Parking fines rise after charges brought in

All areas where charges came in have seen an increase in fines being issued

Parking fines have risen in parts of Cheshire since charges were introduced.

Cheshire East Council introduced paid-for parking in December for a number of towns and villages, leading to protests in some areas.

Prestbury saw an 800% increase in the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for the first six months of the charges compared with the previous six months.

Cheshire East Council has been approached for comment.

Prestbury had the biggest increase in the number of PCNs issued

A BBC Freedom of Information request found that in the eight areas where free parking ended, the number of PCNs had increased.

The biggest rise was in the village of Prestbury, with 107 PCNs given out in the six months from 2 December 2024 to 2 June 2025.

This was compared with 11 in the previous six months.

Poynton also had a significant increase - from 26 between June and December 2024, to 178 from December 2024 to June 2025.

The highest number of PCNs was given out in Sandbach, with 533 issued in the period after parking charges came in compared with 230 in the previous six months.

There were also increases in Alsager, Audlem, Handforth, Holmes Chapel and Middlewich.

Middlewich saw the lowest percentage increase - from 62 in the six months before the charges to 75 in the second period.

Protests took place before the charges were introduced

Charges were also set to be introduced in Bollington, but the town council instead agreed to pay Cheshire East Council to avoid fees at its main car park.

In Alsager, a deal with supermarket Asda in force from 30 June 2025 means that half of the town's main car park has two hours free parking with the rest subject to charges.

PCNs increased from 60 in the six months before the parking fees to 180 for the first six months with charges in place.

After introducing charges in the eight areas, the council also this year brought in evening and Sunday parking fees across the borough.