Controversial changes being made at Cheshire East Council car parks

Cheshire East Council will introduce fees at many of its currently-free car parks next month.

This comes as most of the sites are made ‘cash free’, with motorists now having to pay by card using the machines or via the RingGo app.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of the highways and transport committee, says these changes were brought about by rising costs and the council’s aim of reducing spending by £100m over the next four years.

He said: “While we recognise these new parking arrangements have caused some concerns, they are necessary to ensure all our towns are treated in a fair and equal way, and to reduce some of the financial burden facing the council.

“Each year, the cost of maintenance, management, and enforcement for all our car parks is considerable, and the costs continue to rise.”

Select car parks, such as London Road in Holmes Chapel, will continue to accept cash (Image: Google Maps)

Councillor Goldsmith explained that, for example, the council pays around £900,000 a year in business rates for its car parks.

However, 70 per cent of this is kept by central government.

He adds that the changes being made will also provide financial support to other services, such as highways maintenance and bus routes.

Meanwhile, the council’s residents off-street parking permit scheme has been extended to cover more areas, including Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Handforth and Alderley Edge.

Residents without access to off-street parking will be able to apply for a 12-month permit for specific car parks, at a ‘significantly reduced cost’.

Additionally, the ‘free after 3pm’ initiative has been extended to specific car parks in towns where charges are now being introduced, such as Knutsford, Middlewich, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Handforth and Holmes Chapel.

A number of smaller car parks will remain free while at least one car park in every Cheshire East town will continue to accept cash.

These changes will go live from Monday, December 2.

Councillor Goldsmith said: “Once the changes have come into effect, we will continue to monitor the situation closely across the borough so that interventions can be made where necessary.

“The extended consultation process carried out last year identified some residents that are without a driveway and also live on roads that have extensive parking restrictions. These residents have instead been using nearby free council car parks to park their vehicles.

“To address this issue, we have reviewed and extended our off-street parking permit scheme so that it applies to many more residential areas across the borough. I encourage those now eligible to find out more and consider applying.”

Car parks still accepting cash payments

• South Street, Alderley Edge
• School Road, Handforth
• London Road, Holmes Chapel
• King Street and Silk Mill Street, Knutsford
• Civic Way, Middlewich
• South Drive (both long and short stay), Wilmslow