PETITION AGAINST CAR PARKING CHARGES
Cheshire East Council are planning to reintroduce parking charges on their car parks on the 15th June. Along with Cheshire East Councillors Allen Gage, Janet Clowes and others I am against this.
Bringing back charges now is a mistake. Our smaller retailers need all the help they can get. This will make it even more difficult for them to start getting back on their feet.
Businesses right across Macclesfield will be doubly disadvantaged as they will be competing with places that never had car parking charges in the first place. This inconsistency has always grated on people and now we have the council ploughing ahead with plans that seem to take no account of that. The Cheshire East Councillor in charge of this decision represents Sandbach where there aren't charges! Retailers have raised with me that this could be seen as a conflict of interest.
The government are rightly encouraging people to use their cars instead of public transport when cycling or walking aren't an option. Cheshire East should think again.
Cheshire East Council has claimed the reintroduction of charges is necessary to control demand and support social distancing. As I mentioned, the Cabinet member who approved this represents Sandbach, where there are no parking charges, and I haven’t seen a plan to introduce them to there help control social distancing, I’m afraid that argument holds little water. That seems like a poorly thought up excuse at best.
I know how much people want to support their local retailers, especially now. Please sign this petition so we can pressure Cheshire East for a rethink.