Cheshire East Council is re-introducing cash payments at its car parks from Monday (17 August).

The council re-started charges at pay and display car parks in June amid criticism as Congleton's high street began to reopen.

At this time, the option of cash (coin) payments at most car park machines, was withdrawn in order to reduce risk of virus transmission during these early stages of opening up town centres.

Since June, the council says it has been monitoring car park usage and has been listening to feedback from car park users, residents and businesses.

Car parks have been getting progressively busier in the weeks since lockdown and people are becoming more used to visiting town centres while observing Covid safety measures.

Councillor Laura Crane, cabinet member for highways and waste said: "I would like to thank residents for using car parks responsibly since lockdown measures have been lifted.

"I continue to strongly recommend that people use cashless payment options where this is possible.

"Our parking machines offer both 'chip and pin' and contactless options as means of payment. We also offer the alternative option to use 'RingGo', the mobile app, if someone wanted to avoid using the machine completely.

"We have found that a mobile app is the preferred option for many people and are looking to improve that offer over time.

"However, we recognise that cashless options are not the best payment option for everyone, and we are now offering cash payment for those who choose to use it.

"While Covid, and the risks it presents, has not gone away, we want to support and encourage people to come back into our town centres. But this needs to be done progressively and with care, with due regard to advice from public health professionals.

"As with all changes put into place in response to the Covid pandemic, these measures are being kept under review."