Crewe councillors challenge proposals to hike up town's parking charges
Plans to hike up existing parking charges will further cripple town centre traders and 'cannot be considered fair' - Crewe councillors said.
Members of Cheshire East's highways and transport committee were unhappy they were being asked to give feedback on budget proposals to increase charges when very little detail was given.
In the introduction to the highways section of the budget (Mid Term Financial Strategy 2023-27) document, executive director Tom Moody states 'proposals are being consulted upon to look to increase existing charges in line with inflation.
"Introducing charges at car parks which currently offer free parking and piloting a scheme with variable parking charges that reflect levels of demand by location and time of day'.
Richard Hibbert, head of strategic transport and parking, told the committee on Thursday (January 26), the highways department needed to make an extra £119,000 in the coming financial year.
He said it also had to claw back £1.3m - lost from car parks over two years because of the pandemic.
Crewe East councillor, Hazel Faddes (Labour), challenged the proposed car parking price increase,
She said: "In Crewe and Macclesfield, and some other towns, we already pay a premium to fix other people's car parks.
"The increase we will see in the parking charges in the next year, if this proposal goes forward, will mean the towns that are already paying will have to pay more. This is not fair."
She referred to care workers at the Acorn Centre in Crewe who currently pay £15 a week to park and would see that increase.
Cllr Faddes added: "They're not on a big wage, they're carers. How can they afford that?
"How can the staff at Asda afford to pay extra for car parking when, if they worked in another town, they wouldn't have to pay anything at all."
Crewe West Labour councillor, Cllr Connor Naismith, expressed concern over the lack of detail in the report.
He said: "Increasing parking charges in the places that already pay disproportionately to park in their towns, it simply cannot be considered fair.
"It will not be acceptable to my residents who already see their town centre in what they view as a state of decline."
Cllr Sally Holland (Congleton West, Conservative), said hiking up charges would 'cripple retailers'.
Committee chair Craig Browne (Alderley Edge, Independent), said the council, overall, had to fund a £20m gap. He said doing nothing was not an option.
Director of highways and infrastructure Tom Moody told councillors that when they responded to the consultation they should 'look at alternative proposals rather than what's not feasible because we are set this incredibly difficult financial challenge'.
Mr Hibbert stressed again the highways department needed to find not just the additional £119,000 for next year but also make up for the lost £1.3m.
He told councillors that officers had an approach to achieve this and, 'as currently configured' charges in towns such as Crewe would increase and charges would be introduced to towns which are currently free.
He stressed there would have to be further public consultation on whatever was eventually decided.
The budget will now be considered by corporate policy in February before going to full council on Wednesday 22 February.
READ MORE: Major Crewe car dealer adds another donation to town's food bank.
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