LOCAL Cllrs. were kept in the dark over proposed changes to car parking charges in Lymm and Stockton Heath which will have a huge impact on the local business communities.
Lymm South Cllr Graham Gowland says local Cllrs. should have been consulted before the council announced a proposed change consultation, which will effectively end free parking concessions in Lymm and Stockton Heath.
Car parking in Lymm and Stockton Heath is a significant issue, and in both villages, the main car parks are operated by Warrington Borough Council. The council is now going to consult on removing the limited free parking periods that apply to these car parks.
As reported yesterday by Warrington Worldwide, free parking will virtually end on public car parks at Lymm and Stockton Heath in the near future if proposals put forward by Warrington Borough Council are approved.
The council says the changes are necessary because of a “budget gap” of £30 million and the need to ensure that vital, frontline services are protected.
The council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) – part of the 2025/26 budget-setting process – will propose a number of savings to help address the council’s difficult financial position, including increases to parking charges. These proposals include the Forge car park in Stockton Heath and the Pepper Street, Davies Way and Henry Street car parks in Lymm.
Cllr. Gowland explained: “A number of years ago, the council introduced charges on these car parks while leaving many other car parks in the borough free. An economic argument was made by the council, and residents and business owners worked hard to find a resolution that met the needs of all. Applying charges allowed the council to profit, but also meant that the car parks were not ‘blocked’ for visitors, however crucially free periods were introduced in both car parks. The reason this was seen as important is that many of the small businesses in both villages have low transaction values less than £5. People pop into the villages to buy a paper, a sandwich or a stamp, but not so much for large shops. No one spending £3 on a sandwich is going to spend 70p on car parking – they’ll simply go to the supermarket.’
It’s understood local councillors were unaware of the plans to remove the free parking periods.
Cllr. Gowland added: “This is a key example of an issue that will impact specific wards, and officers should have met with us first to discuss the reasons for the change – and understand why it’s not acceptable, its good that a consultation is proposed, but that should have followed a proper discussion with the elected representatives.”
The council have not yet released details of the consultation process, but Cllr Graham emphasised: “We will as a community be giving a clear message to the council that this change is not in our best interest, and needs reconsidering”.
The council is planning to start the statutory consultation on these proposals in the near future, with a view to the changes to be introduced in the spring.
2 Comments
Yes you would have thought WBC would have given the local councillors the heads up about any proposed change in charges ?
But that’s WBC push things through and hope people won’t notice.
If WBC implement these charges it will kill both villages off from a business prospective.
Struggling for money, yet vote themselves above inflation increases in allowances, stays it all