Stockport Labour is demanding transparency from the Liberal Democrat administration over plans to introduce charges in many of the borough’s currently free car parks.
Since the proposals were first announced, the process has been plagued by confusion, poor communication, and a lack of openness.
A list of 25 car parks was drawn up, yet the reasons for selecting these sites have never been clearly explained. Key reports and information have been delayed or withheld, and attempts by Labour councillors to propose alternatives have been ignored.
Area committees were asked to comment without being given full assessments or financial modelling, and the grouping of some sites appears designed to hide the financial losses some will bring.
Stockport Labour believes that parking charges can be introduced in a fair and strategic way: one that supports local businesses, encourages active travel, and promotes responsible parking.
The current approach does none of these things. Instead, it punishes those who park responsibly while doing nothing to address unsafe on-street parking.
Stockport Labour Group have been fighting these plans for over a year and has now called in the decision for further scrutiny on 13 October. The call-in aims to ensure proper process, transparency, and a full reconsideration of the plans, especially those affecting car parks in Reddish, Davenport & Cale Green, Edgeley, and Heatons South.
Stockport residents deserve honesty and accountability from their council, not decisions made behind closed doors. We plan to robustly challenge this on October 13th. Stockport Labour will always fight for transparency and for the people of Stockport..