Packed civic centre shows opposition to car park sale (From Warrington Guardian)

Packed civic centre shows opposition to car park sale

ALSAGER residents have joined forces in a bid to save public car parking in the centre of the town.

Kimberley Developments and the Co-op want to build new supermarkets, and have won planning approval for the schemes.

However crucial to the development of the stores is the sale by Congleton Borough Council of the Fairview car park site.

Council leaders told a packed public meeting on Monday no decision on the land would be taken until the creation of an action plan for the town.

The plan will not be adopted before 2008, and will provide a planning blueprint for the town for the subsequent decade.

Alsager Civic Centre was packed with 360 people to hear council leaders explain the reasons behind the plan and how it would work.

Local resident Jean Doncaster, from The Fairway, presented portfolio holder David Brown with a petition containing the names of 1,075 people opposed to the sale of Fairview car park.

"Adequate parking is vital for the survival of the civic centre and the many activities held there," said Mrs Doncaster.

"The centre is the hub of the community, and the car park is needed for more general use as well as for the shoppers."

She was also concerned about plans to create a four-lane traffic scheme at Bank Corner if the Kimberley supermarket scheme went ahead.

Cllr Brown told the meeting it was "fantastic" to see so many local residents, and he urged people to take part in the creation of the action plan.