For well-to-do of Alderley Edge, ‘welcome’ signs are anything but
RESIDENTS of a village popular with footballers fear that new signs could reduce the value of their homes by tens of thousands of pounds.
Seven black and white metal signs reading “Welcome to Alderley Edge” have been erected around the Cheshire village, leading to anger among locals. They say the signs are in the wrong place and have left their mansions apparently outside the affluent village.
Residents on Brook Lane in particular have claimed that this reduces the value of their properties, which sell for as much as £2million, by thousands of pounds.
One homeowner said her first thought when finding out about the new signs was, “I’m no longer in the village.” Another said: “Can I assume that if we sell our house next year that our local councillors will make up any loss in market value?”
Alderley Edge is known for its expensive houses, designer shops and high-priced restaurants. Famous past and present homeowners include the footballers Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham.
One of the previous welcome signs is situated about 500 yards back from the new sign, on a stretch of road which includes dozens of homes, a pub and the Alderley Edge Golf Club. Welcome signs can be placed anywhere within village boundaries, according to council guidelines, but the parish council has agreed to take down some of the new ones and put them back in line with the official village boundaries.
Councillor Mike Dudley-jones, who was responsible for the new signs, apologised to residents who were upset and said that no one’s postcode would change as a result of where they had been placed.
He said: “Some have commented that their houses now appear to fall outside the ‘new’ boundary and so feel that they are no longer in Alderley Edge, and one comment has been made that this will affect their house value.
“I did not expect this outcome, I can assure you, and I will work hard to make it right.”