Macclesfield Express

Car park work ‘made it worse’

- ALEX SCAPENS

THE council has been accused of wasting money after spending on car park improvemen­ts only to ‘ make it worse’.

Workers resurfaced and re-painted the lines at Exchange Street car park, just off Churchill Way, Macclesfie­ld town centre, which is next to Tesco and B&M Bargains.

It is now one way but, according to John Thornton, who used the site following the improvemen­ts, the system is causing delays and queues.

And the new walkway between rows of cars is hard to access because street furniture, including a parking meter, blocks it off.

John, 74, from Tytheringt­on, says meanwhile Park Green car park, also in the town centre, desperatel­y needs resurfacin­g.

He said: “They must have spent many thousands of

pounds on it but made it worse. It’s a complete waste of money.

“The car park is now oneway which makes for traffic jams and difficult access to the parking close to Churchill Way.

“A significan­t area of the car park has been lost by providing a pedestrian walkway between the centre parking rows, but shoppers can’t get down it because one end is completely blocked by the ticket machine.

“Compared to most other car parks this was the best one. Park Green should have been prioritise­d, it is a hazard to walk on with dozens of loose and missing cobbles.”

John has said he will not use the car park again.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: “The car park was in a poor condition and causing a health and safety risk to users.

“The surface had degraded over time and, alongside numerous potholes, the previous surface was showing through, giving a lack of clarity on the markings and confusion over the direction of travel.

“These issues in turn caused congestion, as there are no passing points around the car park. The surface was renewed and relined and the one-way system reinstated to give improved flow.

“The car park also provides parking for customers to local shops – thus improving the economy of the town centre.

“The central walk way is a lined area which allows users to walk across with adequate room.

“If drivers over-park in bays adjacent to this and encroach on that area, the walkway may become more narrow and difficult for mobility scooters and pushchair users. We therefore encourage users to park responsibi­lity.”

 ??  ?? The blocked walkway at Exchange Street car park and (inset) the poor surface at Park Green car park
The blocked walkway at Exchange Street car park and (inset) the poor surface at Park Green car park

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