Sandbach: Business owners and motorists react to a double whammy of proposed parking changes
By Deborah Bowyer 26th Sep 2023
Business owners and residents have responded to plans to change car parking in Sandbach.
Sandbach Nub News revealed here that consultation had opened on plans to start charging to park in council car parks, including Sandbach.
But the town has been hit with a double whammy, as Cheshire East is also proposing to make changes to free car parking in certain side streets changing the time allowed from an hour to 30 minutes.
Businesses have reacted angrily and are now planning to petition Cheshire East Council with their views.
Lisa Archer-Shaw of La Hairvolution in Hightown says some of her clients travel from outside of the area, including Wales, Liverpool, Leicester and Staffordshire.
"We have a lot of niche businesses in Sandbach and customers come from outside the area.
"We rely on footfall and this would just make life so much more difficult. Some of our appointments are only half and hour so customers park nearby.
"This would make it impossible for them to do this. It's just ridiculous. I feel so strongly about this."
Her views were echoed Holly Price, from Purple Aura nearby.
"This is so wrong. Things are tough for businesses and this won't help anyone who is struggling. It will drive trade away."
Debbie Carrahar, pictured above, who runs HBW Hair & Barber Works in Welles Street is equally as angry.
"What is this going to achieve? What can shoppers do in half an hour? It's ridiculous."
Meanwhile, motorists are not happy about plans to start charging in Cheshire East car parks in the town such as Chapel Street.
Steve Cornes said: "It's ridiculous and it depends where the money collected is then going to go."
One motorist, a sixth-form student at a local school who didn't want to be named, was too worried about plans to start charging.
"It would be put pressure on any free parking left in the town," they said.
Sandbach Nub News has approached Cheshire East Council for a comment.
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