Letter to Tory leader 'played part in decision to scrap Middlewich charges' (From Middlewich Guardian)

Letter to Tory leader 'played part in decision to scrap Middlewich charges'

12:00pm Saturday 6th February 2010

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A MIDDLEWICH man thinks that Tory leader David Cameron had a part to play in the decision to scrap parking charges in the town.

As reported in the Guardian, plans to introduce charges in the Civic Way and Seabank car parks were dropped after a nine month fight by campaigners.

But Alastair Griffiths, of The Moorings, believes that a letter he wrote to Mr Cameron had more of an impact on Cheshire East Council’s decision than the passionate protests and petitions.

“I think the decision was made at a higher level,” he said.

“The council, which has a Conservative majority, has an election to think about and this outcry could have cost it hundreds of votes.

“I don’t expect David Cameron did it personally – he’s a very busy man.

“But this letter may have brought the matter to his attention and I expect he said to one of his aides: ‘Sort this out’.”

When the charges for Middlewich were thrown out on January 13, Council leader Wesley Fitzgerald said it was in response to listening to the views of local people.

This is despite a public consultation in August at Middlewich Civic Hall when Cheshire East bosses said they intended to introduce charges in all car parks to make up £3million of the authority’s £450million gross budget.

But the authority only expected to raise £26,000 a year from the Middlewich’s car parks.

In his letter, Mr Griffiths said: “Without doubt, the local Tory councillors are shooting themselves in the foot and paying absolutely no attention to the people who put them into power in the first place.

“A series of public meetings were held in the summer throughout the area and the council presented its case and the public objected.

“As did the local town councillors, business leaders, local charities, shop owners, churches and doctors.

“Unfortunately that very powerful public opinion has been totally ignored. Indeed, the whole concept of the public meetings proved to be a complete whitewash.

“For 26,000 pieces of silver the Tory county council is prepared to put the final nail in the coffin of Middlewich.

“The death of a town is not instant, it is slow and very painful. This has to be electoral suicide.”

But a spokesman for Cheshire East Council added: “We would like to thank Mr Griffiths for his interest in this matter.

“Cheshire East Council welcomes the input of local residents in such important matters.

“In this instance, however, the decision on how to proceed with car park management in Cheshire East was made following discussions with ward members and hearing representations from the public and traders.”

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