PREPARATIONS are being made for the introduction of parking charges in Northwich.

The Cumberland Street, market, Memorial Court, Verdin, Victoria Club and Watermans car parks will see charges introduced in the near future.

Tariffs will start at 20p for up to two hours, rising to £3 for six hours or more in some car parks.

Barons Quay will remain free with a time limit of four hours, as at present, while Hadfield Street, Park Street and Zion Street will see no charges introduced.

Work to install machines at the relevant sites has started, and notices placed in car parks suggest a start date of Monday, November 12.

A Cheshire West and Chester Council spokesman told the Guardian there was no fixed start date for charges to come into effect, with testing and signage installation yet to be completed.