Free Sunday and evening parking set to be scrapped

Protests took place over plans to bring in parking charges in some towns that had historically had completely free parking

A council is set to bring in evening and Sunday parking charges, as it seeks to make almost £100m of savings.

Cheshire East Council has launched a consultation on introducing charges at council-owned car parks until 10pm in the evenings and all day Sunday.

The authority said maintenance costs were “significant and continue to rise”.

Earlier this year the council signed off plans to bring in charges in towns that had historically had completely free parking, which led to protests.

Under that plan, free parking is set to end in Alsager, Audlem, Bollington, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Poynton, Prestbury and Sandbach.

Those changes are set to come in in the coming months.

The council said the evening and Sunday charges would be in line with the rates for the rest of the week.

Mark Goldsmith, chair of the council’s highways and transport committee, said the plans could bring in up to £2m over the next four years.

“All our car parks need maintenance, management, and enforcement and the financial impact of this doesn’t pause after a certain time or on Sundays,” he said.

“The related costs are significant and continue to rise. As a council, we are facing huge financial challenges – with a forecast funding gap of £100m over the next four years.

“The proposals we are now consulting on will help to reduce some of that financial burden.”

The consultation runs until 9 October.