LYMM has won a partial victory in its battle with Warrington Borough Council over the controversial parking regime that was driving shoppers away from the village.
Town Hall chiefs have decided to reinstate the one hour free period on all three Lymm car parks.
But at Stockton Heath, there are no changes and the free period will remain 15 minutes only.
The council reviewed parking charges in Stockton Heath and Lymm, last year following consultation with local businesses and other partners. Businesses-owners had told the council that they wanted people to stay longer and the one-hour free was damaging their footfall as people were only visiting one shop before leaving.
The changes were introduced in December. The council had pledged to review any changes and – after speaking again to businesses, car park-users and local councillors – it has been decided to alter the Lymm charges to revert back to the first hour free. However, the charging period has been extended from 3pm to 10pm (Monday – Saturday).
Cllr Hans Mundry, the borough council’s lead member for transport, said: “We are under considerable financial pressure due to drastic cuts from central government so we have to find ways to save money and increase revenue. Businesses had told us that they welcomed the plan to encourage people to shop for longer and said that the free hour was unhelpful.
“We had promised to review the charges and that’s exactly what we have done. After carefully considering the options and outcomes we have decided that the best course is to make alterations to our initial plans for Lymm.”
A flat charge of £1 for evening parking will be introduced on all the car parks, covering the period from 5pm to 9am the following morning.
The changes at Lymm will come into effect in about six weeks.
Cllr Anna Fradgley, who had campaigned vigorously against the changes, said: “We welcome the decision by the council to re-introduce the one hour free parking to Lymm. The charges introduced last December led to more cars parking on residential roads around Lymm to avoid the fee, in turn creating traffic congestion and inconvenience to residents. Village centre traders have also seen a dramatic fall in sales as a result. I know that charging will now take place during the evening until 10pm, but it is reasonable to also pay for parking then. This is not going to suit everybody, but this is much fairer for all.
“The council have also agreed to undertake a wider parking and traffic management review in and around Lymm which will look at road maintenance, speed restrictions and parking.
“I would like to personally thank everyone involved in this campaign who has helped raise awareness of the issues and also to Cllr Hans Mundry and the council officials who have been sensitive to the needs of Lymm. I now urge residents to return back and support the local traders, in order to increase the vitality of the village centre.”
5 Comments
Why is the free hour described as “unhelpful”? Well done to the campaigners, particularly Anna Fradgley. I look forward to being able to shop in Lymm again.
It was full today when I went and still charging a pound for 3 hours, it’s not bad really.
You can be pretty sure that the reason for the council’s change of heart is that they were actually making less money than previously. Why haven’t they done the same at Stockton Heath? The evening charge is a good idea though.
So in less than four months we’ve gone from a free first hour and free after 6pm to the same with charges applying up to 10pm, hardly a victory! Does nobody else think that it was WBC’s plan to bring in evening charges all along and they just used a temporary abolition of the free first hour as a smokescreen to make these extra charges more palatable?
hey pete jones
fuel lad