SHOPPERS are to benefit from free town centre parking every Sunday.

Visitors to Crewe will no longer have to pay to leave vehicles in local authority-run car parks on Sundays from this weekend, in a move which brings rules in line with other towns across the Cheshire East Council area.

But traders and shoppers say there is not enough open on Sundays for it to have an impact.

Susan Rhead, owner of Humbugs traditional sweet shop, said: "We don't open on Sundays and we won't be opening when the free parking is introduced.

"There are not many shops that open except in the run up to Christmas, so I don't think it will make a difference.

"It will help the few that do open, but it would help trade more if there was a period of free parking in the week, such as in the afternoons after 3pm.

"Shops definitely need help, the rent and rates are so high you struggle to make a living.

"Shops are closing down and it has a knock-on effect on the people that are left trading."

Sales assistant Troy Wedgwood, aged 50, who works at Crewe Jewellers and Pawnbrokers, said: "Free parking would benefit more customers on Saturdays.

"I don't think it will encourage smaller traders to open on Sundays.

"If the council were committed to helping trade they would give us free parking on a Saturday. They need to revamp the town and give people a reason to come here."

Shopper Martin Cooper, aged 31, from Sandbach, agreed. He said: "I don't think free Sunday parking would make me come to Crewe more often."

Margaret Siddons, aged 65, also from Sandbach, said: "I think as long as all the shops are open then it will help boost trade."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council introduced free Sunday parking across its car parks last year in a bid to entice shoppers to towns, although this is due to be reviewed at the end of next month. Sunday parking in Newcastle town centre is also currently free.

Cheshire East councillor for Crewe North Derek Bebbington, pictured, said: "It had to be fair for all areas and Crewe is the last town to adopt free Sunday parking in Cheshire East.

"It was always intended we would scrap Sunday charges, but we were also harmonising all charges across all the towns and we couldn't do it all at once."

Fellow ward councillor Terry Beard said: "This is a victory for everyone who wants equality for Crewe with the rest of Cheshire East."

£1.15 million spent on parking at two hospitals in just 12 months: Page 2