Cllr Frank Keegan reported at this week's Parish Council meeting that parking charges are likely to increase at The Parade car park in the centre of the village.
He told fellow councillors that the new owners, Aberdeen City Council Pension Fund, are looking to increase the charge for an hour's parking from 40p to 60p and presumably the other rates would also increase.
Cllr Keegan said "Parking charges deter footfall, so increases will see a reduction in village footfall, which will be hard for the retailers. Strangely enough the A3 users will escape scot free, because their main activity is at night. I have argued that the rate should be left alone, but the hours extended to charge late night diners."
He added "Car parking charges are a tax on local businesses, we will continue to oppose car parking charges being increased."
My understanding is that Cheshire East Council (CEC) will have a management contract for the car park and the owners will set a figure with them, so CEC will either have to accept the increased charges or less revenue from managing the car park.
Cllr Keegan said "It is not inconceivable that in a few years time when the leases can join there will be an expansion of the site and that will effect the potential parking on that site.
"I think we have between two and three years before one of the leases runs out and before there is the opportunity for one of them to purchase the other lease."
He added "The decision by either food store will be a commercial decision, but Waitrose has been a big success, and one could easily see the company wanting to increase its size.
"The Alderley Edge Co-op must be one of the Co-op success stories, so it will remain a commercial decision between two different companies and the landlords will maximise their return. I think it is highly likely that increases in size of the retail offer will mean that parking will be lost in future precinct developments, in addition to the 20 spaces already lost on West Street."
Comments
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You only have to go to the Wilmslow branch of Waitrose to see how successful they are by not making any car parking charges in their purpose-built car park.
When will some of these idiots who run The Parade car park realise that by increasing their charges just drives customers away from Alderley Edge.
I will make a point of never, ever, parking in their car park any more, and if everyone took this stand, then at least a protest of some sorts should hurt them financially.
David Hadfield
To my knowledge the Car Parking Rates have already increased, why a further increase. Aberdeen City Council Pension Fund must see Alderley Edge as rich pickings.
If it is a fait accompli CEC should accept less revenue for managing the Car park - If the fees rise the then lets follow David's lead "The less people who use this Car park will impact on revenue and perhaps make a stand for the residents of Alderley Edge" ... enough is enough!!
How did we get into a situation where Aberdeen City Council own a car park in Alderley Edge?
Do we own a car park in Aberdeen?
There is a mindless mantra of "we are all in this together", but that is crass. Increased charges will lead to fewer people using Alderley Edge, because not only would the Precinct be put up, but South St would have to be put up to 60p also. It is not allowed (under the traffic order) to have two different rates. Two car parks having fewer people in them would lead to a loss of revenue, which is a circular argument because eventually the car parks would be empty.
I was in Macclesfield recently and the car parking cost is 70p per hour - 70p - and the Town centre looks shabby. No wonder, because the parking charges must have driven away all the customers.
Alderley Edge has a thriving A3 economy, Restaurants, and the parking charges could be extended beyond 6pm to charge £3 per car till midnight. Not a big charge on to a night out, but saves the daytime parking. The extra income from nighttime parking would double the annual collection in Alderley Edge.
We need to think more creatively and not just resort to the lazy option of putting daytime rates up!
We've gone now from a zero charge for car parking in the evenings to £3 per car ...... why ?
This is not "thinking creatively" as you suggest, it is just not thinking at all.
For goodness sake, have you thought this through ?
From a ZERO charge to £3 per car in the evening ............. this is just downright stupid !
(I think you're suggesting this idea as a wind-up joke ........ well, if so, it's worked)
Why do Cheshire East not acquire the Car Park from Aberdeen City Council out of the yearly profits they have been making; lately £35,000 profit from parking fees and FINES! (per annum)
Then approach the Co-op and Waitrose to subsidise parking for all shoppers using the Stores and Village. I understand Waitrose wish to increase the footprint of the Store in this location, or is that just rumour?
This will increase the footfall in the Village, meaning good revenue for our local shops and less For Sale & To Let Signs in the High Street. The local shops already tell me the rents and rates are far too high with many struggling as a business.
The Council represents the Community and should listen to consensus of opinion.
David, Judy, Terry, Brian ... what do you think?
They are the ones who park on the double yellow lines and pay the fines
They are the ones that don't care how much they pay to park
Many people in Alderley Edge are not affluent
I personally never park in Manchester. I drive to Altrincham and use the Metro
Car owners are taxed to the hilt anyway and this proposed increase is yet another round of higher charges, and it doesn't matter whether we live in an affluent area or not.
Next you'll be suggesting that as it's Alderley Edge, we should all pay an extra charge for all our shopping just because we live here (eg; Should we have a surcharge on the Daily Telegraph of 20p extra because we've purchased it in the local newsagents) ?
For what it's worth, I think that the state of South Street carpark is a disgrace but if I want to come to Alderley and spend my cash there, that's what I've got and I'll end up paying whatever they ask me to pay (until I too live around the corner, then I'll leave the car at home at last and walk).
Lots of people stop off to go to the ATM at Barclays (are they all disabled?), taxis are always parked there in the evening, many others simply cannot be bothered to park within the bays or elsewhere and just make it very difficult for anyone coming out of West Street to edge out onto London Road. One is therefore in the middle of this already tiny street and cannot see left or right because of the cars parked there. Meanwhile, those coming north and south of London Road try to turn in because they cannot see you either.