Cllr John Bamforth
MEMBERS of Lymm Parish Council are growing increasingly concerned about increased traffic congestion since new charges were introduced on borough-run car parks in the village.
Shoppers have seen the previous one hour free period cut to 15 minutes and, at the same time, the minimum charge increased from 50p to £1.
As a result, many drivers are seeking on-street parking places to avoid having to pay.
Danebank Road, Pepper Street, Rosebank and other roads are all suffering from parking problems.
Two parish councillors – deputy chairman John Bamforth and Cllr Anna Fradgley have carried out parking surveys on Thursday, January 5 and Saturday January 7 and have also carried out interviews with shoppers and traders.
Cllr Fradgley said: “We are finding drivers are avoiding the car parks. On the Saturday morning, the busiest trading day in the village, Davies Way had an occupancy of 58 per cent and Pepper Street an occupancy of 65 per cent.
“It is evident that cars are finding on-road parking spaces not used previously and walking into the village.
“Danebank Road is a concern. Many more cars are double parking which is causing major traffic congestion on a road used by large lorries and tractors to avoid the weight restricted village centre bridge. Residents are informing me of near misses on that road.
“More cars are parking along Rosebank and Pepper Street creating a nuisance for residents.”
The Liberal Democrat councillor said many people were calling for traffic calming measures – particularly since an accident on Higher Lane last week in which a motor cyclist was injured and had to be airlifted to hospital.
“The parish council is setting up a meeting with the borough council to look at the options,” she added
Cllr Bamforth said: “The opinions of residents remain unchanged. They want the one hour free parking back.
“Now the changes are in place there is more anger than before. People come into the village for the chemist and those on free prescriptions are finding they must pay for what should be a free visit. I spoke to one mother of a diabetic child who regularly visits Lymm for his medication. She told me she always pays, as 15 minutes is never enough time in the chemist. This is unfair.
“Traders are finding that people are either not coming into Lymm at all or are just dashing in and out, not taking time to browse. Many commented on how much quieter the village is compared to previous Januarys. Takings were definitely down over Christmas.”
Cllr Fradgley maintains the changes introduced by the borough council contravene the Traffic Management Act 2004 which imposes an explicit duty on local authorities to manage their network so as to reduce congestion and disruption.
It also says local authorities should set appropriate parking charges that do not undermine the vitality of town centres and parking enforcement should be proportionate, avoiding unfairly penalising drivers or driving people away from their local high streets.’
“I don’t think the borough council is taking this seriously enough. We need to restore the free one hour as soon as possible for damage limitation.”
The borough has promised to review the situation in March. But Lymm councillors are urging anyone with concerns to email Cllr Hans Mundry, the borough council’s lead member for transportation, at [email protected]
