MORE than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling on borough chiefs to overturn the introduction of car parking charges in Northwich, councillors have been told.

Adrian Leech told Cheshire West and Chester’s full council meeting on Thursday that he is ‘increasingly concerned’ about the future of the town following the introduction of parking charges last November.

And he announced that a petition run by campaigners against the charges is now close to the threshold that will force a debate among CWAC members.

Adrian said: “Every one of those – banks, building societies, butchers, bakers but no candlestick makers – are all objecting. The general person in the street, like myself, is objecting to it.

“One of our chief selling points in the town – unique almost in this country – was that you could come to Northwich, everybody is welcome, but now we are saying you’ve got to pay to park.

“And it is not 20p, let’s be quite honest. It’s the perception of charging. Why come here when you can go to Runcorn or Warrington?

“This combined with the loss of Marks and Spencer is going to be a body-blow to Northwich. What is going to differentiate us from anybody else?”

Under CWAC rules, petitions need to be signed by at least one per cent of the borough’s population – which was 3,300 in 2015 – before they are debated by councillors.

Resident Jane Wilkinson, who told councillors she has lived in Northwich for 40 years, added that the introduction has caused ‘chaotic on-street parking’ around the town, and suggested that town centre shoppers are leaving their cars at Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to avoid paying the charge.

Conservative members proposed a reversal of Northwich’s parking charges, along with other parking initiatives across the borough, at the last full council meeting in December.

At that meeting, Tory Cllr Andrew Dawson said: “Surely we as a council should be doing everything we can to support our high streets to make sure that our businesses are successful?

“Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a small charge makes no difference. Small charges do make a difference.”

But the motion was voted down by the ruling Labour group – with Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, insisting the proposals were ‘not affordable for the council’.

Cllr Paul Dolan, Labour member for Winnington and Castle, is cabinet member for adult social care.

He added in December: “You talk about pressures on the high street – there are also huge pressures on councils. Many of them are facing bankruptcy, and we have seen a number of them at cliff-edge.

“This year has undoubtedly been a bloodbath for retail, and we’ve heard of major stores that have gone, but Northwich is bucking that trend. This town is on the up.”