TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington are to press ahead with controversial changes to pay-and-display parking despite major opposition from shoppers, shopkeepers and local councillors.
The changes, affecting car parks at Stockton Heath and Lymm, are expected to be introduced some time next month.
More than 50 representations were received from the public – almost all objections.
But the borough council says the decision has not been taken lightly and is necessary because parking services are currently running at a “significant financial deficit.”
Pay-and-display parking will be introduced Monday-to-Saturday on the Davies Way and Henry Street car parks at Lymm, which are currently free.
The first hour will be free, but two hours will cost 50p and three hours will cost £1. More than three hours will cost £2.
Charges on the Pepper Street car park at Lymm – which is already pay-and-display – will be modified with a one hour free period instead of two hours as at present.
Two hours will cost 50p, 2-4 hours will cost £2 and more than four hours will cost £10.
Similar charges will apply at the Forge car park at Stockton Heath.
Most controversial change is the reduced free period of one hour which many shoppers believe will not be long enough for them to complete their visit to the village centre.
The council says it has amended its proposals to address some of the concerns of residents by starting the charging period from 9am, instead of 8am as at present and allowing “long stay” ticket holders to enter and exit the car park as many times as they wish during the day instead of imposing a “no return within two hours” rule.
TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington are to press ahead with controversial
changes to pay-and-display parking despite major opposition from
shoppers, shopkeepers and local councillors.
Council to impose new parking fees
55 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
5 Comments
Why do people have to mess can they not leave things alone. The parking in Stockton Heath is working fine in the forge put changes in place and you will force people to park in the side streets or even go away to places like Northwich which is free parking to do there weekly shop just take a look at the centre of Warrington hardly anybody shops there now.
The council won’t stop until there are boarded up shops in places like Stockton Heath as well as Warrington town centre. In every survey that is carried out into the reasons why people don’t shop in High Streets, one of the most significant is always car parking.
Maybe there is a more longsighted approach they could take that would benefit local businesses throughout the borough rather than trying to make a profit and forcing shops out of business.
Stockton Heath and Lymm – perhaps if there were more Labour voters in those areas then the Labour council would be less willing to infuriate them.
I pity the poor residents who will have to put up with more vehicles being parked outside their houses and I can envisage gridlock on some streets where people will park in any available space.
Fifty English Pence to park for Two hours on a big car park slap bang in the centre of the village……………… If anyone is willing to drive to Northwich to do a weekly shop rather than pay 50pence parking (and loads of people do a weekly shop at the Co-op dont they?) is quite frankly a fool and its one less idiot in the village…………
I love these stories it really brings out some very strange people…………