HAVING to press numerous metal buttons to input your car registration on a parking machine during a pandemic was described as ‘absolute madness’ by Knutsford’s mayor.

Cllr Andrew Malloy was one of a number of councillors who voiced concern at Monday’s town council meeting over the risks of the coronavirus being passed between people via the buttons.

He said he had received numerous communications from people in relation to parking charges in the town, relating to shoppers not being able to pay by cash to park and having to put in their registration number.

He said: “Having to press so many buttons after so many other people have touched it before, when we are in the situation we’re in, just seems like absolute madness.

“There must be a way to get round that; hopefully it’s a software issue and it can be removed at least on a temporary basis until we are out of this current crisis.

Knutsford Guardian:

“I am aware of a great many people losing patience with the machines and going to another town – that will not help the economy of the town.”

Cllr Elizabeth Beswick said: “The elderly people just cannot comprehend how to do the cards [on the parking machines].

“They haven’t got mobile phones and their eyesight is not good. If we could push for cash that would be helpful.”

Cllr Quentin Abel said: “It’s very difficult for our more senior residents or anybody with eyesight problems. For an awful lot of people it would appear that mucking about trying to work out what your number plate is and putting the wretched thing in is a pain in the neck.

“If we do get [coronavirus] spikes you do not want to be pressing metal or plastic items.”

Cllr James McCulloch said it would be far better to cancel the machines during the current period on health and safety grounds, particularly in respect of elderly people.

Cllr Stewart Gardiner said: “The cost to the council [Cheshire East] of dealing with the complaints they have received from the public probably far outweighed any benefit they would have achieved from charging in the first place.”

Cllr Abel said he had raised the issue at Cheshire East, and the relevant portfolio holder had agreed to review the situation over the parking machines.