A WINSFORD councillor who has been stung with parking fines behind Winsford Market, says the lack of parking will kill the market.

Cllr Dave Edwards, a member of Winsford Town Council, has hit out at Cheshire West and Chester Council after he was slapped with his second parking fine in quick succession on the market.

Cllr Edwards said he asked a traffic warden on both occasions if he was free to park there and was both times told that he was, only to find a ticket stuck to his car on his return.

“We should be encouraging people to park there and use our market and support small local businesses,” he said.

“Traders are leaving the market because of this very issue and it will kill the market.

“I appealed against the last ticket I got a few months ago and it was overturned and I am not paying this one. But if this has happened to me twice, it will be happening to a lot of people wanting to shop in the town.

“It will just put people off coming to Winsford – we’re just pushing people away to go and shop in Northwich and Crewe and other towns and it just doesn’t make sense.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council responded by saying that the request had come from Winsford councillors to ensure that the area is kept clear for emergency services and deliveries.

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, said: “There is no public parking on the service access road behind Winsford market. These restrictions have been in place for many years after highways engineers assessed a requirement for waiting restrictions. A formal consultation took place allowing members of the public to object to the introduction of the legal order.

“Additional road markings are being added following requests from local councillors to stop the illegal parking and ensure the area is kept clear for emergency services and deliveries.

“The council has enforced the parking restrictions in this area since 2013. If it is felt a parking ticket has been wrongly issued, there is a legal process which can be followed allowing the notice to be contested. We can’t comment on specific tickets while this process is ongoing.”

Residents have also backed Cllr Edwards’ calls and have launched a petition to ‘save the market’.

Residents group Open Winsford started the petition and is asking for people to be allowed to park for up to 30 minutes behind the market to be able to ‘pop-in and spend cash’.

A spokesman for Open Winsford said: “Winsford Market is the cornerstone of the town centre if Winsford is to be regenerated it needs something to grow out of, with half of the town centre demolished and no plans in sight it is of extreme importance that the value of the market and its traders be recognised.

“As we speak market stall holders are leaving as a direct result of parking charges, if Asda customers had to park in the multi-story ‘pop in’ customers would think twice, same with the market. Traders depend upon customers nipping in to grab a bag of potatoes or drop off a hoover and are suffering as a result of the off-putting charges.

“The town centre is on its last legs as it is, losing the market would be catastrophic for Winsford, we need regeneration or at least help in stopping the rot, half an hour free parking would help enormously.”

To sign the petition go to change.org and type ‘Winsford Market’ in the search bar.