PERMIT parking for a cluster of Northwich households is set to be put in place, in a bid to address the ‘volatile’ situations residents are facing.

Street parking in the area bounded by Chinkers Field, Memorial Court, Chesterway and St Helen Witton churchyard could become subject to permits between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

The Cheshire West and Chester Council highways notice – detailing a mix of permit zones, double yellow lines and short-term parking – has been issued to cover Percy Street, Whalley Road, School Way, Priory Street, and Church Walk.

Dot Jones, who lives in Whalley Road, said: “It’s always been bad because of where it is, but last year the paddling pool together with Memorial Court events and parking charges meant that it just went haywire.

“There were police reports and abuse from people using the area to park – there were some days where residents couldn’t get out and it was gridlocked.

“It’s a very volatile situation.”

Northwich Guardian:

The order, which will undergo a statutory consultation from July 18 until July 24, proposes double yellow lines in the Church Walk cul-de-sac and a two-hour parking limit with no return within two hours on the south side of Whalley Road further from Memorial Court.

The rest of Whalley Road will be intermittent double yellows and permit parking on both the north and sound carriageways. As with permits, short-stay parking is in force 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

Percy Street, Priory Street and School Way will also see intermittent double yellows and permit zones on both sides of the road.

The area’s 76 households will split a set-up cost, before motorists pay for an annual permit.

Cllr Sam Naylor, CWAC member for the town centre, said: “It’s been going on for a while and it was all to do with – particularly in the summer – people just abandoning their cars down there.

“The situation got worse whenever there was a function at Memorial Court, and with parking charges.

Northwich Guardian:

“It’s been very much a collaborative effort between residents, the town council and CWAC. There have been public meetings and residents have voted on it

“It’s taken probably about 18 months, but we hope that we have got it right and residents will be able to park outside their own properties.”

Dot added: “We all love the fact that we have got the paddling pool, and the town council does the town proud with all the facilities we have got.

“It doesn’t seem to matter how much you give people – they always want to take more.”