Towns on the edge of Manchester where parking is still free - for now

Parking charges in local towns are to be reviewed after drivers have been warned they might not always have access to some free car parks in the future. A Cheshire councillor has warned the where some towns pay for parking and others don’t ‘has to become a thing of the past’.

Cllr Craig Browne, who heads up the council’s highways committee, was speaking on Thursday as members voted in favour of reviewing parking charges across the borough and going out to public consultation. Last time the council attempted to do this, in 2021, it was thrown out at this stage by the highways committee.

Cllr Browne (Alderley Edge, Ind) said the proposals now being looked at allowed for town-by-town analysis and phasing in. “I’m also pleased to see clear consideration this time has been given to mitigation measures in those areas where charges could be introduced that don’t exist currently,” he said.

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At present there are no charges in some of the borough’s towns, including Middlewich, Sandbach, Alsager and Holmes Chapel. He added: “I think there is also an attempt to introduce some kind of demand responsive element to charging which, again, can differ by town and this could, of course, lead to reduced charging at certain times of day in some areas but higher charging where demand and spaces are at a premium.”

Cheshire East pays £4m a year to operate and manage its car parks. Cllr Browne said: “With the council facing a £20m funding gap, the concept of a free lunch, where some places pay but not others, I really just think this has to become a thing of the past.“

He said the consultation process would give town and parish councils the