06 November 2023 , 20:16
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Hundreds of angry villagers armed with a horse-drawn hearse and banners proclaimed the ‘death’ of their village after plans to introduce a charge for a car park near a public hall.
Locals in Audlem, Cheshire insist that Cheshire East Council’s plans to charge 60p for one hour of parking, £1 for up to two hours, and £3.40 for up to 10, will have a ‘massive impact on so many people’s lives’. But council officials say the money generated from the 59-space car park is needed to maintain and resurface the area as it is currently ‘neither fair nor sustainable’.
March co-ordinator Brian Bugeja, 53, an engineer who has lived in the village for nine years, said it is the only car park for the village and its surrounding area. He reckons the charges will have a negative impact on the doctors' surgery and clinic, the cemetery, the public hall where activities are held on a daily basis, the free toilets and the post office.
Hundreds of people turned out for the protest (SAFE/CheshireLive/MEN)He told Cheshire Live: "I'd say there were about 250-300 people there. The hearse was to reflect that this would be the death of the village. By imposing the charge, it will impact the way of life in the village. People are annoyed and dismayed at this. Our march is meant to show Cheshire East that the people of Audlem are against these charges. It will have a massive impact on so many people’s lives and businesses if these charges are incurred.
“The potential income Cheshire East will make on the car park charges are insignificant compared to Cheshire East’s cost of maintaining, for example, our roads and other social obligations. In the report, it outlines the car park will generate an income of around £25,000, so we’re not talking significant amounts here. It will hardly pay, for example, for one of our local roads, which is currently blocked causing flooding because of an issue that’s been going on for five years… it’s not just me, or 10 people – it’s the whole of Audlem that is against it."
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But Councillor Craig Browne, Cheshire East Council deputy leader, said: “Parking charges have only been increased once since Cheshire East was formed in 2009. The current arrangements for parking charges across the borough, including where several towns have no charges in all council car parks, are neither fair, nor sustainable.”