CASH-STRAPPED Warrington Borough Council is to eliminate free parking on Sundays and bank holidays at its town centre Time Square car park as part of a sweeping financial review.
The authority is also set to hit motorists with a 6% general tariff hike across its district and town centre car parks, blame rising operational costs and severe budget pressures.
The controversial move marks an aggressive push toward “financial prudence” by the council.
The council states they can no longer afford to subsidise free parking while absorbing heavy staffing and maintenance costs.
The biggest blow for shoppers and workers centers on the Time Square Multi-storey car park. Long utilised as a free parking haven on Sundays and bank holidays, the facility will now switch to a fully paid tariff system.
According to council reports, running the multi-storey on these days incurs significant staffing and operational bills without bringing in any income. In the current economic climate, the council insists that continuing to subsidise this service is entirely unsustainable.
The new proposal sets out to increase parking charges in line with the projected Consumer Price Index (CPI). The council estimates a 6% CPI increase between October 2024 and September 2026.
As a result, standard parking fees and contract parking permits will all rise by 6%, rounded up to the nearest 10p.This follows a turbulent period for Warrington’s parking structures.
After keeping rates flat for years, a major review sparked an initial increase. This was followed by a subsequent inflationary rise.
The council also noted that specific localised interventions were required. This included introducing evening charges at The Forge car park in Stockton Heath. Additionally, fees were raised across three Lymm car parks—Pepper Street, Davies Way, and Henry Street—to cover the cost of keeping their first hour of parking free for local visitors.
Defending the widely unpopular updates, the council stated that planned increases have been kept to an absolute minimum. However, the introduction of Sunday charges signals a distinct shift in how the cash-strapped authority plans to recover its running costs.The full list of revised baseline fees and updated contract permit costs has been formally drawn up under the council’s framework.
WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
THE BOROUGH OF WARRINGTON (OFF-STREET PARKING PLACES) (CIVIL ENFORCEMENT) CONSOLIDATION (AMENDMENT NO. 4) ORDER 2026
Notice is hereby given that the Council proposes to make an Order under Sections 1, 2, 4, 32, 35 and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and of all other enabling powers. The effect of the Order will be as follows:
- The Borough of Warrington (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement) Consolidation Order 2024 as amended by The Borough of Warrington (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement) Consolidation (Amendment No. 1) Order 2025, is hereby further varied or amended in so far as it relates to Schedules 2, 3, 4 and 6 by a variation of charges at The Forge/Winwick Street/Car Park ‘A’ Town Hall/Davies Way/Henry Street/Pepper Street/Time Square Multi-Storey/Time Square Surface Level/Birchwood Train Station/Warrington West Train Station Car Parks as follows: –
The Forge Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 14:59pm: 0 – 15 mins – Free 15 mins – 3 hours – £1.40 Over 3 hours (return anytime up to 10pm) – £2.70 3:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 30 mins – Free Over 30 mins (return anytime up to 10pm) – £1.40 Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Free Sundays & Bank Holidays |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 14:59pm: 0 – 15 mins – Free 15 mins – 3 hours – £1.50 Over 3 hours (return anytime up to 10pm) – £2.90 3:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 30 mins – Free Over 30 mins (return anytime up to 10pm) – £1.50 Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Free Sundays & Bank Holidays |
Winwick Street Car Park
| Existing: | Pay & Display:
0 – 1 hours – £1.40 1 – 2 hours – £2.00 2 – 3 hours – £2.70 Daily rate – £3.70 (valid between 00:00 & 23:59 same day) All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay & Display:
0 – 1 hours – £1.50 1 – 2 hours – £2.20 2 – 3 hours – £2.90 Daily rate – £4.00 (valid between 00:00 & 23:59 same day) All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Car Park ‘A’ Town Hall
| Existing: | Pay & Display – 8:00am to 18:00pm:
0 – 1 hours – £1.70 1 – 2 hours – £2.30 2 – 4 hours – £3.40 No return within 2 hours Maximum stay 4 hours Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Public Contract pre-pay permit: £840.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £70.00 per month. |
Revised: | Pay & Display – 8:00am to 18:00pm:
0 – 1 hours – £1.80 1 – 2 hours – £2.50 2 – 4 hours – £3.60 No return within 2 hours Maximum stay 4 hours Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Public Contract pre-pay permit: £890.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £74.17 per month. |
Davies Way Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.70 2 – 3 hours – £3.50 No return within 2 hours Over 3 hours – £5.00 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.70 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.80 2 – 3 hours – £3.70 No return within 2 hours Over 3 hours – £5.30 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.80 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Henry Street Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.70 2 – 3 hours – £3.50 No return within 2 hours Over 3 hours – £5.00 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.70 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.80 2 – 3 hours – £3.70 No return within 2 hours Over 3 hours – £5.30 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.80 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Pepper Street Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.70 2 – 4 hours – £3.50 No return within 2 hours Over 4 hours – £14 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.70 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
9:00am to 4:59pm: 0 – 1 hours – Free 1 – 2 hours – £1.80 2 – 4 hours – £3.70 No return within 2 hours Over 4 hours – £15.00 All day return permitted 5:00pm to 10:00pm: 0 – 1 hour – Free No return within 2 hours Over 1 hour – £1.80 All day return permitted Free Sundays & Bank Holidays Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Birchwood Train Station Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
0 – 15 mins – Free 15 mins–24 hours – £2.30 All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
0 – 15 mins – Free 15 mins–24 hours – £2.50 All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Warrington West Train Station Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
0 – 24 hours £1.20 All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Public Contract pre-pay permit: 5 day permit (Monday to Friday): £140.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £11.67 per month. 7 day permit (Monday to Sunday): £170.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £14.17 per month. |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
0 – 24 hours £1.30 All day return permitted Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply Public Contract pre-pay permit: 5 day permit (Monday to Friday): £148.40 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £12.37 per month. 7 day permit (Monday to Sunday): £180.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £15.00 per month. |
Time Square Multi-Storey Car Park
| Existing: | Pay on Foot:
Monday to Friday 6:00am to 5:59pm: 0 – 1 hour £1.40 1 – 2 hours £2.00 2 – 4 hours £2.60 Over 4 hours (all day) – £7.00 Saturday: 0 – 3 hours – £1.40 Over 3 hours (all day) – £3.90 Night time Monday to Saturday 6:00pm to 5:59am: 0 – 1 hour £1.40 1 – 2 hours £2.00 Over 2 hours – £2.60 Public Contract pre-pay permit: £640.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £53.33 per month. Public Contract pre-pay permit (night time) between 6:00pm & 6:00am Monday to Saturday: £135.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £11.25 per month. |
Revised: | Pay on Foot:
Monday to Friday 6:00am to 5:59pm: 0 – 1 hour £1.50 1 – 2 hours £2.10 2 – 4 hours £2.80 Over 4 hours (all day) – £7.50 Saturday/Sunday 6:00am to 5:59pm: 0 – 3 hours – £1.50 Over 3 hours – £4.20 Night time Monday to Sunday 6:00pm to 5:59am: 0 – 1 hour £1.50 1 – 2 hours £2.10 Over 2 hours – £2.80 Public Contract pre-pay permit: £680.00 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £56.67 per month. Public Contract pre-pay permit (night time) between 6:00pm & 6:00am Monday to Sunday: £143.10 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £11.92 per month. |
Time Square Surface Level Car Park
| Existing: | Pay and Display:
0 – 1 hour £1.70 1 – 2 hours £2.30 2 – 3 hours £3.40 No return within 2 hours Maximum stay 3 hours Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
Revised: | Pay and Display:
0 – 1 hour £1.80 1 – 2 hours £2.50 2 – 3 hours £3.60 No return within 2 hours Maximum stay 3 hours Blue Badge Holders: 0 – 3 hours – Free Over 3 hours – Normal charges apply |
- The Borough of Warrington (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement) Consolidation Order 2024, is hereby further varied or amended in so far as it relates to Schedule 5 by a variation of charges at Town Hill Car Park as follows: –
Town Hill Car Park
| Existing: | Public Contract pre-pay permit:
£710 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £59.17 per month. |
Revised: | Public Contract pre-pay permit:
£750 per annum between April and March of each year or pro rata depending upon remaining months of £62.50 per month. |
Deposited documents may be viewed on-line at https://www.warrington.gov.uk/permanent-traffic-regulation-orders or Contact Warrington, 1 Time Square, Warrington, WA1 2NT between 9am & 5pm, Monday to Friday.
All representations both in support or objecting to the proposals must be in writing either by post or delivered by hand to Legal Services, East Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH or emailed with full contact details to TROrepresentations@warrington.gov.uk by 30th July 2026 and all objections must specify the grounds on which they are made. Please note that all representations received may be considered in public by the Council and that the substance of any representation together with the name and address of the person making it could become available for public inspection.
Dated: 9th July 2026 Ref: 21438048
Paul Clisby, Director of Law & Governance, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH
