Visitors to beauty spot and canal boat users face parking charges

COUNCIL chiefs are to introduce parking charges on roads near to a Poynton beauty spot.

Motorists parking at Nelson Pit Visitor Centre Car Park, off Lyme Road, will soon have to pay between 70p for up to one hour, £2 for up to three hours and £2.50 for up to 10 hours.

Charges will run between 9am and 9pm.

Two other off-street parking areas about half a mile from Nelson Pit - Poynton Coppice car park and Jackson’s Brickworks - will remain free.

Nelson Pit is one of the three most popular countryside sites, along with Teggs Nose Country Park and Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, which already have pay and display parking.

In a report which was approved by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Health on July 26, councillor Paul Bates, Andrew Round, Interim Executive Director of Place, said: “The Nelson Pit Visitor Centre Car Park serves a number of different leisure facilities, including the Middlewood Way footpath and bridlepath, canal visits, and longer walks on the public rights of way network to Lyme Park, visits to the pub and coffee shop and for dog walking.

“The car park is well used, and heavily occupied at peak times such as holidays and in good weather, which results in overspill onto local roads.

“The introduction of tariffs and operating hours are designed to give customers the convenience of finding bays on the car park more quickly.

Yearly permits allowing unrestricted parking will also be available costing £55.

Residents of canal boats who use the car park, and have enjoyed free parking, will be expected to buy an annual £50 permit priced at £50.