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Bid to scrap free parking
PLANS to introduce charging to free car parks in several Amber Valley villages are back on the agenda, almost 12 months to the day since the idea was dismissed by councillors.
Amber Valley Borough Council wants parish and town councils in Alfreton, Codnor, Langley Mill, Somercotes and Swanwick to take on responsibility for maintaining car parks if they want to keep them free to use - otherwise charges will be introduced.
It also says it will look to dispose of car parks in Codnor and Langley Mill if the parish councils do not take responsibility for them.
The borough council says the move could save them 11,000 a year but local members have hit out, saying the move could affect traders at a time when they need support.
Under the plans, motorists would be charged up to 70p for a day of parking and 95 for a yearly permit on the Market Place, in Codnor; Market Place and Mill Yard, Somercotes; The Green in Swanwick and Park Street in Alfreton where they can currently park for nothing. The first hour of parking would be free.
In July 2008 similar plans were narrowly voted down by council members.
At a meeting of Amber Valley Borough Council on Monday, Cllr Bob Moon who represents Heanor and Loscoe said: "We are really putting the arm up the back of the parish councils. We are saying that if you want free parking in your village you take over the job of doing it.
"If it doesn't then it is quite clear the intention is to charge and that is blackmailing many villages and parish councils.
"It would be good if the parishes had the money they need to be able to do this."
Cllr Chris Emmas Williams from Codnor and Waingroves said: "We rejected this last time because we were concerned about the impact on traders. What has changed? It has got worse.
"Other places are taking car parking charges out and trying to get people back into the towns and villages and what are we doing?
Introducing Sunday parking charges and trying to screw the villages."
However Cllr Stephen Hayes from the controlling Conservative party told the meeting that the proposal would make the system fairer to residents in areas where car parks are not free.
Cllr Hayes said: "My suggestion to all residents is if you want free car parking to remain, lobby your parish councils.
"I am here to represent all of Amber Valley and have to be fair to people in Ripley and Alfreton who already have to pay car parking charges."
The council resolved to seek responses from the councils involved before voting on whether to proceed with the plans.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
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Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
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