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<\/p>\nHUNDREDS of angry\u00a0residents turned out at a funeral to mourn the "death" of a their village in a protest against parking charges.<\/p>\n
More than 300 locals from Audlem, Cheshire, marched\u00a0through the high street this weekend to oppose an increase in car parking charges proposed by the council.<\/p>\n
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The controversial change to the charges will affect the 59-space car park adjacent to the public hall in the village.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The march was headed up by a horse-drawn hearse, with banners being carried saying \u201cSave Audlem\u2019s Future Existence\u201d (SAFE) and people shouting \u201cNo fees, no fines, no double yellow lines!\u201d<\/p>\n
Protesters urged the council to reconsider the proposal, which they say will affect local businesses in the surrounding area as well as the doctors' surgery and clinic, and parents on the school run.<\/p>\n
But Cheshire East council officials say the money generated from the car park is needed to maintain and resurface the area as it is currently "neither fair nor sustainable".<\/p>\n
March co-ordinator Brian Bugeja, 53, an engineer who has lived in the\u00a0village\u00a0for nine years, called on\u00a0the council to rethink their plans.<\/p>\n He said: "I'd say there were about 250-300 people there. The hearse was to reflect that this would be the death of the\u00a0village. By imposing the charge, it will impact the way of life in the\u00a0village. People are annoyed and dismayed at this.<\/p>\n \u201cOur march is meant to show\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East that the people of Audlem are against these charges. <\/p>\n "It will have a massive impact on so many people\u2019s lives and businesses if these charges are incurred. This is our only car park for the\u00a0village\u00a0and surrounding area.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis proposal will not only affect the shops but also the doctors\u2019 surgery and clinic, the cemetery, and the public hall where activities are held on a daily basis, the free toilets and the post office. <\/p>\n "Not to mention parents use when they drop their children off for both the local school and football training on the playing field adjacent to the car park."<\/p>\n The changes would see charges introduced on the\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0Street car park at 60p for one hour, \u00a31 for up to two hours, rising to \u00a33.40 for up to 10 hours. <\/p>\n The changes are part of a review of parking charges across the borough, the consultation period.<\/p>\n Mr Bugeja added: "The potential income\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East will make on the car park charges are insignificant compared to\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East\u2019s cost of maintaining, for example, our roads and other social obligations. <\/p>\n "In the report, it outlines the car park will generate an income of around \u00a325,000, and so we\u2019re not talking significant amounts here. It will hardly pay, for example, for one of our local roads, which is currently blocked causing flooding because of an issue that\u2019s been going on for five years.<\/p>\n "We\u2019ve had temporary traffic lights on the roads for a year and a half because the road has collapsed. Another case in Corbrook where the council has tried to fix it, but who knows how much they\u2019ve spent, but it\u2019s still flooding. Why is the council not addressing these issues instead?<\/p>\n "We\u2019re going to make it plain that we\u2019ve had enough. This is drastic action to raise attention to the charges and it\u2019s the next step to show\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East that it\u2019s not just me, or 10 people \u2013 it\u2019s the whole of Audlem that is against it."<\/p>\n Speaking last month, Councillor Craig Browne,\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East Council deputy leader and chair of the council\u2019s highways and transport committee, said: \u201cThe council\u2019s parking review is currently out for public consultation. <\/p>\n "We welcome all views and comments from residents and businesses. These will be considered as part of the review process before any decisions are made by the council.<\/p>\n \u201cParking charges have only been increased once since\u00a0Cheshire\u00a0East was formed in 2009. The current arrangements for parking charges across the borough, including where several towns have no charges in all council car parks, are neither fair, nor sustainable.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/looking-windscreen-raindrops-people-car-782797614.jpg\")
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