An Alsager car park which cost Cheshire East nearly £9,000 to upgrade so parking charges could be introduced is bringing in about £17 a day in income.

Charges were introduced on the previously free Well Lane Car Park on December 2 last year.

At last month's meeting of the full council, Alsager councillor Rod Fletcher (Lib Dem) asked for an update on how much the 18-space car park had raised in income during its first three months of charging.

Today he received an email from the council informing him that, for the period from December 2, 2024, to March 3, the income raised on that car park is £1,394.60.

Cllr Fletcher told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I believe this works out at £104 a week and averages around £17 a day.

Cllr Rod Fletcher. (Cheshire East Council)

"It cost £8,821 to prepare the car park for charging.

"I have been advised that a warden has been visiting this car park on a regular basis.

"Will £17 a day cover the warden's visit?"

Cheshire East stumped up nearly half a million pounds to introduce car parking charges in its previously free towns and villages.

Parking charges were introduced in areas including Alsager, Audlem, Disley, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Poynton, Prestbury and Sandbach at the beginning of December.

A recent freedom of information request asked how much it had cost the council to introduce these charges.

It asked for costs including poles, columns, machines, signage, and any line markings as well as estimated costs of maintenance and enforcement.

The council replied: "The current figure is £444,846.19; however, this is subject to any further costs coming through for amendments, updates and snagging resolution.

"These costs in full will not be known until the end for the financial year."

Last month the LDRS revealed that the council had made a loss of nearly £70,000 on Crewe's £11 million multi-storey car park in the first six months of opening.

The problem-plagued 395-space car park cost Cheshire East Council approximately £87,000 to operate and brought in just £17,244 in parking income in its first six months.