Councillors' pledge on parking problems

LYMM Parish Council is committed to finding a solution to parking problems in the village – even if it means pay-and-display on all car parks.
This was the message from chairman Coun Sheila Woodyatt and borough council leader Coun Ian Marks when a deputation of traders attended a meeting of the council.
But initially, they are to trial pay-and-display only on the Pepper Street car park.
Traders’ Association chairman Phil Sexton told the council that at a meeting the previous night, members had expressed “shock, disgust and downright anger” at an apparent reversal of the original proposal to install pay-and-display on all car parks.
He said retailers believed a consultation carried out by Warrington Borough Council had been seriously flawed because it had not mentioned anything about measures to be taken to stop abuse of on-street parking – the apparent main cause of objections to the scheme.
There had also been a promise of further consultation on permits for residents and businesses – another cause for objections.
He said: “The high street as we know it is dying a slow death with the credit crunch and growth of internet sales. The main advantage Lymm can offer to town centres is local, convenient shopping – but where is the convenience if the customer is unable to park?”
Mr Sexton said shoppers were also being harassed and driven away by over-zealous parking wardens.
Coun Woodyatt agreed that the consultation had not been satisfactory because it did not go into sufficient detail. But there would be further consultation before any final decision was taken.
The parish council was anxious to introduce a scheme as soon as possible and believed the quickest way would be to start with a pilot scheme in Pepper Street.
Coun Marks said if the pilot scheme did not result in an increased footfall in Lymm, extending it to the other car parks would be considered. He believed starting with Pepper Street only was a step in the right direction. But it was only the first stage of the process.
But he pointed out that occupiers of offices in Lymm were opposed to pay-and-display parking – and Coun Woodyatt said concern had been expressed by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau about parking provision for volunteer workers if free parking was ended.
The pilot scheme at Pepper Street will provide for two hours free parking before charging starts.