ADCA and Parking Charges

Impact of Parking Charges on ADCA

Several Audlem village organisations who have responded to Cheshire East Council's Car Parks Review 2023 have – among their other concerns – raised the potential negative impact of the proposed charges on ADCA's operations.

We are very grateful to all organisations and individuals who have put their misgivings about the effect on ADCA in writing to the Council. Thank you!

ADCA runs three of its weekly clubs on three separate days in Audlem Public Hall Annexe.

Our members and carers who come to our clubs using their own transport – many of whom are frail or otherwise vulnerable – could well be discouraged from coming by the imposition of these charges.

Our voluntary drivers, who use their own vehicles to bring in people who don't have transport of their own, will also be disadvantaged if charges are made.

A bit of history!

Back in the day when Audlem people and organisations were enthusiastically fundraising to build the Annexe, ADCA was heavily involved in the planning.

We liaised closely at the time with Cheshire East Council (who have been – and still are – generous funders of ADCA's work) over the changes that would need to be made to parking bays in the car park.

We pointed out that our voluntary drivers would need to be able to park between the bays at the back of the Annexe for the length of time that it took to drop off (or pick up) and safely escort their passengers through the rear doors of the Annexe.

And that it was essential that they could do so without incurring penalties for parking outside the marked bays.

This, of course, also applied to the (volunteer) drivers of the wonderful Wheelybus – Rodney Cottrell's dream, finally fully realised only in 2019!

To Conclude

ADCA is concerned that parking charges might discourage people from coming to our clubs, and might also discourage people from volunteering to drive for us.

We are further concerned that if a more punitive approach to fines for car parking infringements is taken in future – if/when charges are introduced – this will have a severely detrimental impact on ADCA's ability to provide a vital service to older people and their carers in our local community.

We believe this issue needs to be resolved.

_______

ADCA (Audlem & District Community Action) is a local charity providing social activity for adults and older people and their carers who may be socially isolated or need support.

We aim to help people to be socially active and meet others locally, maintain their independence, improve their health and wellbeing, and feel valued members of their community.

Visit our website here
https://adca.audlem.org