Alderley Edge Farmer's Market has not taken place since October, when it was held in the village centre.
Having spent over 18 months trying to obtain permission to relocate the market to the pavement off London Road, Christine Munro, who has organised this market for the past 14 years, decided to go ahead with the October market without the Council's permission. However, since then she decided to cancel the November and December events and is considering lodging a formal complaint against the Council.
Christine Munro said "A number of people have asked me why there has not been a Farmers Market in Alderley Edge since October. All I can say in reply is that it's not been for lack of effort on my part. I am as frustrated as anyone in the community by the red tape that has prevented me from running further markets in the run-up to Christmas."
Christine added "The story so far is this. Alderley Edge Parish Council have always been very supportive of the Farmers Market. 18 months ago, when I wanted to move the market into the village I attended a Parish Council meeting and asked their permission. They told me that I would need permission from Cheshire East. I repeatedly contacted Cheshire East and was eventually told that I needed to survey the views of the traders in the village. I did this and got their support and sent the evidence to Cheshire East. I also got the support of Gary Mallin of Cheshire East Highways, who said that as the market didn't impact on the highway and there was sufficient pathway for the gazebos and also pedestrians to walk, then they were happy for it to go ahead.
"By this time I had done everything that I had been asked to do and had even had three calls from the Leader of Cheshire East, Cllr Michael Jones, encouraging me to go ahead with the market. So I did.
"But in spite of this, an unidentified "spokesman" for Cheshire East published an official statement saying that I did not have permission to run the Farmers Market and should not have run it. Sadly this faceless spokesman has never had the courage or courtesy to tell this to me directly, so I still don't know who they are or on whose authority they are acting.
"I have even asked for the support of George Osborne, who told me to get a letter from the Parish Council confirming their support. I did this as long ago as 22nd October and sent it to Cllr Michael Jones, copying it to George Osborne's office. I received no reply.
"So, in spite of all this effort, I am still no further forward."
She continued "Everyone in the community who has spoken to me is in favour of the market. Some have even turned out expecting to find the market and been disappointed. Others have encouraged me to go ahead regardless, but that is not the way I like to do things. I prefer to run things in a proper business-like way. It is not right that someone in my position should have to defy the authorities to run an event of this kind.
"I am now considering lodging a formal complaint against Cheshire East. I believe it is important that we respond actively when people who are supposed to be representing us behave so badly. So I intend to continue to pursue it until Cheshire East is called to account over this."
Christine Munro will be meeting with representatives of the Trader's Association in the new year to discuss ideas for future markets, initially they are thinking about holding a market in the spring time, and then possibly one every quarter, ending with a Christmas market.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
1) Christine has been very successful in running the Farmers Market for the last 14 years.
2) Alderley Edge Parish Council have always supported Christine since she started.
3) Cheshire East said she need to survey the views of the local traders in the Village.
4) This she did and got their support, then sent the evidence to Cheshire East.
5) Cheshire East Highways said they were happy for the Market to go ahead.
6) Even the Cheshire East Leader encouraged her to go ahead with it.
7) Christine also got a letter of support from the Parish Council and sent it to Cheshire East.
After doing all this, some Chinless Wonder from Cheshire East said Christine wasn't allowed to go ahead with the Market. ............... Just who is this "unidentified" spokesperson ?
Please identify yourself so we can see who you are and maybe we can find out why some Council Officials are stamping on anyone wanting to create business, especially as his own Council Leader encouraged Christine to go ahead ?
It's people like Mr.Chinless Wonder who create problems for entrepreneurs in society.
For the record, here is the text of my letter to Ms Monro:
Dear Ms Monro,
In reply to your request for a statement from Alderley Edge Parish Council that we do not object to you holding the Farmers Market on London Road, I am happy to hereby confirm that we do not, in principle, object. However, our support should not be construed as 'permission' as only CEC can permit a market to be held and, further, we do not support the market being held without:
1. The permission of CEC being granted to you
2. There being wide support for the market from Alderley Edge traders
With regards to the need for permission, not only do we advise that this permission would most likely be required as a condition of your public liability insurance but there are genuine health and safety issues. The Parish Council would strongly request that these issues have been evaluated by CEC Highways prior to the market being held on London Road.
Secondly, I am heartened by your claim that the vast majority of traders have expressed support for the market and would ask you that you please provide details, either by way of the detailed results of your survey, or by providing the Parish Council with a statement of support by the Alderley Edge Traders Association.
Best regards
Matthew Lloyd
Chairman, Alderley Edge Parish Council
It was completely reasonable for me to assume that as I had done all this and received universal support I was now clear to go ahead with the market. If support from the Leader of Cheshire East does not mean I have their approval, then what does?
I would have expected the Parish Council now to be making representations to Cheshire East to get this upsetting situation put right, not expressing his "disappointment" at my actions, which I believe to have been totally responsible.
I am not a politician, so I don't know what is going on here, but I have to say that it is sad to see the Parish Council siding with obstructive bureaucracy in Cheshire East rather than doing what most people would see as the right thing. I have fully documented my efforts to resolve this matter which Cllr Lloyd (and anyone else) is welcome to inspect if he doubts my efforts to comply fully and professionally with everything that I have been asked to do.
Christine - there's an old Latin saying that goes something like "Nil desperandum illegitimi carborundum"
I try to inject a little bit of humour into what is otherwise a very sorry and tawdry story.
I really begin to question why we have a Parish Council anymore as they are absolutely powerless to act in, or properly represent the interests of Alderley Edge people. They are so busy sitting on fences that their derrieres must be pin-cushioned with splinters.
Here we have someone trying to achieve something for the collective good who is being repeatedly shot at by the bean-counters of all sides.