Car park price rise hits charity shop worker
AVOLUNTEER has complained about new pricing designed to stop commuters using shoppers’ car parks, saying she may have to stop her charity work.
As previously reported the cost of using council car parks near Castle Street, Edgeley, will increase from £1.20 all day to £5 for four hours or more from April.
This is after shop owners on the precinct complained that people were parking all day and catching the train to work from nearby Stockport station.
And they said that this unofficial ‘park and ride’ meant their customers had nowhere to park so were being driven away.
But now this has led to a complaint from volunteer Janice Holmes, from Offerton, who uses the car parks near Castle Street.
She leaves her car there while volunteering on nearby Greek Street but says the increase may price her out of carrying on the role.
Janice said: “To force commuters to park on side streets in front of people’s houses seems counter effective and will also cause problems.
“Or on the other hand some commuters may think £5 is not expensive for a full day, so will still clog up some car parks.
“Perhaps these local car parks should all be free to benefit everyone. There is no way I can afford £5 a day, so I may have to finish volunteering.”
Janice says that often she finds some car parks are empty and that the increase in prices may also put off shoppers.
But a petition with around 300 signatures, many from business owners, asked for the increase on car parks at locations including York Street and James Street.
And the price rise was generally welcomed.
Councillor Philip Harding, who supported the shops with their campaign, said: “The car parks are not for all day parking.
“While I have sympathy for this lady, these car parks are designed to have a frequent turnaround of traffic to enable people to shop.
“Traders on Castle Street need to have this throughput of customers and the car parks and streets of Edgeley have been packed with commuters.
“Traders say it has been affecting business and there’s been a petition submitted with 300 signatures. Unfortunately we can’t please everybody with this.”