How much profit does your car park make?
MACCLESFIELD’S council-run car parks rake in nearly £1m profit a year - to subsidise free parking elsewhere in Cheshire East, it’s been claimed.
According to figures from Cheshire East Council (CEC), who have responsibility for car parking, the town’s 20 active sites cleared £983,848 in 2017/18. The most profitable was Churchill Way (£197,600), where charges range from 70p for an hour to £5.50 for more than six hours.
The council is consulting on increasing fees in March next year, but insist this is ‘not a profit-making scheme’.
But Labour’s Coun Nick Mannion, for Macclesfield West and Ivy, claimed the excess from our car parks is funding cheaper - or even free - parking elsewhere in the authority.
He said: “The profit in Macclesfield is subsidising others; in Sandbach parking is free and in other areas lower.
“They have not spent a penny on Macclesfield’s car parks - the state of some is deplorable. The only thing maintained is the machines that take money off you.”
He added: “High car parking charges are a disincentive and puts people off coming, town centre businesses are struggling enough as it is.”
Altogether the town’s car parks generate £1,378,450 revenue and cost £394,602. Exchange it is much Street took £142,843, Whalley Hayes £124,569, the railway station £118,327 and Duke Street £101,250.
Cheshire East proposals include a general 10p rise across each tariff, increases at railway stations and re-introducing fees at some free car parks, including Hibel Road.
In addition, parking permits could go up and an admin fee for replacing them may be introduced.
At the recent cabinet meeting Coun Sam Corcoran, Labour group leader, said the charges were a ‘contradiction’ with the £1.4m regeneration of Castle Street.
He said: “I would question why we are increasing car parking charges around Crewe town centre and Macclesfield town centre.
“There seems to be a contradiction there.
“We do need to promote town centres and I’m not sure that a blanket 10p increase will achieve that.”
Coun Ainsley Arnold, cabinet member for regeneration, replied that no changes have been confirmed yet while consultation is ongoing.
Frank Jordan, CEC’s acting deputy chief executive, said it is their responsibility to ensure car parks are safe, secure and well maintained – and that there is a good turnaround of spaces.
He added: “The money that comes from car parks helps us to do this and ensures that our car parks fund themselves, rather than us having to use money intended for vital frontline services.
“This is not a profitmaking scheme. The revenue generated will help to ensure a quality of service.
“While we would prefer to leave things as they are, we continue to be forced to make a range of tough and, at times, unpopular decisions.”
The council did not comment on claims Macclesfield parking money was subsidising other areas.
TO have your say visit www.cheshireeast.gov. uk/parkingcharges.