A NEW proposal could see the length of stay at a free, unlimited car park in Ellesmere Port reduced to four hours on weekdays.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking for views on the proposal to limit the length of stay at Whitby Park car park to four hours on weekdays.

It is proposed to introduce the restriction on weekdays only between 8am and 6pm, excluding bank holidays, to free up spaces for park users and users of the other leisure and recreational facilities on site.   

Whitby Park is the principal green space in Ellesmere Port, providing the opportunity for a range of outdoor activities and community events such as the local parkrun on Saturday mornings.

Whitby Park has been awarded Green Flag status, a prestigious award which is the national benchmark for parks and open spaces.

Whitby Park is free to use and currently there is no restriction on the length of time a vehicle can be parked in the car park.

Traffic surveys have shown that the car park is at or near capacity on weekdays when the car park is dominated by long-stay parking, hindering access for park users. 

At the weekend, except for a Saturday morning peak linked to the local parkrun, the car park is at about half capacity as long-stay demand is less.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said: "The Council wants to deter non-park users from parking for lengthy periods and to protect the park for its intended use, by making access easier for park users. 

"If you have any comments on the proposed length of stay restriction, please get involved in this consultation and let us know your views."

The Council is not proposing to introduce any charges to use the car park.

People requiring long stay parking would be signposted to the long stay car parks in or near the town centre, including the Civic Centre and Wellington Road North car parks. Wellington Road North car park is also free and has no length of stay restriction, with significantly more capacity than Whitby Park car park, providing 274 parking spaces (compared to 156 at Whitby Park). 

Parking in most of the surrounding streets close to the town centre is restricted, either by double yellow lines or a residents’ parking zone.  

If a weekday length of stay restriction is introduced in Whitby Park, some vehicles may park in neighbouring streets where parking is not restricted.  These areas will be monitored for any potential displacement from Whitby Park and the situation kept under review.

The Council would like to hear the views of all stakeholders – park users, community and sports groups, local residents, commuters and businesses on the proposed length of stay restriction.

There are a number of ways you can share your views:

  • Complete the survey on the Council’s website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/whitbyparkcarpark
  • Scan the QR code on consultation signage at the car park
  • Complete a paper questionnaire (available from Ellesmere Port Library, the Portal, the Civic Hall and Theatre Porto) and send your response back to the address below.
  • Email your views to: parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
  • Send a letter to: Whitby Park car park consultation, Parking Services, Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council, Parking Services, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA.
  • Attend a drop-in event which will be held during the daytime and evenings.

The consultation will last for eight weeks and will close on Tuesday, April 2 2024. 

Once all the required information, including consultation responses, have been collected, the Council will consider the results and then make a decision on the proposal.

Following the outcome of the consultation, if the Council proceeds with the proposal, the restriction would be introduced by way of a traffic regulation order (TRO) and the parking restriction would become enforceable and subject to the appropriate penalty for contravention.