Council bosses have admitted that implementing parking charges HAS caused an issue for residents living in one of the town's roads - but they say it's not considered to be "an immediate safety risk".

Alsager councillor, Rod Fletcher, wrote to Cheshire East Council outlining safety concerns after motorists began avoiding parking in roads instead of paying to use council car parks when charges came into force earlier this year.

Cllr Fletcher said Station Road, in particular, had become 'dangerous' following the intorduction of charges on the Well Lane car park and motorists had started parking in the road.

(Photo: Cheshire East Council)

He revealed how the car park, which has just 18 spaces, was provided by Alsager Urban District Council years ago to allow local residents to park off the busy Station Road.

Cllr Fletcher said: "If you approach Station Road from Well Lane, you cannot see if traffic is coming from the right. This is dangerous."

He emailed highways officers, including photos to illustrate the problem, and asked what action could be taken. 

Cllr Fletcher has now had a reply back - nearly two months later - accepting there had been an increase but 'not sufficient to promise any action to alleviate the significant problems they have caused by implementing car parking charges on car parks resulting in serious congestion on roads such as Station Road and Well Lane'.

Cheshire East Council told Cllr Fletcher: "The introduction of parking charges was in accordance with a decision at highways committee in January 2024 which was intended to ensure that car park users met the costs of operating and maintaining these facilities.

"As the car parks are a discretionary service, it is reasonable that they are provided on a user-pays basis. 

"The performance of the local road network is being monitored closely and while there has been an increase in on-street parking, this is not at levels that would be considered an immediate safety risk or obstruction of the highway. 

"Recently, the Town Council has requested information as a basis for a Car Parks Agreement for Station Road. Parking services will work with them to explore this option as a mitigation measure."

Cllr Fletcher says Station Road has become dangerous as recently introduced charges on the Well Lane car park have driven motorists on to the road. (Photo: Google April 2023)

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