Bury Council has decided to forge ahead with plans to introduce parking charges at the Prestwich Town Centre Fairfax Road car park.

In effect they have decided to ignore the 1500 plus objectors, the plight of local businesses struggling to survive in difficult times and local residents in neighbouring streets that will face increased parking outside their properties.

When you also consider that this is being introduced despite the two neighbouring car parks not charging at all, and the fact that Prestwich alone amongst Bury Townships is being singled out for this new policy, then it amounts to a blatant disregard for local needs and utter nonsense.

Of course this policy is being brought in for financial reasons. The car park charging proposal was introduced into the Council budget by the Conservative group earlier this year to balance the budget. It just shows how you cannot consider policies in financial terms alone.

I do recognise that financially the council and the country are in difficult times, facing severe cut backs. But if we don’t weigh up local needs when considering increased charges/service cut backs then afforts at balancing the books may well cause greater damage in our communities in the long run. The impact of mistakes will be amplified.

The Council plans to introduce parking charges on the Fairfax Road car park from October 11th. Even at this late stage I would ask that they reconsider the impact non local businesses and local residential streets and reconsider charging as part of the general service review being undertaken.

If however they insist on pushing ahead with charging then please please please provide for a lengthy (say 3 hour) initial free period to give local shoppers and health centre visitors enough time and at the same time make available free parking passes for Longfield Centre businesses and organisations.

We have to balance the books , but we have to be fair also.