Author Topic: Cheshire councillor admits to council's use of parking charges to fund services  (Read 3887 times)

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Offline Web Admin

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Council to consult over parking charges but not in Wilmslow (yet)

by Lisa Reeves
Wednesday 10th September 2014


Cheshire East Council has announced it is to review its parking charges to see how it can better support local towns and businesses.

The Council will consult with local businesses, partnerships and people with disabilities on an off-street parking pricing policy that will reflect the needs of different areas.

However, the Council has decided to focus the review on the "Borough's key towns" of Crewe, Nantwich, Macclesfield, Knutsford and Congleton - so Wilmslow will not be included at this stage.

Electric vehicle charging bays also look to be introduced in some of the car parks.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "We are a listening Council that puts residents first and is committed to supporting our local businesses to help them thrive and prosper.

"Parking policy needs to reflect the needs of different areas and help bring more people into Cheshire East to spend money and boost the local economy.

"However, we recognise that each of our towns is unique and so we are not advocating harmonisation of charges across Cheshire East.

"We will focus on our key towns of Crewe, Nantwich, Macclesfield, Knutsford and Congleton as a starting point for consultation. We know that car parks aren't free as we have to maintain them and we need to operate on a full-cost-recovery basis.

"What we can do and will do is listen and act wherever we can to develop and implement a more attractive car parking policy to boost economic vitality and job creation across the Borough."

Cheshire East will consult with key stakeholders over proposals for an affordable and attractive parking policy with a particular emphasis on Crewe, Nantwich, Macclesfield, Knutsford and Congleton.

A report setting out the outcome of the conversations with local businesses and a set of key recommendations will be put before the Council's Cabinet for consideration on November 11th 2014.

Councillor Jones added: "We wish to set charges for parking which reflect local pressures and needs. The Council should also look to make car parking charges cost neutral and no longer fund our services.

"Conversations with businesses and local people since that date as well as research have shown that accessible, affordable and attractive parking places encourage people to shop in towns. Therefore, we want to continue those conversations and listen even more to local stakeholders on the way forward to nurturing strong communities and further boosting local economies and job creation.

"Cheshire East is about listening, putting residents first and being open for business. It is a strategy which has seen Cheshire East being recognised as the Best in the North West – and a place that is truly open for business."

Responding to why Wilmslow was not included in the consultation, a spokesperson from Cheshire East Council said "Due to the extensive nature of the consultation, it was felt that a staged approach would be taken to ensure that we used limited resources in the best way. There is no suggestion that Wilmslow will not be consulted with in the future."


http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/10312/council-to-consult-over-parking-charges-but-not-in-wilmslow-yet

Offline The Bald Eagle

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Finally we have someone telling us what we already know. <Yes!>



IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
WE ARE WATCHING YOU

Offline DastardlyDick

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But aren't they allowed to use any "surplus" to fund Transport related services?

Offline The Bald Eagle

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But aren't they allowed to use any "surplus" to fund Transport related services?

Apart from the fact he never specifically mentioned transport related services, it goes to the fact that only now are they realising that ALL parking services should have been designed as revenue neutral public services from the start. And even if it was, and then they started making too much surplus, they should have immediately reviewed their parking charges accordingly to get the surplus as close to neutrality as possible.

What the councillor is actually admitting to is the fact that they have in the past BUDGETED for the surplus in order to subsidise other services and have damaged local trade as a result.
WE ARE WATCHING YOU

 


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