Yet again there are issues with car parking in Macclesfield, Cheshire East Council immediately introducing parking charge on the day non-essential shops opened.

The fees can now only be paid using a card or the ring-go app, Clearly NO thought has been given by the portfolio holder about people who may not have the skills or equipment to use the system.

The portfolio holder for highways, Cllr Laura Crane, says coins create multiple touch points. What a load of rubbish. You have to touch the machine seven times to put your reg number in, eight if you include getting the ticket.

Sounds like the same issue they had before lockdown, and most of 2019 when the machines were apparently broken for months, especially at Whalley Hayes.

People aren't daft we can see the council are trying to save money by not having to pay to collect and bank the cash.

No consideration has been made to businesses or the elderly, it could potentially be seen by some that this is a move to support out of town retail. Sort it out, business is tough for many.

I guess as a Cllr Crane gets free parking!

By Richard Slater