A consultation has launched on proposals to introduce more parking charges in Cheshire East. 

Cheshire East Council's statutory public consultation, which applies to most council-owned car parks across the borough, runs until 9 October 2024.

It would mean Maxonians would pay to park in the evenings, and on Sundays, should the consultation plans come to fruition.

Drivers queue to pay at the Churchill Way Car Park, Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The council is proposing to extend charges at its car parks to 10pm, and to charge on Sundays – the tariffs for which would be in line with the rates for the rest of the week. 

Currently, paid Cheshire East Council car parks only charge for you to park there from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

However, the Council now seek to change the time you need to pay and display from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

The consultation can be viewed at https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/car-parks-and-parking/consultations/notice-of-proposal-borough-of-crewe-and-nantwich.pdf

Four extra hours every evening means 24 extra hours of paid car parking in Macclesfield from Monday to Sunday, and an extra ten hours on Sunday where parking was previously (and is currently until any consultation is approved - or indeed disapproved) free.

In total, this would be period of an extra 34 hours of paid parking each week, for which Cheshire East Council would be able to collect parking revenue for.

Should the consultation plans come to fruition, the tariffs currently in place would remain the same for every paid car park in Macclesfield, just the period which you would be charged in is longer.

Cheshire East Council were unable to confirm any jobs being created, from this longer period of car park charging which could become reality. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The three free car parks are all in west Macclesfield, all out of the town centre, would not be affected by the possible Sunday and evening charge introduction.

Macclesfield has previously been described as a 'cashcow' town for car parks in Cheshire East, a comment particularly pertinent a few years ago there were more free car parks in Cheshire East than there are now.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: "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.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith.

"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.

"It could potentially provide up to £2m over the next 4 years to support other council services, such as highways maintenance, bus services and active travel schemes.

21 Cheshire East Council-owned parking sites are in Macclesfield, 18 of which are paid.

"Therefore, we cannot ignore this option, and so are consulting on the idea."

The consultation follows approval given by the council's highways and transport committee in January this year. 

A final decision on evening and Sunday charging will be subject to the outcome of the consultation. All representations will be considered.

A Cheshire East Council parking ticket issued at Parsonage Street, Macclesfield, last month. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Notices about the proposals are displayed in the council's car parks across Macclesfield, and the borough.

They are also available to view on the council's website. 

Responses to the consultation can be provided by email using 'Variation 12' as the email subject header.

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The Waters Green Car Park in Macclesfield, or as the sign erroneously calls it the 'Water's Green Car Park'. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Email [email protected] to respond to the consultation, which you can also read HERE.

Nub News recently reported that Cheshire East Council needs to save close to £100 million over the next four years.

In 2023, the Council previously wrote on an official document: "CEC must meet complex challenges and increasing customer expectations to provide a modern, responsive and fair parking service.

The consultation is open until October 9, 2024. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"The parking management regime across the borough needs to be more closely aligned to wider corporate objectives; thus, promoting environmental sustainability, social equity and economic efficiency." 

It appears introducing pay and display charging for four hours in the evenings and from 8am to 10pm on a Sunday is the latest stage in this ambition, particularly regarding 'economic efficiency'.

Facts about Car Parks in the Macclesfield area

• Across the 21 Macclesfield Cheshire East Council-owned carparks, there is a combined capacity of 2187 spaces.
• Total parking revenue in Macclesfield amounts to to over £1,315,000. Churchill Way generated the most revenue totalling nearly £240,000. Whalley Hayes came second, Duke Street third, and Pickford Street fourth.
• In contrast, Hibel Road, a small car park designed for long-stay use, received the least total revenue amounting to just over £2,000.
• Paying by machine is the most popular way to pay in Macclesfield, totalling over £775,000 in revenue. In contrast, approximately £450,000 was received via Pay-By-Phone, and approximately £90,000 via permits.
• Separate to this consultation, some Cheshire East car park will convert from free to paid car parks later this year, such as the Pool Bank Car Park in Bollington (and would likely be subject to this evening and Sunday fee introduction, should the consultation go ahead)

Locally, the Pool Bank Carpark is currently awaiting transformation from a paid to free car park. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)