Cheshire East confirms it is working on a deal with Asda over Fairview car park
Cheshire East Council are set to introduce Sunday parking charges this May, along with increased parking fees in the borough.
The council has confirmed a number of changes being made to parking arrangements.
Parking charges will be extended by four hours, covering the period from 8am to 10pm.
It has also revealed that it is working on a deal with Asda which would see the short stay area of the Fairview car park in Alsager become free for users.
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "In March last year, all town and parish councils were invited to express an interest in taking on local car parks, or in compensating the council for not introducing charges.
"While no agreement was reached for Alsager on that basis, the council is pursuing an agreement with Asda which, if signed, would see the short stay area of the car park become free for users."
Chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, Cllr Mark Goldsmith, said: "When benchmarked against neighbouring councils, it is clear our current parking charges are significantly lower.
"Nor do they reflect inflation as this is also only the second time parking charges have been increased since Cheshire East was formed in 2009.
"Coupled with the council's financial challenges, we have little option but to look at how we maximise our income and ensure that the charges we collect are sufficient to help cover the rising costs of maintaining, managing, and enforcing our car parks.
"Any surplus from parking charges is money that can be used to support other services that fall under the highways and transport committee, for example roads maintenance or Sunday and evening bus services.
"I am pleased the council's 'free after 3pm' initiative remains in operation at one car park in each of our towns and villages, which we know is a popular initiative with residents and shoppers.
"Short stay on-street parking bays in many towns remain free too as we have not introduced charging for these facilities, unlike many other councils.
"Additional Sunday and evening bus services are also being introduced from March 31 as part of the council's bus service improvement plans."
Changes at council-operated car parks being introduced in May
- Parking charges will be extended by four hours to cover the period 8am to 10pm
- Parking charges will be introduced on Sundays – based on the weekday tariffs for each car park
- The introduction of a new tariff band that will allow motorists to purchase parking for up to 14 hours
- An increase in some parking charges and permits, which reflects the tariffs charged by similar councils
The changes to car parks follow approvals given at the January 2024 highways and transport committee.
The exact date these changes will come into effect in May is still being finalised.
Once confirmed, full details of the changes and the date they go live will be shared via the council's website and publicised in car parks.
In March last year, all town and parish councils were invited to express an interest in taking on local car parks, or in compensating the council for not introducing charges.
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