BY PETE HENSHAW

CONTROVERSY has erupted over the car parking situation in Crewe after charges were introduced on the busy Oak Street car park.

The situation has not been helped after it was revealed that 100 spaces at Windycote car park off Delamere Street have been earmarked for free parking for council workers.

The Oak Street car park was the most heavily used free parking facility in Crewe but now remains relatively empty through most of the day.

Shopkeepers on the adjacent High Street, have welcomed the move saying the it has been freed up for customers.

However, workers in Crewe Town Centre are angry and say people are using nearby side streets in a bid to escape paying what amounts to more than £350 a year to park.

John Rogers, owner of Cheshire Suite and Bed Centre, said that his employees who live in Crewe are finding it hard to park outside their homes because of commuter traffic but he welcomed the move.

"The charges are the best thing that could have happened because the car park is meant to be there for shoppers," said Mr Rogers.

Irate Crewe worker Sylvia Wycherley believes that the council is ignoring the needs of Crewe workers.

"I am furious, are the council trying to turn Crewe into a ghost town?. They are punishing the people that keep the town centre alive," she fumed.

Conservative spokesman for Environmental Services, Cllr Doug Butterill, believes Crewe's working population are suffering unjustly.

"It is most unfair and I don't think workers have been taken into consideration. We do one thing but we move the problem and side street parking is not being taken into consideration enough," he said.

Cllr Butterill also commented on the council free parking saying: "I have sympathy with it, the council workers require their cars for work but I can accept the point that they should not get it free.

David Heyes, Head of Engineering, defended the decision to introduce pay and display around the borough.

"Pay and display has been in place in the borough since 1992 and in that time the activity on the car parks has actually increased," explained Mr Heyes.

Mr Heyes explained that the free parking for some council staff on Windycote car park was a legal agreement between the borough and county councils.

"The car park is for the number of people who cannot do their job without having a car," said Mr Heyes.

If you have an opinion on free parking in the borough then get in touch with the Guardian at 42 High Street, Crewe, CW2 7BN or by ringing Pete Henshaw on 507503.