Residents in Culcheth are understandably cross after parking restrictions at the Jackson Avenue car park were tightened, with one woman allegedly receiving a £75 penalty while taking her elderly mother to the GP and doing the shopping.
The car park at Culcheth Shopping Centre previously offered four hours of free parking, with no return within one hour. Since July, that allowance has been reduced to two hours, with the option of adding a third hour for £2. It is a change that may look tidy on a spreadsheet, but real life is not a spreadsheet, particularly when mobility issues, medical appointments and shopping are involved.
One resident said the woman dropped her elderly mother at the doctors' surgery, went to Sainsbury's, then returned to collect her disabled mother before parking again at Sainsbury's to finish the shopping. The reported result was a £75 fine, which feels rather steep for a trip involving healthcare and groceries rather than a leisurely day of parking roulette.
Local residents fear the shorter stay will hit businesses at the CPS Centre, especially cafes and shops. That concern is reasonable: customers may be less inclined to browse, eat or run several errands if they are constantly watching the clock. Culcheth needs parking rules that stop abuse without making ordinary visits feel like a timed obstacle course.
The operator previously attempted to change the restrictions, but abandoned the plan after public opposition. The Jackson Avenue car park is one of the largest public car parks in Culcheth, so its rules matter to residents, visitors and local traders alike.
A spokesperson for the site operator said two hours of free parking, with a third hour available for £2, works out at an hourly rate of 67p and is considered very cheap. They added that most visitors staying no more than two hours would pay nothing.
The operator also said some drivers had been leaving vehicles there without visiting the CPS Centre, including overnight stays. According to the operator, this reduces the number of spaces available for genuine visitors. Preventing that sort of misuse is fair enough, but the criticism from residents is that a broad-brush system can catch people who are using the car park perfectly legitimately. Somewhere between overnight parking and a GP appointment lasting longer than expected, there ought to be room for common sense.