Car parking charges will be reintroduced on council operated car parks from June.
During lockdown, the council made all of its operated car parks free to use, to ease pressure on residents and key workers in the area. Following the steady relaxation of some restrictions, parking charges will be re-introduced across all council car parks from Monday 1 June, as part of a wider ‘restart’ of the town centre and beyond.
The council will continue to support NHS and care workers by providing free parking to them, as long as a valid pass is displayed in the windscreen of a vehicle in pay and display car parks – such workers need to show their pass to car park staff in the Time Square Multi Storey Car Park to receive free parking.
Reinstating parking charges is part of a phased approach by the council to prepare for the borough’s recovery from coronavirus, in line with the government’s intended phased approach. The council is, however, planning initiatives to encourage and support more people to cycle or walk, rather than drive, with the longer-term aspiration that changes made in response to coronavirus will have long lasting health benefits for residents if they continue to use active transport to travel around Warrington.
However, if travelling by car is essential, car park users are reminded that they can make contactless payments at Time Square Multi Storey Car Park and pay by phone at all other council operated surface car parks – more information on ‘cashless parking’ can be found at myringgo.co.uk. Even though all pay and display and pay-on-foot machines will be regularly cleaned and sanitised, motorists are urged to follow Government guidance on hand washing and sanitisation if they do use these machines.
Finding a parking space should be straightforward, as it’s expected that car parks will be under-utilised due to many residents and workers staying at home in line with the national guidance.
More information on parking can be found on the council web site at warrington.gov.uk/carparks.
