An MP has urged Cheshire East’s top boss to step in and tackle parking problems in Knutsford to help protect the high street.
Tatton MP Esther McVey said everything possible must be done to support businesses and high street shops and said current restrictions, both in terms of the car parking barriers and payment for parking that are in place is detrimental to the area.
She has written to Cheshire East Chief Executive Lorraine O’Donnell asking her to get involved after previous pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
Ms McVey said: “The queues in car parks in Knutsford are ridiculous and both businesses and residents are at their wits end. We should be doing everything possible to support businesses and ensure our high streets thrive as we return to a more normal way of life and obstacles such as no on street parking and car parking ticket machines that do not take cash are not helping.
“People are queuing up as card payment readers are slow and people get frustrated and leave and go somewhere else, which is not what we want. We want our local economy to thrive. When people leave, they go home and buy online which does not help our local retailers who we all need to be supporting to help them get back on their feet.
“I have written to different senior officers at the council about this matter and it is still a problem so I am hoping the Chief Executive will personally look at this matter and get back to me with how the council are going to sort out the problem. I would suggest if the machines cannot be made to take cash again that charges are stopped until a better or faster system is in place.”
Ms McVey has repeatedly called for the parking barriers to be removed fearing it is deterring people from shopping in Knutsford as it gives off the impression the town is closed.
Parking charges were suspended in Cheshire East at the start of lockdown to support keyworkers and were reintroduced on June 15 when high street shops reopened.
