Free parking in Bollington for the time being

Bollington folk won’t have to pay parking charges when Cheshire East introduces them as Bollington Town Council is still consulting on running the car park.

Cheshire East planned to introduce pay and display on Pool Bank Car Park, 60p for the first hour and up to £3.40 for 6-10 hours.

But the town council is looking at increasing it’s precept – the town’s part of the council tax – by an average £2.93 per month to fund free parking and keep the library’s existing opening hours.

The consultation runs until November 15, but until the outcome of the consultation is know, Cheshire East will not introduce the controversial charges on the car park.

Cheshire East is currently planning to introduce charges in its currently ‘free parking’ towns and villages, including Middlewich, Sandbach, Alsager and Holmes Chapel.

Of course, taking things to a logical conclusion, could mean that town and parish councils across Cheshire will end up paying twice for everything that is currently supposed to be funded in their council tax. 

If residents support increasing the council tax precept by an average of £2.93 (for a band D property) and that decision is ratified by the town council, Cheshire East won’t be introducing charges on the car park.

A ‘yes’ vote would also see Bollington library keep its existing hours as the town council would help fund it.

A ‘no’ vote would see parking charges being levied and Bollington library, currently open over five days a week, could be restricted to 11 hours a week.

Details of the consultation can be seen on Bollington Town Council’s website here.

Print copies are also being delivered  to all houses in Bollington and are available at Bollington Town Hall.

The opinion survey should be returned by November 15 to locations across Bollington, including the library, Tesco, Coop, the leisure centre, town hall, Chadwick’s Newsagents and Grimshaw Lane Corner Store.