PROPOSED parking changes could see charges in Cheshire East borough brought in line with Crewe and Macclesfield.

Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee is to consult with motorists in a bid to "deliver fairness, standardisation and transparency" while encouraging more "more active" travel, such as walking, cycling and public transport.

The current system has been criticised by those paying for car parks in Crewe, while neighbouring towns such as Sandbach have free parking on council-owned car parks.

Cheshire East Council says the revenue generated from the proposals will support continued investment in highways and transport.

The main proposals if carried through could see:

â— Standardised charges across borough car parks

â— Parking charges introduced places where parking is currently free

â— Sunday parking charges

â— Waiting restrictions at some on-street parking locations to encourage the use of car parks.

Cheshire East proposes to split its car parks into tariff zones; Zone 1 which will be central car parks within a five-minute walk of a town centre; and Zone 2, on the edge of centre or out of the centre of town.

In Zone 1 short stays of up to four hours would be 20p more expensive for the first hour and 90p more for four hours than in Zone 2.

Long stay parking (up to 10 hours) would be £2.20 more expensive in Zone 1 than in Zone 2.

The council says the proposed tariffs are consistent with existing tariffs for most Crewe and Macclesfield car parks.

It would mean motorists can benefit from a 30-minute tariff (charged at only 40 pence) for both Zone 1 and Zone 2 car parks.

"This short stay tariff makes essential, short-duration visits to town and village centres less costly for users," the council says.

But as a result of the standardisation of fees, charges are proposed in eight towns and villages which currently have no parking charges at Cheshire East car parks, including Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Sandbach.

In addition, parking charges are proposed at [current] free car parks, including at Wellington Square in Crewe.

But these Crewe car parks would remain free; Browning Street, Cotterill Street, Edward Street, Lord Street, Market Square ( for Blue Badge-holders only), South Street, Union Street, Victoria Street, West Street, Wood Street Free and Queen Street in Shavington.

The council plans a 30-day consultation on the proposals starting at the end of this month and any changes to parking would not come into force before January 2022.

The current proposals follow a borough-wide engagement survey in autumn 2020 and early 2021 to test key principles and identify key issues for residents in relation to car parking.

The survey received more than 3,700 responses and found that 51 per cent of respondents agreed that hourly parking charges should be the same across the borough's car parks.

Cheshire East's highways and transport committee meets next Tuesday (September 21) morning at Macclesfield Town Hall.