Cheshire East insists the massive loss it is making on the Crewe multi-storey park will not influence how much it hikes up parking charges across the borough.

The £11 million car park made a loss of nearly £70,000 in its first six months of operation.

With charges across the borough increasing again on May 26, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council whether extra had been added, above inflation, to make up for the loss being made by the Crewe multi-storey car park.

The £11 million multi-storey car park made a loss of nearly £70,000 in its first six months of operation (Ryan Parker).

Chair of the highways and transport committee, Cllr Mark Goldsmith, said: "Increases in parking charges are not influenced by the performance of any individual car park, including the Crewe multi-storey car park.

"We have one parking revenue account and therefore all matters are calculated across the whole estate."

The car park, which opened last July, has been boycotted by most drivers in the town.

In October, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) exclusively revealed the 395-space car park was bringing in just £75 a day in terms of income for the council.

A freedom of information request earlier this year revealed parking income, from the date of opening to January 31, had increased to around £110 a day.

But operational costs during the same period meant the council had made a loss of £69,756 in the first six months since opening.

Developers who have shown an interest in Crewe town centre have told Cheshire East Council the new bus station and car park there greatly improves their likelihood of investing (Ryan Parker).

Cllr Goldsmith this month insisted the council had not expected the new car park to be 'fully utilised' in the initial years.

"Crewe multi-storey car park and bus station was built as part of the town's regeneration programme.

"It is a cornerstone of a development strategy for the town centre and will support growth and redevelopment.

"It is not expected to be fully utilised in its initial years of operating but instead provided capacity to allow existing surface car parks to be developed," he said.

"It should be judged on its impact on land values and inward investment over the medium term.

"This is the same principle that saw £140 million invested in a new Stockport bus interchange. That will not be judged on how many bus tickets it sells but on how it encourages further regeneration, which it is successfully doing."

Chair of Cheshire East's highways and transport committee, Cllr Mark Goldsmith (CEC).

He added: "Developers who have shown an interest in Crewe town centre tell us the new bus station and car park there greatly improves their likelihood of investing.

"Therefore, this is a long-term enterprise that did not cost Cheshire East council taxpayers. It is not a six-month, instant profit investment though."

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