Parking row still rumbles on

LIBERAL Democrat councillors at Warrington are to make a new bid to persuade the borough council to think again about its controversial proposal to end free parking at Stockton Heath and Lymm.
They are putting a motion to Monday’s meeting of the council asking the executive board to reconsider its decision to use the car parks to generate more cash with the village car parks to offset deficits incurred elsewhere in the borough.
The motion is being proposed by Cllr Brian Axcell and seconded by Cllr Bob Barr.
They say reducing free parking from two hours to one – the current situation – is causing considerable inconvenience to car park users and a loss of business for traders.
The proposal to introduce a 30p charge for up to two hours – ending any free parking at all – is likely to deter more people from shopping in the two villages.
They point out that more than 5,000 residents have signed a petition and 80 traders have written to the council calling for a return to two hours free parking – and point out that the Stockton Heath and Lymm car parks already produce a financial surplus for the council.
Finally, the two councillors point out that other council-owned district car parks, north of the Manchester Ship Canal, remain free to users for up to nine hours.
They urge the council to revert to free parking for two hours at Stockton Heath and Lymm or implement equitable charges across the whole borough.