Following our request for a comment from Cheshire East Council regarding the parking situation on Cliff Road and their response to the parking on the pavement, the Council has issued the following statement to wilmslow.co.uk.
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "We recognise the value of our countryside and green open spaces and their benefit to everyone's wellbeing at this time.
"But we would appeal to people to apply common sense and consideration when parking and not to block pavements with their vehicles. To do so can present a serious hazard to pedestrians, including people with disabilities, the blind and partially sighted and children.
"Civil enforcement officers are patrolling the area and will issue penalty charge notices where there is a breach of parking restrictions. We are also liaising with Cheshire police to request that they also step up patrols in the area.
"There is adequate free parking within walking distance of The Carrs and, therefore, inconsiderate parking to this extent, can easily be avoided."
Inspector Duncan Gouck, of Macclesfield LPU, said: "The local authority is responsible for the majority of parking related issues however there are occasions, where a vehicle is causing a significant obstruction, when the police can assist.
"Any vehicles parked on the pavement should leave sufficient room for a pushchair or wheelchair user to pass by safely without having to go onto the road.
"We attend reports of obstructions caused by parked vehicles where possible and deal with the matter in the most appropriate manner.
"This could be through a verbal or written advice to the driver, if they can be traced, or by issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice.
"When necessary, we will have the vehicle removed at the expense of its owner.
"Any significant or dangerous vehicle obstructions can be reported to Cheshire Police by calling 101 or by visiting https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Having established that, the words of the CEC “spokesman” are irrelevant. Civil Enforcement Officers (Traffic Wardens, Parking Attendants, etc in olde-speak) might well be patrolling (although I thought that I had read that they had been withdrawn to “other duties”) but... they have no jurisdiction in the case shown on the photograph, on any case.
Can a comment be extracted from Cheshire Constabulary on this issue?
I would ask the PCC but he seems to be (along with all his staff) unobtainable at the moment. What was David Camoron thinking of when he introduced this ridiculous “office”?
He doesn't seek ever sympathy. Just to get past (or into) the Carrs Park from and to his home in his wheelchair on a regular basis going about his business in a dignified manner which is barred by the inconsiderate thoughtless drivers.
Of course my sympathies also very much go out to other pedestrians , people with prams etc and continue to hope that the perpetrators will be barred from returning after ticketing...why should they?
The council see the yellow lines and parking notices as a sufficient answer however it clearly does not solve the problem and is therefore not sufficient.
This is not a one off, this is not lock down related this happens every year and has done for years.
I am disappointed that it will take a serious accident for this to be considered a problem worthy of the CECs time and money. Though I do want to say there are some hard working councillors seeking to change this opinion and I am thankful for their time.
"A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "We recognise the value of our countryside and green open spaces and their benefit to everyone's wellbeing at this time."
So stop giving planning permission for housing to be built on it!