TRADERS have re-iterated their opposition to parking charges in Northwich.

Ian David, a marketing consultant and spokesman for Northwich Independent Retailers Association (NIRA), called the proposals put forward to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet yesterday as ‘fundamentally-flawed’.

He criticised Mott MacDonald, the consultancy firm that produced the draft parking strategy, of failing to include details of the economic impact parking charges will have in its original draft.

Last month, CWAC’s scrutiny committee advised that reports on the economic impact of the introduction of parking charges on each of the key towns should be produced and taken into consideration before a decision is made.

However, Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, said that such a report could only be produced in time for the decision date, if it was a generic economic impact assessment based on elsewhere in the UK.

“I consider this to be too late – the die will be cast,” Mr David told the Guardian.

“It beggars belief that no consideration was given to how an introduction of charges may impact on the economic well-being of each town, and I suggest makes for a fundamentally-flawed proposal.”

Mr David said the strategy report asserted that Northwich has been regenerated, but claims this is not the case.

He said: “Barons Quay is all but empty, Weaver Square is too.

“Even if all the units in Barons Quay are let within the next 12 months, there is no timescale for the redevelopment of Weaver Square – and once redevelopment is under way, there will be a lot of disruption creating an unpleasant atmosphere in which to shop, eat and do business.

“The redevelopment of the old council offices will again cause many to give Northwich a wide birth due to its visual impact on one of the town’s two main gateways during construction.”

Phil Bower, from Northwich Art Shop, said the council should wait until the town’s regeneration is complete before proposing parking charges,

He said: “It is ahead of its time really. It’s going to hurt the independent shops the most. I am sure it is a crazy thing to do.”

He said introducing parking charges now was ‘political suicide’.

He said: “Labour have a majority of one in CWAC. Are they asking for them not to be re-elected next time? It seems to me to be political suicide.”

Andrew Wilson, from Gilroy Wilson Shoes, fears parking charges will have a disastrous impact on the town.

“It’s the end of Northwich if they start charging for parking,” he said. “They might as well knock down the new buildings.”

Mr David also warned the council could leave itself open to ‘multi-million pound litigation’ if it carries through with its proposals to ‘encourage’ private car park operators, such as the supermarkets, to match the council’s charging structure.

He said: “This, to my eyes, is price-fixing and could potentially expose the council and, therefore, the council tax payer, to multi-million pound litigation.”

He said that he shared the view that parking had to be paid for eventually but insisted ‘now is not the time’.