Council launches Free after Three parking trial

Following its decision to grant planning permission for Wilson Bowden's retail-led Silk Street development in Macclesfield, Cheshire East Council has approved £500,000 of public realm improvements.

The money will be used to repair and replace signage and streetscape in Chestergate, the Silk Heritage Centre, and introduce a free parking scheme after 3pm.

The budget approval follows work already carried out in Macclesfield town centre in which market canopies were repaired and upgraded, paving in Market Place and St Michael's Church yard was upgraded and repaired and the church wall, railings and gates were renovated.

Council leader Cllr Michael Jones said the Free after Three car parking scheme will be introduced in the Whalley Hayes car park, which contains 258 spaces and three disabled bays. More details of this scheme will follow at a later date.

Cllr David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of the environment, said: "The Free after Three scheme will be on a trial basis and on the one car park in Macclesfield. This will be with a view to extending to other towns. We believe this will provide a boost to businesses and encourage visitors and support the town centre."

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I can’t see that having to schlep your shopping back to Walley Hayes car park will have people falling over themselves to take advantage of free parking in Macclesfield. This will be a nil / very low cost offer by CEC because so few people will be paying to park there after 3 anyway. Come on CEC, be bolder, how about free parking after 3 on the car parks that are actually close to the town centre…?

By Nick

Whats the point of offering free parking in a place with a low probability of being used in the first place!? Why not offer it in the Exchange street (opposite Tesco metro) parking for example?

By Guest

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