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Parking boss James Howard
Parking boss James Howard

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Parking boss: ‘Wardens don’t drive shoppers

Pete Bainbridge
20/ 8/2008

THE MAN in charge of Macclesfield’s traffic wardens has sparked criticism after he claimed that parking enforcement does not drive shoppers away from the town centre.

MBC parking enforcement manager James Howard told Radio 4’s You and Yours programme: "I don’t believe it (parking enforcement) drives people away, I really don’t.

"A question I often get is: ‘Why do people go to the Trafford Centre?’ The truth is it’s not free to park at the Trafford Centre; the shops pay a fortune in service charges, and these are passed on as higher prices."

Bill Livesley, chairman of Macclesfield Chamber of Trade, was not impressed by Mr Howard’s comments.

"I disagree totally. I can quote many people who say they are going into Congleton to shop where it is free to park.

"The car parks in Macclesfield haven’t got fuller as a result of parking enforcement, and people being moved on in the town centre."

MBC were quick to distance themselves from Mr Howard’s comments, with a spokesman saying: "The comments represented the personal views of the employee only, and not those of Macclesfield Borough Council.

"The parking enforcement scheme is in its early days of operations and seeks to ensure parking is legal where double-yellow lines and disabled bays are concerned.

"As a matter of course, we’re monitoring the overall impact of the parking enforcement scheme."

This week, John Healey, local government minister urged councils to charge more to park, saying it would reduce congestion, improve health, and encourage use of local shops.

Mr Howard declined to comment on the Radio 4 interview to the Express.


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Most recent 2 of 40 user comments

   I like the sound of the poor mans stew, lets rock that one.

Very grateful, your posts do make me smile x
slinkywizard, Macclesfield
11/09/2008 at 09:12
   SlinkyWizard, Ropa Vieja and Estofado are served in bars here as tapas, small medium or large portions. To eat at bar tables as snacks or full meals.along with lots of other tapas recipies. Dont know why some bar owners dont do that in Macc. lovely food cooked in Garlic and Wine and all served from the bar all laid out to choose from in covered cabinets.all to eat with your beer.And VERY cheap as well.
mogangirl,
10/09/2008 at 22:17
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