Demonstrating against unfair car parking charges across Crewe & Nantwich was essential because...

Demonstrating against unfair car parking charges across Crewe & Nantwich was essential because it is a major issue for the people of the area. Neither the Conservative, nor the Liberal Democrat candidates turned up, and people could have been forgiven for thinking that the campaign somehow ‘belonged’ to the Labour party, given that the demonstration started from the USDAW offices. On Saturday 13th March, I wanted to make clear that it is the people’s issue and not a ‘political’ issue.

Cheshire East had previously tried to introduce parking charges in Middlewich as part of its strategy to bring the whole of the borough into line. I was instrumental in getting the plans scrapped. I took the relevant officers to the key sites to make them see how charging on certain car parks would affect key workers in the town and damage businesses. I want to fight for Crewe and Nantwich to be given the same opportunity to put their point across. Although parking charges already exist, they should certainly not be at a higher rate than the rest of Cheshire East, and there should be some element of ‘free time’. This is what Crewe and Nantwich deserve.