Cheshire East Council has approved an increase in parking charges across the borough after making a few amendments to initial proposals.
The authority received 296 representations during a three-week consultation between November 28 and December 19.
It has made just three amendments to the original proposals, including:
– 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 in Crewe. This follows representations from sports and athletics clubs and parents of children who use it to access sport facilities at Cumberland Arena and local primary school
– Broadway Meadow car park in Wilmslow will not be designated as a commuter railway station car park
It means original plans will go ahead, including:
– increasing the parking price on most Cheshire East Council-owned car parks by 10p across each tariff
– increasing charges at car parks by railway stations
– re-introducing parking fees on Hibel Road in Macclesfield, Park Street in Congleton and Thomas Street in Crewe (until the ‘free after 3pm’ incentive)
– increasing the cost of residents’ parking permits
– introducing an administration fee for replacement of parking permits
– introducing some car parks into the car park order, meaning parking restrictions can be enforced where needed
The changes will come into effect on March 8.
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 there is a good turnaround of spaces for visitors and shoppers and that our car parks are safe, secure and well maintained.”
The council says it has started a process of reviewing parking in local towns where there are differences in charging.
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 new parking fees is on Cheshire East Council website www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/parkingcharges
This is silly; parking should be free or reduced charges, not an increase! How to kill a town off even more!
Is there a standard charge across the whole of Cheshire East or are there, still, anomalies where some towns are free and others are charged?
Why once again are Crewe being targeted by increases , yet the car parks are in a mess. Also Crewe town is in a dilapidated state there are mostly boarded up shops with people in sleeping bags begging and hurling abuse at passers by.
No surprise there then ! I’m sure most people knew that Cheshire East were just that ticking boxes with the consultation period & were going to increase the prices all along .
What a remark to say keeping the car parks safe, secure & well maintained have you ever heard such rot .
I would like to know how many of those 296 representations were in favour of increasing charges.