THE council’s new parking strategy will undoubtedly be contentious – particularly in the east of the borough where most town centre parking is currently free.

It needs to establish clear principles, whilst recognising market forces.

One principle should be that car park provision is not “free”.

Without charges the cost of maintaining car parks, and supervising them, will be borne by all council tax payers – including the poorest who can’t afford cars and travel on largely unsubsidised buses.

Currently it is also the case that those paying for parking in some areas are subsidising running costs in the “free” areas.

Parking is a commodity very much subject to market forces.

Charges force people to balance cost with convenience, matching supply to demand.

Free parking ignores the real value of parking.

In town centres where parking is free the spaces closest to shops and office are filled by 9am with the cars of shop / office workers who will park there all day.

Shoppers arriving later are pushed further from the shops – making the centre less attractive to the very people you want to attract.

Charges can push commuters to peripheral parking, and shoppers are happy to pay a small charge to have the good access to the shops they need.

Free after 3pm is seemingly a good use of market forces to attract people at an off-peak time, especially in smaller towns with no evening economy or afternoon congested rush hour.

While I am sure many will complain, in my view charges should be the norm in all car parks – and will broadly operate to the benefit of motorists.

Ray McHale Cheshire