Initiative could see 4 days of free parking

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 14^th December 2016

Wed 14^th Dec 2016

Cheshire East Council are intending to launch a new initiative which will introduce up to 4 days of free parking a year in Council owned car parks where charges apply.

The offer of free parking will be considered for those car parks predominantly used by shoppers, including South Drive; Hoopers; Spring Street and the Rex car parks and can be on any four days in the next 12 months.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "The primary purpose of this incentive is to support our towns and provide a flexible incentive which can be used in the run up to Christmas or spread throughout the year to aid key town events. This is in addition to the free parking after 3pm at certain designated car parks within the borough.

"The offer of free parking will be considered on those car parks predominantly used by shoppers and the parking services team would welcome advanced liaison (so as to ensure there are no other programmed events taking place) and notice of the chosen days, when those decisions have been made by participating town councils upon consultation with their elected members, residents, shoppers, visitors, businesses, workers and commuters.

"In return, the council requests feedback on these initiatives to ascertain their effectiveness for both shoppers and businesses.

"In order to avoid all the spaces being taken up by workers/commuters, free parking will only start after 10am. Participating town councils will be asked to advertise and promote these free days on the designated sites on the days in question and that any such material is removed in a timely fashion afterwards, to avoid any confusion for service users.

"This is a temporary incentive which will perhaps accommodate those attending special events in the towns over the next 12 month period."

The Town Council can pick any four days in a year and have requested feedback from the Wilmslow Business Group before responding to this initiative.

When would you like to see free parking in the town centre? Share your views via the comment box below.

Tags:: Parking , Parking

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Howard Piltz

Wednesday 14^th December 2016 at 9:30 am

Certainly a great idea for local shops and shopping but Commuter parking is a number 1 issue in Wilmslow at the moment. Rather than restricting free parking until after 10am can I suggest it is limited to say 3 or 4 hours.

Terry Roeves

Wednesday 14^th December 2016 at 12:47 pm

1. Use School car parks during holidays plus shuttle bus?

Barry Stafford

Wednesday 14^th December 2016 at 3:18 pm

I agree with using school car parks as we own them anyway,at least pay for them. Wilmslow High is ideal. Huge space and a 5 min. walk up Broadway,or Parkway into town ^ weeks in Summer two weeks at Christmas..Baz

Pete Taylor

Wednesday 14^th December 2016 at 6:24 pm

If I were fortunate enough to find a space in one of these already full-up car parks on one of the free days, what would I spend the fifty pence I had saved on? I'm almost giddy with excitement thinking about it.
Really, is this the best good news Cheshire East can present us with?
So, the loss of revenue for four days, how much is that Cllrs? What services will suffer as a result?

Simon Worthington

Thursday 15^th December 2016 at 7:41 am

If Pete's gift to Wilmslow; the multi-storey on Water Lane, wasn't almost full of commuters who work in the offices built on car parks we wouldn't be so short of space. You could splash out the 50p on a doughnut from Greggs (other bakers are available).