Stockton Heath and Lymm might lose their free parking as the council faces budget cuts and rising costs for managing car parks
Stockton Heath: The council is looking to shake things up with parking charges in Stockton Heath and Lymm. They’re thinking about getting rid of the free parking periods that have been around for years.
They’re targeting places like Forge Car Park in Stockton Heath and several car parks in Lymm, including Pepper Street and Davies Way. The first hour free and free parking after 3 PM might soon be a thing of the past.
Why? Well, the council says they’re in a tight spot financially. With rising costs to manage and maintain these car parks, they just can’t keep it going. If these changes go through, Lymm will see a new fee of 70p for the first hour of parking.
In Stockton Heath, the free parking after 3 PM would be scrapped, and standard charges would kick in until 5 PM. They’re also planning to introduce a new evening rate from 5 PM to 10 PM, where the first hour would be free, but anything over that would cost £1.40.
A council spokesperson mentioned they’re facing a budget gap of around £30 million, which means tough decisions are on the table to keep essential services running. They’re looking at ways to save money, including raising parking fees.
Council leader Cllr Hans Mundry emphasized that they understand how important affordable parking is for residents and visitors. They’re trying to keep the new charges as low as possible while still making necessary cuts.
Even with these changes, they believe parking costs in Stockton Heath and Lymm will still be cheaper than in many nearby areas. The council plans to kick off a consultation on these proposals soon, aiming for the changes to roll out in spring 2025.
