, amble the few strides between vehicle and venue, and sit sipping a glass of bubbly whilst watching the passing world through expensive sunglasses.
But is it not a pointless argument when a member of the Politburo threatens that "We will have control of it..."
When I was young the park was an hive of activity. We could hire bowls from the bowling hut and either play on the bowling green or if it was being used for a match, on the strip of grass adjacent to the Redesmere Estate. We could play Pitch and Put on the grass near the bandstand, hiring out sticks and balls from the bowling hut. The swings and play area was always busy, and we could have a go on the tennis court, race on the football field or play hide and seek amongst trees. Our Mums used to meet for a chat and take the dogs for a walk too. I suppose the peaceful part was the bowling green area, but the rest was full of laughter and fun.
I visit the park every week and see the odd person walking through and maybe a couple of mums with their children, but it is such a shame to have this lovely space so underused.
I think the cafe would bring it back to life and I wholeheartedly support it as 500 + other local people do.
9 restaurants, 5 take out coffee places, ice cream from more than 6 places. Our traders work very hard to keep their businesses going.
No plans for rubbish collection, who is running it, what they are selling, rats from rubbish & food in the park - the list is endless.
It would be a much better idea if during the summer months you were to arrange for a visit from one of your stall holders at the Farmers market, or for Costa to have a small coffee van. Then ywe could see what the trade is like.
Then, when the park is back in the village control and we are in charge of cleaning and care, a perminant place may be looked at but not at the bandstand - the central point of the park and a meeting place for young and old.
Where our local representatives are concerned, it really does appear that: 'it is easier to make war than peace' .......
A number of people who dont currently use the park for fear of being there alone, may be persuaded to do so if there is a cafe or facility that would draw more people in.
The cafe would be no more of a threat to local business than any other new eaterie that opens in The Village. In fact, as it will not be compulsory to purchase food from the park cafe, it would be easy to conceive that people may wish to buy a sandwich or fish and chips in The Village and eat them in a lively, improved park environment.
As to the question of rubbish - why would people be more likely to litter the park than The Village / The Edge / Chorley Hall Football Pitch etc etc
A bit of competition and entrepreneurial spirit from a community group would be just what David Cameron would champion and I'm sure our local MP would love to be at the opening.
I can't wait!
And as others have said, litter, rats etc.
The question we need to ask ourselves is 'Are these people fit to represent the interests of our Village in an open, transparent and positive way?'
I think not - and I fear that they will use every means and effort available to them to obstruct, obscure, hide and block what the village of Alderley Edge really wants.
As 'villagers' you won't necessarily know they are doing this as their desire to be 'transparent' in all their dealings is not that highly developed. Making up the rules as they go along though is!
I'm baffled why Councillors think they can use the 'preserving green spaces' argument against the cafe in the park, and yet still promote the idea of paving over the allotments on Heyes Lane. Similarly, a covenant is relevant and stands, when considering the cafe in the park, but not so when considering the future of the allotments?
Cllr Keegan's flip flop position is laughable. As is his silence on the issue. All we can do is speculate in the absence of an explanation. Perhaps, 18 months ago when he supported the idea he wasn't aware that the PC was going to be given control of the park next year?
I love the idea of a cafe. I especially love the idea of a cafe as a social enterprise. It could provide employment opportunities for young adults who might otherwise struggle to find work and give them valuable skills and work experience. These projects work. I ran one myself many years ago for young adults with mental health issues. Good luck with the project!
There would never be enough trade for the cafe to survive,and pay all its overheads eg rent electricity water staff stock,let alone make a profit for whoever opens and runs it.
At this time there are a number of locals who take their dogs for "walks" in the park ,many i am afraid DO NOT!!!!! clean up after their animals,a few do yes but nowhere near all,,so how can you guarentee family play days every day of the week and still maintain the parks cleanliness? you cannot .
As has already been said there are many places in the village we should be supporting to get refreshments not opening a white elephant.
We have three schools in the village both have music groups invite them to play weekends free and let them entertain,in the band stand
DINA... I think your financial point is fair...as to your cynicism; you're not the first to say that if a cafe is built and them proves to be financially unsustainable, we would have a nice, new building to 'play' with...shall we start a 'future cynical friends of the park' group?
KRISS... thank you for the praise... a cafe with no alcohol? what numpty at C.E. thought that one up?
SUSAN... you are correct in that you don't need any permission from the Parish Council... especially if you have your way with the park before C.E. try to hand over the park to the Parish Council.
ALAN... politburo indeed! Oh for the power! Could I get the trains to run on time?
CHRISTINE... you say that the park is underused... clearly you and I go to the park at different times. I liked your story about how much went on in the park when you were but a young shaver... I wish it were so now. Bring back the 'parky'; but where will the money come from?
MELANIE... that's a good point... why not invite mobile coffee man & ice-cream van man?... so we'd at least get an idea of the level of trade?
MARC... you write that the parish council are against the idea 'cos they didn't think of it... oh dear, oh dear; I thought that level of peurile invective was left behind when one moved out of the infants' school playground!
MIKE D-J... I make comments about the park etc.; do I truly make you 'very, very afraid'? Are 'these people' (the Parish Councilors) fit to represent you? Well, we stood for election and were elected so I guess that the answer to your question is yes. You are free to stand for election yourself, next time around... get yourself (and friends?) elected and then I as the defeated one can stand in the corner of a.e.com and snipe at you!
CLAIRE... from whence came the idea that the parish council is anti-cafe to preserve green space? Covenants? I would like to see both of them (park & allotments) but I can't seem to get ahold of them... do you have sight of them?
Lastly the need to see a business plan for a proposed cafe; to show costs of start up and costs of running... I believe Susan Holland when she says that having got planning, the F.o.t.P. can now proceed with a business plan. I suspect that said document will go a long way to settling this dispute?
Also can provide copy email from CE Solicitor re covenant; not lost, just lost in the minds of some Councillors perhaps........
As Mike as already said: what would a third party think on reading some of comment listed above?
Lets just get on and build it!
The current tenants in Petersfield were 'cagey' about how much profit their Cafe makes but you may be certain that I would not have put the idea forward as a possible way of funding our Alderley Edge Park into the future had not the tenant burst out laughing and said "Its a lot of money! I think Petersfield would like to be running it themselves!"
Chatting to parents and children there - they love it too. If our Big Society is to include huge dollops of laughter and fun then I urge the AEPC to help to organise the building of our Cafe here and do everything in their power to make it happen. Equip it well and employ someone to run it well. Use the profits to fund the Park and other ventures in the Village too.
Or don't! And when the tennis courts need re-surfacing in a few years time, hopefully AEPC will have the £35,000 - £40,000 it will cost by then to pay for it? Or don't pay for it - and just let the courts deteriorate, which the Park is already doing.
And when 'our Cafe' is open yes please let the Schools come and play and entertain. What could be better. Let children and parents play croquet on the top lawn above the Bowling Green; fund the 'Alderley Edge Young Bowlers Society' and let them challenge for the World Championship; run the 'Alderley Edge Folk Music festival'? Sixth Form students at Christ College Brecon started the Brecon Jazz Festival not that long ago - now, if you think you are in the 'world of jazz' and you don't go to Brecon then maybe you are not in that world!
Please dont jump all over me and say we dont want a music festival! The Cafe is about providing options and choices where none can be offered now. Its about 'making things better' for the future. Its about achieving something that others thought was not possible.
Perhaps,its about today's critics sitting quietly in the sun reading their newspaper or chatting to friends sipping excellent Cafe in the Park coffee hoping nobody will see the smile on their faces - or remember how 'gloomy' they used to be!
'If you build it it - they will come' (from Field of Dreams)
By the way, it was a sale of land (for £1,800) and not a gift.