Cartwright's fear parking restrictions mean they will have to move

8:50am Tuesday 2nd December 2008

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ONE of the borough's biggest employers is warning it may have to move if tough new parking proposals are introduced.

The Cartwright Group is the biggest trailer manufacturer in Britain and employs 500 people at its Broadheath industrial estate site.

But there are fears it may have to leave the area because Trafford Council wants to impose more parking, waiting and loading restrictions at the industrial estate. The company believes these changes would make it impossible for it to continue working from the site.

Director John Cartwright said that the Cartwright Group had been based at the Atlantic Street site since 1959 - when it was recommended to the company by what was then Altrincham Council.

He added: "We are one of the only manufacturing companies left on the Broadheath estate and we are very happy to be able to provide employment for so many people and firms in the area.

"In recent years, we have talked at length with the council about how we could gain further land in the area for parking so that we can stay in this location. So far that has been unsuccessful.

"This new wave of extra restrictions will make it doubly hard for us to continue trading in the area. We have already had to move some of our operations elsewhere and if this cannot be resolved then the rest of our company will have to follow.''

Mr Cartwright believes the proposed new restrictions will prevent employees coming to work and stop suppliers making their 60 deliveries a day to the 50-acre site. There are no official car parks in the area.

He said: "We are not the only company affected by this. There are other firms here who will suffer and will lose jobs. In the current financial climate that is a tragedy that could be avoided.

"We are not asking for money or any special assistance. Just a little common sense.''

John Lamb, director of environment strategy at Trafford Council, said: “We take seriously feedback from local people and businesses on our proposals and will be carefully considering Cartwright’s objections to see if the restrictions can be amended.”