Cheshire East: Controversial parking charges to start next month

Free parking will end at most council-owned car parks in parts of Cheshire from next month.

Cheshire East Council has confirmed parking charges will come into force in areas that have traditionally had free parking from 2 December.

The plans were signed off in January and proved controversial, with protests in a number of areas.

Cheshire East Council said the charges were "necessary" to ensure all towns were treated in a fair and equal way and to reduce some of the authority's financial burden.

The changes impact car parks in areas including Alsager, Audlem, Bollington, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Poynton, Prestbury and Sandbach.

Parts of Cheshire East have historically had free parking, as part of arrangements before the current council was formed in 2009.

Free parking will remain at some smaller car parks, in areas where the council said it was "not value for money" to bring in pay and display.

The authority also pointed to an initiative in some areas allowing free parking after 15:00, and said charges in certain areas would not start until 09:00 to allow for school drop-offs.

Mark Goldsmith, chair of the council's highways and transport committee, said: "While we recognise these new parking arrangements have caused some concerns, they are necessary to ensure all our towns are treated in a fair and equal way, and to reduce some of the financial burden facing the council."