The family silver is to be sold

We’re told that the amalgamation of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Warrington will bring investment and prosperity for all.

We’re told that businesses will have the confidence to come to Macclesfield.

We’re told that the fortunes of the town will be transformed and visitors will flock back.

So how do Cheshire East prepare us for this metamorphosis of our town? By selling off our car parks!

Two council-owned car parks are to be reduced by almost half so housing can be built on sections of the land. Mark my words, this is just the beginning.

Ever since the formation of Cheshire East our town has been sidelined for investment. Millions have been invested in Crewe and Congleton while Macclesfield languishes on the edge of some of the most wealthy areas in the country – with residents that once made Macclesfield their destination.

The two car parks, Churchill Way with 276 spaces and Duke Street with 275 spaces, were the subject of a council funded study, which found there was enough capacity in the town centre for drivers to use other car parks.

Selling off the family silver?

For several months there have been questions from shoppers as to why the option of long-stay car parking was removed on some car parks, only to be provided at others, ones which were already under pressure. Well now you know. It’s almost certainly down to Cheshire East manipulating the stats.

No doubt the company that undertook the car park study posed the question “tell us what results you want and we’ll come up with a strategy that will give you those results.” 

The sort of housing proposed for the sites has not been decided and there is no indication of how much the land could be sold for. But, being where they are, we’d pretty much guarantee they’ll be blocks of flats, maybe to house some of the thousands of new visitors to our shores.

Under the outline proposals, Churchill Way will  be reduced from 276 spaces to 123, and Duke Street from 275 spaces to 105.

The car-parking study recommended more signage directing people to use the Jordangate multi-storey car park – ideal for the elderly or someone struggling with young children and shopping bags.

One resident, Sue Mason, said she had lived in Macclesfield for 75 years and wanted to raise her concerns.

“The report says that the study indicates the partial releases of both car parks should not result in significant negative impacts,” she said.

“I emphasise those words as I’m an English teacher. ‘Should not’ is not the same as ‘will not’. I would have liked to have seen ‘will not’ rather than ‘should not’.

“Look at what the impact will be on traffic, on schools, on hospitals if we do sell off this land to build housing which this country needs.”

Labour councillor for Macclesfield Central ward, Liz Braithwaite, said parking both off and on street was “always an issue in the town”.

“Regeneration is always welcome, however it must be appropriate, considerate and not have an impact on residents,” she said.

The council’s head of economic development, Dr Charles Jarvis, said permits for residents was one area being looked at.

Maybe Dr Jarvis doesn’t appreciate having a permit doesn’t guarantee a space, merely a right to park there. And, if you have visitors, you’ll need additional permits – and have to hope there are spaces. But if there’s a buck to be made, the introduction of a town-wide permit scheme is probably on the agenda. I’m guessing Dr Jarvis doesn’t live in the town.

Conservative councillor for Sutton, Chris O’Leary, said he had requested the report because of an “over-provision” of parking in Macclesfield.

Maybe Counc Leary is unaware of devolution and the massive growth we’ve been led to expect?

“Once in a generation opportunity” – lol!

He said the council had the option to “leverage” its assets, which was a “win-win” in terms of the area’s housing targets and finances.

“This is an opportunity for us to actually do something that will benefit Macclesfield,” he said.

Fellow Conservative Stewart Gardiner said developing the land and raising money for the council “seems to be eminently sensible”.

Well there you have at least two reasons not to vote Conservative at the next elections.

Broken Cross and Upton’s Labour councillor, Rob Vernon, said it was “exactly the type of development” needed, because town centres had already “died”.

“Retail ain’t coming back, town centres have changed and the economy has changed, and town centre living is coming forward,” he said. We’re guessing he’s not read Cheshire East’s prophecy for Macclesfield under devolution either. Then again, he’s singing from the Labour hymn book.

The council will now consider the most appropriate forms of housing for the sites – council-speak meaning ‘we’ve already decided what’s going to be built but we have to preserve appearances’.

Look out for the usual ‘consultation’.