MACCLESFIELD traders have slammed Cheshire East Council’s ‘unfair’ decision not to have the same parking charges across the region.
CEC bosses announced last week that car park charges would not now be imposed on shoppers in Sandbach, Alsager or Holmes Chapel.
The declared policy of "harmonising" fares across Cheshire East’s towns may also be set to be delayed until next year, the Express has learnt.
Traders in Macclesfield reacted with frustration last night.
Ronnie Rees, owner of Ronnie’s Bar, called the decision ‘a nonsense’ and said shoppers would continue to be lost to these towns.
"They are doing everything they can to raise revenue here and it is driving people out of the town," he said.
Mandy Fazelynia, from the Chamber of Trade, said: "We are disappointed. Why should all the income be generated from Macclesfield? It isn’t fair. We have Stockport, Handforth and Manchester on our doorstep – our fight is bigger."
She fears parking charges in Macclesfield are ‘untouchable’. Paul Meakin, who runs Market News in the Grosvenor centre, said: "It is very unfair. Unfortunately what is installed (in Macclesfield) is very hard to overturn."
Councillor Ainsley Arnold, leader of the Lib Dem group at Cheshire East, praised the campaign against charges in other towns.
"There hasn’t been that level of opposition in Macclesfield. People here have become used to regular increases and any opposition has been ignored – more people need to write in."
Last week’s announcement confirmed that charges would be introduced in seven car parks in Congleton town centre on February 15.
Council leader Wesley Fitzgerald said that retail demand and CEC land use in towns like Alsager and Holmes Chapel did not require charges and harmonisation would be phase two of its car parking strategy.
Harmonisation would not mean the same charges everywhere, but a fair rate in each town, he said, while charges could still begin in Sandbach at a later date.
"It is a nut I am determined to crack and it isn’t easy." he said.
