Parking Charges and Highways

It is with interest that I read the complaint issued by Councillor Anthony Critchley about small village car parks being subsidised by those who pay parking charges in places like Macclesfield and Crewe.

What is not mentioned in the article (you have to work it out for yourself) is the fact that after costs CEC have made a massive 3,640,000+ profit and that there has been no expenditure on many village car parks including Audlem.

In fact, there has been virtually no expenditure on the roads of the communities around Audlem for some considerable time. You just need to look at the overgrown state of the gutters and foot paths around Hatherton and Hankelow to see what I mean. When was the last time you saw a road sweeper driving around our streets and lanes? How often are the gulley's emptied? What about the street light that is constantly being complained about? Answers on the back of a £20 note please!

So, the burning question is where does this money go if not back to investing on the infrastructure that so badly needs it? My guess is that the rural communities are dipping out big style when compared to our urban neighbours.

But this matter of funding and services raises a further issue. Another sleight of hand by CEC is the introduction of a 'top up' Highways Maintenance pilot scheme (a scheme which they are already talking about as being permanent before it has even been fully trailed) where Parish and Ward Councillors will be asked to pay for road or carpark works to be carried out which become necessary but are not currently included in the highways programme.

Such as extra charges for gulley clearing or fixing street lights; £120 per square metre for fixing pot holes; £500 per day for two men to just stand there and operate 'Stop'/Go' signs. The list of extras is quite extensive. In effect, we as tax payers will have to pay twice because CEC have diverted funds to other pet projects.

The imposition of parking charges will have a profound effect on Audlem as I can see it causing even greater parking problems in the area of the Co-op and down Cheshire Street as people attempt to avoid the charges. And what about our plethora of disabled parking slots? Surely these will be reduced in order to enable Cheshire East Council (CEC) to maximise revenue from parking charges. Unfortunately, the comment regarding the fact that the car park serves the medical centre and is a drop off point for the elderly won't wash as CEC can point to a similar situation in Nantwich by the medical centre where charges are enforced.

Whatever the outcome, we as council tax payers will be paying a whole lot more in the near future!

All the best,
Bob