SCRAPPING Northwich’s new parking charges would not be affordable for the council, its cabinet insists.

A Conservative proposal to ditch the charges, which came into effect last month, was rejected at Cheshire West and Chester Council’s full council meeting on Thursday night.

It was part of a motion to stop the roll-out of new parking charges across the borough, introduce three hours’ free car parking in places where charges are well-established – such as Chester – and add more spaces at car parks close to train and bus stations over the next two years.

But Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment – which includes highways, said the proposals would see the local authority lose £2.8 million in revenue.

She said: “Obviously we want to encourage the use of public transport, we want to treat residents fairly as well as balancing the books.

“Quite frankly these proposals are not affordable for the council.”

The Labour member for Whitby added that there are no plans to increase car parking charges where they already exist in the next two financial years.

And she pointed out that work is under way to see where additional parking spaces can be found as part of the council’s 10-year parking strategy.

Cllr Andrew Dawson, Conservative member for Frodsham, brought the motion to council and called on the authority to help relieve some of the pressure that high streets are facing.

He said: “Surely we as a council should be doing everything we can to support our high streets to make sure that our businesses are vital and successful?

“Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a small charge makes no difference. Small charges do make a difference.

“People who are most affected are the people that can afford it least. It is the businesses that are affected, it is the families on low income, it’s the pensioners, it’s the people that have impaired mobility but don’t qualify for a blue badge.”

Adrian Leech, who has been campaigning against the charges, told councillors he was speaking for the ‘silent majority’ in Northwich – and he claimed that one town centre business had a drop of earnings of £3,000 in the first week since parking charges were brought in.

“The overwhelming majority of your citizens are outraged about the introduction of these charges against their wishes,” he said.

“During our petitioning people have been venting their spleen about the charges. There are things that have been said that could not be repeated in this council chamber.

“We must rise above any politics on this. Our town’s future is at stake here.”

Cllr Paul Dolan, Labour member for Winnington and Castle and cabinet member for adult social care, admitted he was ‘conflicted’ about the issue of parking charges in Northwich.

But he insisted the town is booming despite the new charges – and read out figures from Northwich BID, which said footfall was up 30 per cent on Sunday and 32 per cent on Monday.

He added: “You talk about pressures on the high street – there are also huge pressures on councils. Many of them are facing bankruptcy, and we have seen a number of them at cliff-edge.

“This year has undoubtedly been a bloodbath for retail, and we’ve heard of major stores that have gone, but Northwich is bucking that trend. This town is on the up.

“This is actually politically talking down the town, and at a really important time. You’re trying to throw cold turkey on this town, acting as The Grinch.”

Members voted against the motion by 37 votes to 31.