BIG PICTURE
WHILE it is readily accepted that the re-introduction of parking fees is part of the natural course of getting back to normal, I feel that there is an element of running before walking.
On the June 15 retail establishments were allowed to re-open. This is being done with a certain amount of trepidation, due to the uncertainty over the general public’s willingness to come out and embrace this relaxation.
Those who have accepted the lockdown in order to protect their health, will be very nervous of exposing themselves to the various shopping environments.
The introduction of parking charges should be withheld for a short period whilst people become more relaxed about embracing the high street.
It will naturally take a period of time until any concept of normality returns. If you are insistent on charging for parking, have you considered a grace period of up to one hour after the expiration of the ticket before penalty notices are issues?
With new measures which includes queuing before entering into the store, social distancing and one-way systems, who can say with certainty how long a shop will take?
The restriction on paying could also add additional pressures for that section of society that is not familiar with modern technology and are traditionally users of cash only.
When making contactless payments to avoid spreading the virus, one will still be expected to punch in their car registration number.
How often will the meters be cleaned or are we expected to wear gloves which also carries a risk?
These additional requirements will only deter people from coming into town, particularly older people who find the ways of the modern world very challenging. We don’t want to isolate our elderly further and increase the cost for those on fix incomes.
Beverley Dooley via email
IN DESPAIR AT DECISION
WE are dismayed that Cheshire East’s Labour/ Independent Cabinet has chosen to reintroduce car parking charges.
What incentive is this, after so many weeks of adhering to lockdown, for shoppers to return to our two town centres?
We despair at this decision!
Cheshire East Conservative Group
BEYOND PARTY POLITICS
I AGREE with Cheshire East Conservative councillors that all children deserve the very best start in life and that includes a good education.
Indeed, it is their right under Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
But, like their Conservative colleagues at Westminster, they fail to see the bigger picture and realise too late the return of children to school can only happen when it is safe to do so. Clearly the amount of school time lost by the vast majority of children is unprecedented and is causing stress to children and their families.
But after consultation with head teachers, parents and unions, the decision was taken to delay and phase the return over the second half of June.
The Government has now of course also come round to this point of view, realising that the vast majority of our schools can only accommodate limited numbers of pupils to make the environment as safe as possible. The education of our children should indeed be beyond party politics.
Rather than irresponsible carping, Conservative councillors time would be best spent lobbying their party colleagues in the Government to call for local government to be properly funded, and for grants to Cheshire East Council to cover the £60m additional expenditure for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Councillor Brian Puddicombe Macclesfield South
WELCOME AGREEMENT
I WOULD like to congratulate the Labour Party and Independents for negotiating local Cheshire East Council policies and strategies for the re-opening of schools.
Ten years ago I retired from teaching and moved to Bollington.
This is the first time since then that I have read about two large democratically representative groups reaching such a monumental agreement and understanding within Cheshire East Council.
Well done but we are not done with Covid-19, so please support the council and all the unions who are working to protect your future.
Malcolm Bailey Bollington
TRUST IS PUT IN PERIL
WE were shocked to receive an email from David Rutley whose response to the furore about Dominic Cummings is that he should have apologised (Macclesfield Express June 3 page 4).
Along with many others, we believe that:
the number of deaths caused by Coronavirus is truly appalling
it is important that people observe government restrictions in order to minimise further deaths
the behaviour of Dominic Cummings, and the failure of the government to deal with it appropriately, make it less likely that people will do so.
So far, there has been no response from Mr Rutley to a follow up email about whether he agrees with all or any of the above.
People are dying in large numbers and constituents of his are taking daily risks to care for those who are or may be infected.
Maintaining trust in government must be the highest priority at the moment if lives are to be saved. The Prime Minister said: “I will not support those who flout the rules on social distancing.”
Yet the government’s failure to deal appropriately with Mr Cummings is putting that trust in peril.
Until Mr Rutley and his colleagues show that they understand this and act on it, we believe that they are endangering lives.
Do other readers agree with this?
Cliff Mills and
David Mayers via email
LAST week Councillor Stott (Cheshire East Council’s Finance Portfolio Holder), issued a second, alarmist statement, berating central government for a predicted £60m shortfall in 2020/21 funding to underwrite the costs of Covid-19.
However, when these claims were repeated in last week’s Cabinet papers and when questioned, council officers admitted that the council was not currently in debt and that it had received in excess of £130m from central government – so far!
Whilst not an exhaustive list, nearly £100m has been distributed in grants to businesses, £5m for infection control funding for care providers, monies for street safety preparations, a £2.2m hardship fund and nearly £20m (in two payments), for emergency expenditure to enable the council to maintain essential services.
The £60m predicted shortfall does not take account of the two latter payments and the remaining £40m is currently a speculative estimate.
Government have already set in place a rigorous ‘Covid coding accounting system’ to monitor local authority Covid expenditure.
The Centre for Public Scrutiny has also provided guidance for the council’s scrutiny and audit and governance committees to keep a watching brief on how councils are spending Covid money.
The LabourIndependent coalition know very well that effective lobbying of government requires evidence and government have helpfully provided the framework for this – it is after all public money.
There is no doubt the cost of Covid will be enormous and if a financial shortfall, as a result of
Covid is identified, all elected members will be lobbying government for support. However, until that evidence can be examined, openly and transparently, in the public domain, such headlines can be considered no more than speculative rhetoric.