THURSDAY, 30th DECEMBER, 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS

Market trader bids farewell

Dutch 'invasion' is remembered Readers'ViewsPages21-23 Page 17

Pages 6-7

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 13-14

Sobering drin drive figures

Page 32

Parking fees ‘increased’ in a computer cock-up

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Motorists using Congleton’s pay and display car parks had an unwelcome surprise on Christmas Eve when the charges were increased — due to a computer error. Many local residents believed that Cheshire East Council had upped the charges on the town’s car parks without prior notice and slammed the authority for failing to publicise the changes and displaying the old tariff on machines.

Martyn Briscoe of West Heath, parked on Antrobus Street car park yesterday morning (Wednesday). He put in his usual minimum payment of 30p and was alerted by an on-screen message that said the minimum charge was 40p.

He told the “Chronicle”: “For one hour there is a 30p charge. I put my money in and when I pressed the but-

ton, I got a message saying that the minimum charge was 40p. There were no signs — surely that’s contrary to the trade descriptions act.

“They are advertising a service for 30p and charging 40p. They can’t do that, I’m going to keep my ticket because I want my 10p back, it’s the principal.”

Richard Taylor of Daven Road, Congleton, also contacted the “Chronicle” to show his dismay over the price hike.

He said: “The powers-that-be decided to deter shoppers from visiting the town by introducing car park charges. The charge for the shortest period was 30p for an hour.

“Then just before Christmas, the charges for a one-hour stay shot up by 33% to 40p for an hour. That’s what the machines were charging, although they were still advertising the price for an hour as 30p.”

Mr Taylor continued: “On speaking to the Cheshire East’s car park office, I was told that prices were changing in January and that the machines had apparently been updated ahead of schedule. Surprisingly they could not tell me what the new tariffs would be.” • —Turn to back page.

Dance lovers received two gifts for the price of one recently, when 97 pupils from Louise Carter Dance School presented a double dose of Christmas entertainment at the Daneside Theatre, Congleton, to mark the school’s 10th anniversary.

Pictured above is the festive line-up for the “Most wonderful time of the year” number.

Our photographer took more photos, to see them all and to order reprints, visit chronicleseries.com/photos.asp

(“Chronicle”

5125a/10).

photo.

No talking paper Due to a flood at the recording studio, the Congleton Talking Newspaper was not produced last week and there will not be a tape this week. The talking newspaper would be grateful if “Chronicle” readers who know a listener to the Talking Newspaper could advise them why the tape has not been produced.

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