Cheshire East Council has announced that car parking charges will be reintroduced from Monday (15 June) in line with the reopening of Congleton's high street.

Parking charges have been suspended across the borough since 27 March following a council decision to support keyworkers – including NHS staff and social care workers – to assist in the response to control the virus.

However, with the government plans to re-open high streets on the 15 June, the council is preparing a number of measures, some of which are temporary, to ensure that the highstreets remain safe for the public and local businesses.

Over the coming days several measures will be installed across high streets in Cheshire East, including;

â— Temporary suspension of some parking spaces and laybys, where these can provide extra space for widening footpaths to help pedestrians respect social distancing rules.

â— Signage will be displayed at carparks to encourage contactless payments as cash payments will not be accepted on the majority of car parks; and

â— Ringo, an online smartphone app will be available for people to pay for their parking, for people to avoid any contact with the parking machines.

Where Ringo cannot be used, the council recommends the public uses appropriate measures to reduce the risk of Covid-19 by, for example, using a covered pen, or gloves to input a licence plate number into a machine and, using the contactless payment option.

The council have also announced that the opening of Jordangate and Grosvenor Centre multi-storey carparks, in Macclesfield, will be delayed until mid-July.

Last week Nub News reported on the council's plans to close some town centre streets to aid social distancing.

After using a machine, the government continues to remind the public that regular hand-washing for 20-seconds helps to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

The council are also encouraging the public to purchase contract permits for those car parks where they are available – details of these are on the council's website. If a permit is displayed in a car window there is no need to use the pay and display machines.

Councillor Laura Crane, portfolio holder for parking at Cheshire East Council, said: "I would like to thank all our keyworkers across Cheshire East for their continued work during the Coronavirus pandemic.

"As government restrictions ease, our main aim is to protect people and support our local businesses and the economy. Each measure we re-introduce is a balance between maintaining access and creating enough space for shoppers and visitors to observe 'social distancing' when in town.

"We are also mindful of the local environment and encourage, where possible, people to walk and cycle to their local high street – which is good for the environment and people's health and wellbeing.

"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.

"Protecting our business economy and keeping people safe as lockdown restrictions are lifted by government, are priorities for us and these parking measures will be reviewed where necessary. We will also be supporting businesses with additional information and guidance as government moves to lift their restrictions."

Parking meters will be un-bagged, and enforcement will begin on Cheshire East owned carparks from 15 June alongside on-street enforcement patrols.

Registering with RingGo

You can pre-register with RingGo online or by using the RingGo apps for iPhone and Android handsets (downloadable either through your handset or from the Apple store or Android marketplace).

If you pre-register for the service you will be asked to provide:

â— the number plate, colour and make of your vehicle; and

â— your payment card details.

Alternatively, you can register at the same time you want to park, either by using the RingGo apps or by calling RingGo via the number shown on the machine. The national RingGo number, which will work at any RingGo site, is 020 3046 0010.