PARKING charges could be on their way to Northwich, according to the town’s worried councillors.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been consulting residents on its guidelines for parking enforcement across the area, prompting fears for the future of Northwich’s free parking.

Town councillor Roy Garton, speaking at Northwich Town Council’s meeting on Monday, said: “These guidelines are obviously to do with the decriminalisation of parking.

“If it goes ahead after the consultation, which I’ve no doubt it will, then I’m almost certain it will do away with free parking in Northwich.

“I cannot see any other reason for this document.”

CWAC’s parking enforcement guidance document sets out how it will enforce parking restrictions, which help to manage the flow of traffic, ensure emergency vehicles have unimpeded access and provide a fair distribution of parking spaces.

Clr Garton said: “It’s quite obvious when you read it that it’s going to cost money to implement and the only way to get that back is by putting tickets on cars.”

Clr Paul Dolan said: “There’s no business case or financial case but there’s no doubt the whole rationale is to generate income.”

Councillors said they were concerned that the same rules would be made to apply across the whole CWAC district, which includes the city of Chester and Ellesmere Port.

Clr Arthur Neil said: “Car parking should reflect local needs and local traffic management needs.

“On the small car park near Argos in Northwich there’s a charge for more than three hours and this was done very specifically as it used to fill very early in the morning and stay full all day.

“It needs to be dealt with according to local need to ensure there is a ready turnover of spaces for people to trade and shop.”

Town mayor Clr Helen Burder said: “Shops in Northwich are struggling under the economic climate as it is.”

The council decided to write a strongly worded letter to the chief executive of CWAC expressing its concerns.