PARKING CHARGES PROTEST
HUNDREDS of people marched to protest against parking charges.
Drivers had to pay to park in Congleton for the first time last Monday, after months of campaigning to stop the proposals
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MINI MARCHERS: Four-year-olds Arran Wilkie and Jordan Crowther make their feelings clear during the march. Picture: Steve Bould
About 250 people joined in the march through the town on Saturday to complain about the new charges, introduced by Cheshire East Council.
Protesters marched through the town from West Street car park to Antrobus Street, where they staged a short rally.
Along the way, members of action group No2ParkingCharges handed out flyers, calling on people to write and send e-mails to Wesley Fitzgerald, leader of Congleton Borough Council.
Action group member Graeme Goodwin, aged 65, of West Heath, said: "Now we want people to make their feelings known to the leader of the council. We want her to receive so much paperwork she can't possibly ignore us.
"We have had a really good turnout, which shows how strongly people feel about parking charges. Now we have got to organise a meeting, which will probably be tomorrow, to decide what to do next.
"The thing that is frustrating people is that Cheshire East Council will not listen to us."
Congleton historian Lyndon Murgatroyd, pictured, aged 70, of West Heath, was one of the march leaders. He said: "The attitude of the council is making ordinary people into political activists. Parking charges have been implemented without any real consultation. People feel they have been ignored by the council."
Drivers now have to pay 50p to park for up to two hours at Chapel Street, Back Park Street, West Street and Park Street.
Charges at Antrobus Street, Princess Street and the Fairground car parks are 30p for up to an hour. Car parks at Blake Street/Edgerton Street, Rood Hill, Royle Street and Thomas Street remain free.
From next month, parking in the town will be decriminalised, meaning Cheshire East Council will take over responsibility for enforcing parking restrictions from police.
Former Congleton borough councillor and ex-town mayor Louise Beard joined the protest. She said: "The councillors have forgotten they are public servants – they are not listening to the people who elected them. This town will become a ghost town, it is an appalling state of affairs."
Margaret Counsell, aged 69, of Tidnock Avenue, Congleton, said: "If I could have a sit-in protest I would, I feel so strongly about it.
"There should not be parking charges in Congleton."
7 Comments
by graham, Newcastle
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 7:12PM
“Pay park in Stoke On Trent no thanks, I would rather drive up the motorway and shop at good shops just a short drive away. Keep on putting up the car parking charges Stoke on Trent, soon many more people will do what I do and find somewhere else to shop where it is free.”
by mike, alsager
Monday, February 22 2010, 7:09PM
“Cheshire East eh.....It just gets better and better ! they are all deaf you know! their car parking harmonisation plan is going down a treat!”
by Dave, Kidsgrove
Monday, February 22 2010, 2:29PM
“I have a Tesco on my door step where I can park for 3 hours free of charge, why should I now go into Congleton and be charged. I used to go to the market but not anymore, why pay when I can park at Tesco for free and get all my shopping in one go.
Do these councillors live in the real world, town centres all over the country are becoming ghost towns with boarded up shops, is this their plan for Congleton, how will they replace the fall in business rates, no doubt with increased parking charges. I do fear this is the beginning of the end for traders in Congleton.”
by Gill Burnett, Congleton
Monday, February 22 2010, 1:55PM
“I work in Congleton and travel by car from Kidsgrove daily. No bus to get me to work before09.45am. Train great only 6 mins from Kidsgrove downside 1.3mile walk into Congleton from Station. Car park right outside my office door. Was always full. Last Monday only 3 cars parked. Tuesday 5 car parked.
5 x £1.50 = £7.50parking
2 Traffic wardens wages??
PRICELESS.”
by Bob, Stoke
Monday, February 22 2010, 1:21PM
“It looks like all councillors are taking back handers from out of town shopping centres, they all seem to drive the shopper out of town centre's. After Stoke Council increased their charges I no longer use Hanley, I have used Congleton, usually the first Saturday of each month after I have been to Rode Hall Farmers Market. I won't be going again. I pay enough for my shopping these days without councils forcing additional charges. I will not stick to the likes of Festival Park (well until the council sneak in parking charges here) or other out of town shops.
I think council want to turn town centres into ghost towns, then they can get further backhanders of developers.”
by Rob, Biddulph
Monday, February 22 2010, 1:06PM
“You could always go to Biddulph as its better anyway and the parking is cheaper!”
by luap, burslem
Monday, February 22 2010, 10:50AM
“We used to go to Gongleton quite frequently for a meal and a shop in the high st and market but not so any more the town is to small to warrent these charges we shall be stayin on our own doorstep and parking on private supermarket car parks where we can have three hours for free thanks be to the likes of Sainsburys of Stoke. Tesco of Longton etc when will the so called councilors realize that Joe public does not have bottemless pockets ?”