New parking charges are being introduced.

Cheshire East Council has confirmed a number of changes being made to parking arrangements in the borough.

This includes the increase of some charges and the introduction of charges on Sundays.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "When benchmarked against neighbouring councils, it is clear that our current parking charges are significantly lower.

"Nor do they reflect inflation as this is also only the second time parking charges have been increased since Cheshire East was formed in 2009.

 "Coupled with the council's financial challenges, we have little option but to look at how we maximise our income and ensure that the charges we collect are sufficient to help cover the rising costs of maintaining, managing, and enforcing our car parks.

"Any surplus from parking charges is money that can be used to support other services that fall under the highways and transport committee, for example roads maintenance or Sunday and evening bus services."

Councillor Goldsmith added: "I am pleased that the council's 'free after 3pm' initiative remains in operation at one car park in each of our towns and villages, which we know is a popular initiative with residents and shoppers.

advertisement

"Short stay on-street parking bays in many towns remain free too as we have not introduced charging for these facilities, unlike many other councils.

"Additional Sunday and evening bus services are also being introduced from March 31 as part of the council's bus service improvement plans."

The changes will be introduced in May (Credit: Nub News)

Changes at council-operated car parks being introduced in May

• Parking charges will be extended by four hours to cover the period 8am-10pm
• Parking charges will be introduced on Sundays – based on the weekday tariffs for each car park
• The introduction of a new tariff band that will allow motorists to purchase parking for up to 14 hours
• An increase in some parking charges and permits, which reflects the tariffs charged by similar councils

The changes to car parks follow approvals given at the January 2024 highways and transport committee.

The exact date these changes will come into effect in May is still being finalised.

Once confirmed, full details of the changes and the date they go live will be shared via the council's website and publicised in car parks.

In March last year, all town and parish councils were invited to express an interest in taking on local car parks, or in compensating the council for not introducing charges. 

Cheshire East Council is currently pursuing an agreement with Bollington Town Council which, if signed, would see Pool Bank car park remain free.

The council is also working on a deal with Asda in Alsager which would see the short stay area of the Freeview car park become free for users.