Cheshire East's proposal to introduce parking charges will be damaging for Alsager's economy and include charging on three car parks which were developed for residential use, the town council says.

Alsager Town Council has already decided to formally object to the proposals which Cheshire East is currently consulting on.

If the charges go ahead as drafted, then drivers who currently have free parking on all council-owned car parks in Alsager, would have to pay 60p for the first hour on the Fanny's Croft Car Park, 80p for the first hour on Station Road and Well Lane and £1 for the first hour on Fairview. Long stay parking – between six and 10 hours – would be £3.40 on Fanny's Croft and £4.30 on Fairview and Station Road.

A spokesperson for the town council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Alsager Town Council is currently engaging with the public through social media and also holding public consultation events on Mondays on Wednesdays at the market and weekends throughout October to discuss residents' concerns and encourage them to make a response to the Cheshire East consultation."

The Alsager council has already drafted a long list of reasons stating why charges should not be introduced.

Included among these is concern from businesses about decline in turnover, resulting in possible closures. Alsager businesses which have outlets in other Cheshire East towns which already have pay and display say these have been negatively impacted by the charges.

The town council also argues Well Lane, Fanny's Croft and Station Road car parks were developed as residential car parks and says the introduction of charging and or/annual permit parking is a further tax on residents and will lead to on-street parking on nearby roads.

And it fears if residents park on the roads there could be an increase in accidents.

The council states: "Fanny's croft was created as a residential car park to reduce on-street parking on Audley Road and reduce the risk of accidents. This road is a known accident black spot, already congested by resident parking. Charging for this car park will only increase the problems and potential accidents as more cars park on the road to avoid parking charges."

It also argues that charges on Fairview Car Park from 8am will impact parents dropping off and picking up their children at Highfields school.

The issue of parking charges has been a thorn in the side of Cheshire East administrations ever since the council was formed in 2009.

Most towns in the former Crewe & Nantwich and Macclesfield borough council areas pay to park but some towns in the former Congleton borough area, including Alsager, Sandbach and Middlewich, have always had free parking.

Cheshire East Council is facing a potential budget deficit of £12.8m this financial year – and has to find ways of raising cash, as well as taking difficult decisions to cut services.

CEC deputy leader Craig Browne (Alderley Edge, Ind) , who chairs the council's highways committee said: "The inherited legacy where some residents pay to park and others do not has caused a sense of unfairness.

"The council is proposing to address this imbalance – taking into account each town's characteristics – while also responding to the higher costs of maintaining our car parks, which require regular resurfacing, improved lighting and markings and the installation of EV charging points."

Both Cllr Browne and Alsager Town Council urged residents and businesses across the borough to take part in the consultation, which runs until November 1.

You can also view the proposals by contacting your local library by appointment. Please do not simply turn up.

Representations to the proposals must be emailed to: [email protected]