Macclesfield: Community reacts to paid parking proposals at Bollington carpark
Bollingtonians have responded to the news that a free carpark in Bollington could be getting paid charges introduced.
While free parking is hard to find in Macclesfield, Bollington has benefitted from free parking at the Pool Bank Carpark since the 1970s.
However, Cheshire East Council are proposing to introduce charges to the Palmerston Street site, which has 71 spaces. This is part of a new consultation which is seeing a large number of parking changes across the borough.
The Pool Bank charges would range from 60p for up to an hour, the equivalent to Macclesfield's Hibel Road carpark for example, and £3.40 for six to ten hours.
Cheshire East Council, who own Pool Bank Carpark, have not specified when these proposed changes could come in to force.
The carpark, which includes three disabled spaces and electric car charging facilities, first had ANPR facilities were installed to explore parking ticket introduction in May 2023.
The community valley reacted negatively then, but with more awareness and one step closer to confirmation, voices against it are becoming louder.
"I think it is really important that Bollington retains this free carpark", said Bollington Town Councillor Jo Maitland.
"It has been free for its entire existence. There are rumours that it was gifted to the people of Bollington, but someone has to maintain it, and as it was an asset in Bollington Urban District Council, it then moved to Macclesfield Borough Council, and then to Cheshire East Council.
"The title documents are owned by Cheshire East. Very sadly for our small town, that means they can do what they like with it.
"Transferring it back to Bollington is not going to be a go-er as far as we are aware at Bollington Town Council, because Cheshire East Council does not swap assets such as this back. Not without a large commercial outlay, which this small Town Council can't afford.
"Bollington has got an interesting issue because it is a linear town. It hasn't got an obvious hub, it does have an awfully large proportion of houses without off-street parking. There are many streets where there isn't on-street parking by the people's houses. So they are reliant on being able to park their cars here."
Macclesfield Nub News spoke to businesses on Palmerston Street, that are directly opposite the currently free-to-use carpark.
GoLocal convenience store manager Roy said "Definitely it will impact the business."
"Currently, it is free of charge. But if people who want to come to the shop will have to pay for the carpark, they will go to the supermarket or somewhere else with a free carpark.
"I think it will be a bad thing for Bollington. The people that live in the surrounding area are paying for Council Tax, but at the same time they do not have enough space to park their car."
Anne and Julie, who work at Bellfields Village Bakery also reacted to the news, with both opposing the fee introduction.
"It won't do us any good at all. It will kill the shops. It is simple as that," said Anne.
"I use the carpark every day. I know that we haven't got anywhere else to park. Have you been on High Street or Water Street?
"We've only got that [Pool Bank]. Bollington people do not want it."
Bollington Printshop, which is located inside the carpark, would also be greatly affected.
Vikki Wray has co-owned Bollington Printshop in Pool Bank Carpark for the past five years.
"They've failed [to introduce charges] in the past so we didn't expect them to be put forward again", said Vikki.
"This time is hardcore. They are going in belts and braces because of the Cheshire East deficit.
"By putting Bollington in the same bracket as any other town, it doesn't work.
"We have a tiny little high street with no big supermarkets. People come here to shop independent, and use local facilities.
"And those local facilities are for things like the bakery, where you can buy a sausage roll for 95p, now you are going to have to whack 60p on it, are you going to make the effort?
"As a printshop, are lowest item is 30p, so add 60p, you are now making it essentially three times more expensive.
"I can understand if the parking was like the first half hour was free, or a dayrate, but it is just bullish and raising funds for the council to get them out of debt essentially.
"One thing I think I noticed is that of all the towns that are getting these changes, Bollington is the only one without a train station."
Cllr Maitland echoed this: "We don't have the public transport infrastructure to allow people to live in this town and work elsewhere," said the Central Ward representative for Bollington Town Council.
"With constant cuts to the buses, and we are going to leave people isolated if they have to spend the best part of £500-a-year in order to park here. And I'm afraid that isn't going to guarantee them a space either, it is literally just a permit, it doesn't guarantee them a space, which is a little bit of a concern as well as top of everyone thing."
The Spinners Arms pub posted a statement on social media which read the "introducing parking charges will have a detrimental effect on us all; businesses, customers, residents and visitors, with the increases in the cost of living already crippling many."
They also urged locals to sign a petition, started by Cllr Maitland, which want to stop the changes happening.
However, Cllr Maitland wants the public to go further to help preserve the free community asset.
"I want the public to engage with the consultation. We have seen already on social media there are a lot of worried people.
"But talking online or in cafes or in the pub is unfortunately not enough. It does require them to email or write a letter, I don't believe that is very accessible for people, but that's the way it has been set up. If people want help with words or responding to the consultation, they can contact me for that [[email protected]]."
The new tariff rates would be between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
Speaking on Facebook, Bollington Cheshire East Councillor Ken Edwards said "There is rightly considerable concern about these charges."
"It is now our turn as citizens of Bollington to have our say until November 1," he said.
"We need to get the Charges for Pool Bank dropped from the report and the list of proposals when they come before the Council as an integrated unit.
"As a Councillor, I am faced with either voting for raising charges across the board that will go towards giving Cheshire East a balanced budget or having to find the funds from elsewhere. As an individual Councillor, I cannot find those funds.
"The current opposition has refused to explore any alternatives to the measures proposed. They voted against a balanced budget. I regard that as a betrayal of their electors and a recognition they are not fit to lead a Local authority at this time.
"Our joint leadership has agreed to ensure our financial stability and our ability in particular to serve our most vulnerable citizens through a measured programme of service review. We have safeguarded your public assets and maintained a steady Council Tax regime. I am proud that I have joined that responsible administration.
"I shall be voting for financial stability. Under those circumstances, I shall vote for long term financial stability. That may mean reluctantly accepting the democratic decision to include charging for Pool Bank."
Cllr Edwards' full statement can be read HERE.
Bollington's other Cheshire East Councillor, John Place, has also been contacted for comment.
However, one business owner has argued that street parking around the town could be greatly impacted by introducing fees at Pool Bank. Michael Chadwick, who owns Chadwick's newsagents directly opposite Pool Bank, gave his opinions.
"I believe that the Pool Bank Carpark was gifted to the people Bollington for their use, to assist in local business and parking for residents and this is how it should remain," said Michael.
"At a time when the average person and the small shopkeeper is finding the cost of living crisis, difficult, why has the council decided to implement charges that will reduce spending in the local area.
"I can see that the side streets will come overwhelmed, as people cannot afford to pay extra parking charges at the moment.
"My personal opinion is the streets around Bollington, including the waiting zone outside our shop, are just going to be used to park their cars, because people won't want to pay for parking."
The former fairground turned carpark was purchased by Jonathan James Jackson Heathcote, of Heathcotes Butchers, from when he lived at nearby West View House in the 1920s.
When he purchased the house, the Pool Bank land came with it, but was later removed from the deeds.
His grandsons still run the butchers just up the road to this day, and are another business in close proximity to the site.
Cheshire East Council's statutory consultation on the borough's parking arrangements will run for six weeks until 1 November 2023.
Though if you are responding by post, make sure you respond extra early to make sure your views are sent in time and considered. The deadline for post is November 6.
Pretty much every Cheshire East settlement with a council-owned carpark is having proposed changes introduced, whether it is rising fees or the transition from free to paid parking.
A press release sent to Macclesfield Nub News claims it will "aim to improve fairness and consistency across its towns."
It has seen other free carparks across the county become paid, but Michael believes Bollington should be an exception to this.
"I think Bollington should be an exception," said Michael.
"We built a community of cottages around us with no parking facilities. The likes of Water Street, High Street, Oldham Street, Park Street, and Queen Street all use the carparks to park their cars at night.
"Now, they are not going to be able to park anywhere [without paying].
"And another thing, if everyone decides to pay for a parking permit, what happens when there are no [available] spaces? Where are those cars who have paid for a permit going to go?
"There have been numerous times when I came to work to find the car park full at both 4am and 5pm. When this happens I will park on the road but make sure it's only for 45 minutes."
When asked whether he thinks it will affect his business at all, Michael said: "Definitely. 100 percent."
"The parking bay partly outside our shop is designed for people to stop and go. Whether that is at mine, or the other businesses, they come in, they buy something, do their weekly shop, and go.
"If people will not pay for parking, they are going to park outside our shops.
"I don't want people parking for a long-time in front of the shops, I want it to be a loading bay where they can come in, shop and go."
Jackie and Nat, who run No. 74 Delicatessen next to Chadwicks convenience store and are also opposite the carpark, had this to say:
"I understand they [the Council] have to make money somehow," said Jackie.
"But free parking opposite to us has been an asset to us and residents.
"If they start putting charges on it will completely change the dynamic.
"It is a very difficult one. I feel parking charges in general have killed places like it has in Macclesfield.
"And retail parks are free of charge so people will go there instead.
"People from outside the area are shocked that it is a free carpark."
Cheshire East Council have also been contacted for further comment, particularly in regards to Bollington. But had nothing further to add.
It is not just businesses that could be affected. The nearest charity to Pool Bank is The Bridgend Centre, of 104 Palmerston Street.
Centre Manager Rebecca Lea said: "The Bridgend Centre is very concerned about this proposal as we believe it will reduce accessibility for our staff, volunteers and the people who use our Centre and the other shops and businesses in this part of Bollington."
"Parking is scarce in Bollington and if charges are implemented in the car park more people will park on the roads and streets, therefore reducing the options for the people who use our centre, many of whom have mobility issues.
"It will also have a detrimental impact on volunteers who give their time generously to our charity, to then have to pay to park. We are also concerned that there will be health and safety risks if there are too many cars parked in the streets.
"We are concerned that these difficulties may reduce the number of people who come to use our shop, therefore reducing our income. We are also concerned for local businesses in this currently thriving town."
The full proposed charges for Pool Bank can be found below:
Pool Bank Carpark Bollington
60p for an hour
£1.00 for one to two hours
£1.50 for two to three hours
£2.10 for three to four hours
£3.00 for four to six hours
£3.40 for six to ten hours
Quarter £163
Annual £490
In a statement sent to all media outlets, Cheshire East Council wrote: "Parking charges have only been increased once since Cheshire East was formed in 2009. This is no longer sustainable as the rate of inflation means that the costs of maintaining, managing and operating carparks has significantly increased."
"Parking income can help to support other services in the borough – ranging from highway improvements, subsidised bus services and active travel schemes.
"The council is proposing four key initiatives, which would deliver greater consistency of tariffs and support town centre vitality.
"Parking proposals to be consulted on include: Introduce parking charges in some carparks where parking is currently free, increasing current parking charges by the rate of inflation in some carparks across the borough, reducing parking charges in some carparks due to their location and usage, and changes to the limited waiting bay periods at certain on-street locations."
"The council will assess the likelihood of parked cars being displaced from carparks and will develop options to mitigate these impacts."
The parking proposals do not affect Blue Badge holders in any way.
Councillor Craig Browne, Cheshire East Council deputy leader and chair of the council's highways and transport committee, said: "The inherited legacy where some residents pay to park and others do not has caused a sense of unfairness.
"The council is proposing to address this imbalance – taking into account each town's characteristics – while also responding to the higher costs of maintaining our carparks, which require regular resurfacing, improved lighting and markings and the installation of EV charging points.
"It is important to us that we get as much feedback as possible to these proposals and I hope our residents, and businesses, will take this opportunity to feed into this consultation."
A Cheshire East Council press release added: "The council is set to report financial pressures of £12.8m against its 2023/24 budget. Savings have already been identified to reduce this from £26.6m.
"The outcome of the consultation will be considered by the council's highways and transport committee in January 2024, before any decisions are made.
"You can view the proposals via: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/parking_consultation.
"You can also view the proposals by contacting your local library by appointment. Please do not simply turn up. All contact numbers for local libraries are on the council's website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/libraries/nearest_library/nearest_library.aspx.
"Representations to the proposals must be emailed to: [email protected]."
Cllr Maitland concluded: "We have to try and get our voice heard. I feel very sadly that this could be a fait accompli [a thing decided before those affected hear about it]."
"We are where we are with what's happening, but let's see if we can minimise the worst of it. We must get the first half-hour [parking] fee at an absolute minimum.
"I think people should make mention that in their letters responding to the consultation. But it not happening at all would be even better.
"And to be honest, why are they not looking at our tourist carparks? We have two carparks, one down at Adlington Road and one at Clough Bank.
"And this might be unpopular for me to say this, but why aren't we charging at those carparks, and leave this for the people that really do need it."
Beyond comments sent to Macclesfield Nub News, the public have also reacted strongly, with over 250 comments on a single post on social media regarding Pool Bank.
For full details of parking finances in Cheshire East, including the parking services annual report, borough residents can visit: Parking finances (cheshireeast.gov.uk).
The consultation for Bollington, Macclesfield and all Cheshire East towns with carparks can be filled in on this link.
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