An Alsager councillor has explained why he voted against introducing car parking charges in the town – but he says he has sympathy for the £1m in council revenue now 'lost'.

Members of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee voted eight to five against bringing in car parking charges across towns in the borough where they are currently free.

The report, looking at a council-wide pay and display policy in council car parks with zonal tariffs went before Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee on Tuesday.

Councillor Phil Williams, a member of the committee, said he had concerns about the surveys carried out behind as part of the plan and said he did not believe that "one size" fits all when it comes to parking charges.

He said: "Alsager has the highest number of on street parking and had this plan been introduced it would have made the problem far worse.

"It's a really complicated problem and had we introduced charges it would have had a devastating effects. Each town is different and all the towns have their own features and qualities.

"It's not about raising revenue it's about other circumstances. I understand there is a case to be made but each town is individual and this should be taken into account.

"In Alsager, people use our car parks for a whole range of reasons. We have a mixed high street and charges would have been very difficult to implement. It would have been the death knell."

More than 1,000 residents had signed the "No Car Parking Charges in Alsager" petition.

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Several Alsager residents went to the meeting to voice their concerns including Alsager Town Council chairman, Councillor Michael Unett.

He said: "I think this is a fantastic win for Alsager and I'd like to thank my fellow councillors, all those who spoke at the meeting, our residents, businesses and organisations who all contributed to add pressure and make the case that Alsager should not have parking charges introduced."