Council snubs mum’s calls for Buxton carpark charging break during coronavirus pandemic

Hannah Phillips, 43, says pay and display machines pose a serious risk to elderly people - who often drive into Buxton to shop.

Full-time mum Hannah wrote to the council advising them to briefly pause payments in town carparks - lessening the need for contact and potential infection among vulnerable elderly people.

However she was informed by a letter from the council that the authority was ‘following Public Health England guidelines’ but would ‘keep the situation under review’.

Hannah voiced concerns that the surfaces of parking machines are touched in at least six places by every single person using them - especially as there were no contactless card payment machines available in Buxton.

She said: “Why would local government expect central government to direct them on this - especially when the parking system puts the population at risk?

“I saw four old people waiting in a queue for a parking machine the other day - and it would have been very difficult for them to wipe their hands with gel while holding a ticket and change with a queue of people waiting behind them.

“The revenue the council would lose from parking is surely not that important compared to how much the Government is throwing at this.”

Hannah said parking machines were ‘obvious public common contact points we should review straight away’.She added: “With the amount the Government is spending on this it’s a small measure.”