RESIDENTS whose homes back onto Memorial Court car park should not be ‘penalised’ for having visitors drive to see them, councillors have agreed.

Those living in Weaver Vale Housing Trust homes in Chesterway have parking spaces to the rear of their gardens, on unpaved land north of the main car park.

But since the introduction of car parking charges last week, visitors who have until now shared the ‘driveway’ space are now being charged.

While residents are eligible for a permit, there is no option to add extra drivers on despite the fact they are not using the car park itself.

Chesterway resident Julie Heyes told a Northwich Town Council meeting last week that her daughter faces a parking bill when she returns from university for Christmas.

She said: “We don’t get a swipe card, and if vehicles aren’t registered at the address it is £120 for four weeks at home. That’s a lot to expect a student to pay to come home and visit her mum.

“If you want to have visitors they have to pay to come and park somewhere that doesn’t even look like part of the car park.

“The parking was ridiculous when it was six-deep and people couldn’t get out of their own homes. We seem to have gone to the other extreme now.

“I have only had one letter from CWAC, dated November 8. I’ve had more information from the people having to man Checkpoint Charlie in the eastern zone.”

Julie had taken the issue to Cllr Gaynor Sinar, CWAC ward member for Leftwich, who also told town councillors that parking charges should have waited until a Percy Street residents’ parking zone consultation had been completed, to stop overspill.

Cllr Sinar said: “It’s a shame that the implication came before we got the results of the consultation. Residents of Percy Street were not aware of the signs for the parking order.

“Unfortunately [the charges] probably won’t go away, and if that’s the case then this is a long term problem for people who rent their homes.”

Town council members thanks Julie for bringing the issue to their attention, and said they were in contact with CWAC over individual concerns.

Cllr Sam Naylor said: “We will try to ensure that we get that sorted out. We have met with residents and will meet with them further and ensure that no one is penalised for a lifestyle that has been led for many, many years.”

Cllr Andrew Cooper added: “We have been trying to get a residents’ parking zone in for quite a while now.

"We were concerned that with Memorial Court being 24 hours there would be displacement from people going to the shows and things like that – this has already been a problem.

“Residents in that area are being consulted on putting that in place.”