A consultation has launched on proposals to introduce evening and Sunday parking charges in Cheshire East.
Cheshire East Council's statutory public consultation, which applies to most council-owned car parks across the borough, runs until 9 October 2024.
The council is proposing to extend charges at its car parks to 10pm, and to charge on Sundays – the tariffs for which would be in line with the rates for the rest of the week.
Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "All our car parks need maintenance, management, and enforcement and the financial impact of this doesn't pause after a certain time or on Sundays.
"The related costs are significant and continue to rise. As a council, we are facing huge financial challenges – with a forecast funding gap of £100m over the next four years.
"The proposals we are now consulting on will help to reduce some of that financial burden.
"It could potentially provide up to £2m over the next four years to support other council services, such as highways maintenance, bus services and active travel schemes. Therefore, we cannot ignore this option, and so are consulting on the idea."
The consultation follows approval given by the council's highways and transport committee in January this year.
A final decision on evening and Sunday charging will be subject to the outcome of the consultation.
Click here to view the proposals.
To respond to the consultation, email [email protected] and use 'Variation 12' as the email subject header.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Perhaps its another initiative thought-up by the Interim S151 Finance Director who's paid £1300 per day to look at why CEC is losing money....you have to pay for the talent!
p.a.more income. It “ could.” ? …it won’t ! People will change their habits.
M and S have half an hour free, so does the Co oP, and Waitrose car park has 2 hours. That little window of freebies after 6 and Sundays is a big help , especially to older people, who in the winter, have to go from the car to a ticket machine in the rain, sleet, dark, fumble about with cold hands and buy a ticket, then back to the car etc etc.
There are better ways than this to not only save money, but earn some. Why not ask the locals who would give experienced advice for free, no consultants fees.