Cheshire East Council has approved recommendations to increase parking charges across the borough after making changes to some of its proposals.

A total of 296 representations were received during a three-week consultation period, which took place between 28 November and 19 December 2018.

The proposals have been amended as follows:

● Thomas Street car park, in Crewe, will be designated as a long-stay car park to reflect the number of users who work in Crewe;

● The ‘free after 3pm’ incentive will be changed from Oak Street car park to Thomas Street car park (both in Crewe). This follows representations from various sports and athletics clubs and parents of children who use the Thomas Street car park to access sport facilities at the Cumberland Arena and local primary school; and

● Broadway Meadow car park (in Wilmslow) will not be designated as a commuter railway station car park.

The amendments to the proposals above will be included alongside the following, originally proposed, changes for the borough:

● Increasing the parking price on most Cheshire East Council-owned car parks by 10p across each tariff;

● Increasing the charges at car parks by railway stations, which recognises the higher premium charged in the private sector, while remaining highly competitive and encouraging more sustainable methods of travel to train stations;

● Re-introducing parking fees on three car parks (Hibel Road in Macclesfield, Park Street in Congleton and Thomas Street in Crewe – up until the ‘free after 3pm’ incentive);

● Increasing the cost of dispensations and residents’ parking permits;

● Introducing an administration fee for the replacement of parking permits; and

● Introducing some car parks into the car park order, meaning parking restrictions can be enforced, where needed.

The decision to approve the change was taken on 7 February and will come into effect on the 8 March 2019. At this point, most car parks across the borough will have an increase in parking charges.

Frank Jordan, executive director of place and acting deputy chief executive, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has made a representation as part of this consultation process. All the views made have been considered and this has led to some changes to the proposals that reflect the views of local communities and service users.

“Decisions like these are difficult and can be deeply emotive and unpopular but it is our responsibility to ensure that there is a good turnaround of spaces for visitors and shoppers and that our car parks are safe, secure and well maintained.”

The council is aware of the differences in parking fees across the borough and has already started a process to review parking in local towns, like Wilmslow. This approach will be replicated across the borough and forms part of a local transport plan that will be published in spring 2019.

Information about the new parking fees can be found on  at cheshireeast.gov.uk/parkingcharges