Vote on parking fees is just the ticket says town's mayor (From Warrington Guardian)

Vote on parking fees is just the ticket says town's mayor

BIDDULPH residents would not object to a few pence on their Council Tax bills to pay for the imminent car parking referendum.

The claim came this week from Biddulph Mayor Jim Harrison, who is opposed to plans to introduce pay and display parking in the town.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is due to bring in charging in Biddulph and Cheadle in April.

The plan is being opposed by Biddulph shopkeepers and traders, who put together a 9,700-name petition against the move.

People against charging will be able to vote on the proposal at a referendum on Thursday January 29.

The poll was called for by town councillors, and supported by members of the public.

Polling stations will be open between 4pm and 9pm, and Cllr Harrison is expecting at least a 60 per cent turnout.

"Everyone I talk to is incensed by the plan to charge for parking,"said Cllr Harrison.

"If the percentage of people who vote against charging is quite high the district council would be ignoring the electorate if it ignored the result."

Biddulph Town Council is to foot the bill for the poll, which Cllr Harrison thought would be less than £4,000.

"That is equivalent to only a few pence on the Council Tax, which I think people will not object to because the issue is so important," he said.

Postal or proxy voting is not allowed in the referendum, and the town council is due to lay on buses to take people to the polling stations.