MOTORISTS in Northwich can breathe a sigh of relief as 400 free parking spaces will soon be available, council bosses have announced.

On Friday, August 26, the current M&S Tabley Street Car Park will close and the top level or ‘level 2’ of the Barons Quay car park will open.

The car park will have a maximum stay of four hours. M&S spaces will be allocated and marked in green to show the bays reserved for their customers.

Cllr Brian Clarke, Cheshire West and Chester Council cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure, said: “I’m delighted that the car park now has an opening date.

“It will really benefit as it is within close proximity of the town centre.

“What’s more, it will be free for shoppers and visitors to the cinema and restaurants to park in and shows the council’s commitment to providing quality, cost-effective parking for the people of Northwich.”

The move was welcomed by Cllr Sam Naylor, CWAC ward member for Winnington and Castle, who has been a vocal campaigner for better parking facilities in Northwich.

“It’s positive,” he said. “It all bodes well for the future.”

Cllr Naylor said the council still need to address the lack of all-day parking for workers in the town.

“That’s an issue that has got to be resolved,” he said. “My own view is the town is big enough sort something out.

“When you consider the wages shop workers get – they’re not on mega money – you can’t penalise them just for coming to work.

“It’s another body blow in times of austerity. We’ve got to look after the workers as well as the shoppers.”

Level 1 of the Barons Quay car park is expected to open at the end of November.

Phase one of the £80 million development is anticipated to open by winter 2016.

The second sequence of Barons Quay, which includes further shops and residential units, is expected to be finished in 2017.

Northwich BID Manager, Jane Hough, said: “With this announcement it’s all edging closer to reality and I’m really getting excited now.

“Barons Quay is really going to revolutionise the cultural, economic and social landscape of Northwich and it will be amazing to watch the town grow and expand further in the coming months and years.”