A tranche of cuts and charge-hikes reached the House of Commons last week as local Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce MP called out Labour-led Cheshire East Council for their “unwarranted” imposition of car parking charges, threat to close leisure centres and plans to stop maintenance of green spaces.
The remarks made during Business Questions, a regular opportunity for Members of Parliament to ask the Leader of the House of Commons for parliamentary time to specifically discuss an important matter.
Member of Parliament for Congleton, Fiona Bruce MP raised the matter in the House of Commons:
“Can we have a debate on local funding priorities and the importance of community consultations on them being fairly worded and accessible to all?
“Labour-led Cheshire East Council is considering imposing unwarranted car parking charges even in residential neighbourhoods, and is mooting closing Holmes Chapel and Middlewich leisure centres—community facilities that are vital to the wellbeing of all ages.
“The council is also considering stopping maintenance on 80 green sites, risking eyesores and tipping. Of those, 36 are on the lovely Grange Way estate in Sandbach in my constituency, where those amenity lands have been publicly maintained for over 50 years.”
Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt MP responded:
“My hon. Friend will know that, under the Local Government Act 1999, a council must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way that its functions are exercised, and have regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. It must consult local people about how it should fulfil that duty.
“There are mountains of good practice on the high street portal, which demonstrate that introducing parking charges where those core principles are not taken into account is often a disaster. I encourage my hon. Friend to look at that to help her in her valiant arguments against what the council is planning to do.
“The next questions to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are on 4 December, but I will make sure that the Secretary of State has heard her concerns and ask Ministers to assist her in her important campaign.”
Congleton Conservatives are leading a petition against the introduction of car parking charges in Alsager, Congleton, Sandbach and other villages in Cheshire East. Free and low-cost parking availability near our local town high streets brings an array of benefits, including attracting more people to the area, vital support for small businesses, and the creation of vibrant, accessible community spaces.
Labour-led Cheshire East Council’s petition has closed but residents can still sign the local petition here.
