Could we be about to lose one of our area's last few remaining free carparks?

At the start of last week, ANPR cameras were installed at the Pool Bank Carpark on Bollington's Palmerston Street.

It has become a hot topic just days before the local elections, as people believe this could lead to Cheshire East Council introducing a pay and display machine.

So much so, that a petition has even been backed by many candidates to try and prevent any pay charges from being introduced.

The carpark has 71 spaces. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Traditionally, larger towns in Cheshire East like Crewe and Macclesfield are on the whole a majority of paid carparks.

In smaller places such as Bollington, Prestbury and Poynton all the council owned car parks are free.

But following a fall in carpark revenue in 2021, there have been discussions on carpark fees in many Cheshire East Council meetings.

But there is no mention of paying for parking in any statement sent from Cheshire East Council (who own the carpark) to Bollington Town Council or Macclesfield Nub News.

Similar cameras to the one in Bollington were introduced in free carparks in Poynton. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Cheshire East Council state "cameras will be installed for one week at a small number of council-owned car parks during April, to provide surveys of car park use within the borough."

"Data gathered from these surveys will help the Council to understand how our car parks are used by the public. Surveys will assess levels of use at different times of day and week. The surveys are to provide information for an updated Cheshire East Parking Strategy.

"None of the cameras will be used for parking enforcement or to issue Penalty Charge Notices."

It is now May. But it is not clear if this data will be shared with the public, or lead to any pay and display charges being introduced to the carpark which provides footfall to local businesses. Macclesfield Nub News has sought further clarification from Cheshire East Council.

The carpark is known for being consumer friendly. As well as being free to park, it has also been free to charge your electric car there since 2021. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

A spokesperson replied: "Cheshire East Council welcomes petitions and recognises that petitions are one way in which people can let us know their views. Any petition raised by residents can be submitted formally to Cheshire East Council via the council's website. Please note that petitions cannot be submitted to the council during the pre-election period."

"Cheshire East Council carries out surveys to help understand how towns and town centres are being accessed by the public and how council-owned car parks are being used, particularly following the impact of the pandemic."

Browse hundreds of Macclesfield jobs on our Macclesfield jobs page.

Macclesfield: Have you signed up for our FREE Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's top five Macclesfield news stories, and one EXCLUSIVE article?

Simply enter your email address on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.