Note that Cheshire County Council ceased to exist on 1st April 2009 so the information referenced is being replaced by new pages on the web sites of Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West & Chester Council.
Cheshire East
Cheshire East is a unitary authority which came into being on 1st April 2009. It is responsible for all district services previously undertaken by Congleton, Crewe & Nantwich and Macclesfield District Councils and county services previously undertaken by Cheshire County Council.
Cheshire East Council have parking information accessible via the Transport & Travel page on their web site Here.
Information presented below obtained in 2006/7/8 was provided by the previous district councils.
Congleton
On 31st August 2006, Congleton Borough Council stated "The local traffic orders are due to be reviewed within the next six months alongside the potential introduction of car parking charges in all our local car parks. As the Council's car parks are predominantly in town centre locations with no water, sanitation or electricity points, their potential for overnight parking would be very limited. Consequently, it is very likely that overnight parking will be prohibited in the new orders.".
On 12 February 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Congleton Borough Council stated "In reply to your query regarding parking for motor homes there is no provision for the parking of motor homes on any of the car parks under the control of the council. Consequently it would not be permitted for vehicles of this type to use more than one space, and we do not allow any vehicles to be parked overnight, including HGVs. I am not aware of areas that would permit use for overnight parking or have provisions for motor homes.
Congleton Borough Council have parking details on their web site Here.
Crewe & Nantwich
On 9th October 2006 Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council provided the following information:
No vehicle over 3.5t is allowed on any car park.
1. Height restrictions. Several of our car parks have height barriers and these are set at 6' 6". The car parks are Wrexham Terrace, Gresty Road, South Street in Crewe and Church lane, Bowers row in Nantwich.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). All vehicles must be in a marked bay, we have no provision for buying 2 tickets.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. There are toilets on Snowhill and Dysart Buildings car parks in Nantwich but we have no waste disposal facilities.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. There is a small lorry park in Nantwich but I am afraid that this will go within the next few months.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Our tariff boards state that the the max stay is 11 hours and we do not allow overnight parking
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. It would depend on the size of the vehicle but I would suggest that Church lane does not have a very wide access and has a height barrier.
On 1st October 2008, in response to a follow up request, the Council provided the following information:
I have referred your request to the relevant department who inform me that in this Borough we do not have the facility to accommodate motor homes on any of our car parks. All our car parks have a 3.5t weight restriction and many have height barriers. In addition all vehicles have to be in a marked bay so that there is no provision for buying two tickets and overnight stay is not permitted.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Nantwich
1) I regret to have to tell you that the Motorhome parking facility in Nantwich, Cheshire has now been closed and is a building site. A shame as it was a useful site, no facilities for motorhomes anywhere within the area. I have a Ford Transit Autosleeper Duetto and that fits in all Crewe & Nantwich car parks other than those listed with height barriers. (Thanks to MP for providing this information on 9 March 2008).
2) We’ve just moved from North Yorkshire to the Cheshire/Staffordshire border area. I’ve read the notes on the website re Nantwich parking and note there’s nothing about the large free car park at Morrisons which is a short walk from the town centre. We’ve also used the Love Lane pay & display car park which is over the road from Morrisons and we haven’t had any problems. Mind our van is a 6m long coachbuilt and larger vans might not be viewed so tolerantly. (Thanks to AH for providing this information on 6 October 2009).
Macclesfield
On 16th November 2006 Macclesfield Borough Council provided the following information for town centre car parks:
Height restrictions apply to - Whalley Hayes car park, Macclesfield, Grosvenor MSCP, Macclesfield and Jordangate MSCP, Macclesfield.
The car park control order requires that vehicles must be parked wholly within a parking bay. There is currently no policy regarding the purchase of multiple tickets.
Public toilet provision is available at King Street car park, Knutsford and South Drive car park, Wilmslow - Opening hours: Mon - Sat 8am to 5pm, Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays. There are no waste disposal facilities at these locations.
No provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans.
The car park control order prohibits overnight sleeping, camping and cooking.
All car parks have reasonable access.
On 19 February 2009, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
Most surface car parks (except those listed below) are available for use by small motor homes provided they fit into a standard parking space. The use of multiple bays is not permitted
Height restrictions apply on the following car parks: Grosvenor MSCP, Macclesfield; Jordangate MSCP, Macclesfield; Whalley Hayes CP, MAcclesfield; Spring Street MSCP, Wilmslow; Tatton Street CP, Knutsford.
Overnight parking is permitted on all surface car parks (subject to the above restrictions) but sleeping, camping, cooking etc is prohibited.
Macclesfield Borough Council have parking details on their web site Here.
Cheshire West & Chester
Cheshire West & Chester is a unitary authority which came into being on 1st April 2009. It is responsible for all district services previously undertaken by Chester City Council and Ellesmere Port & Neston and Vale Royal District District Councils and county services previously undertaken by Cheshire County Council.
Cheshire West & Chester Council have parking information on their web site Here.
Information presented below obtained in 2006/7/8 was provided by the previous district councils.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
(Thanks to JD for providing this information on 11 December 2009).
With the re-organisation of the councils in the Cheshire area I thought I would try to determine if there was, or will be, a change of thoughts for our "local town" - where we used to live and where our family still live. I used the council's own web site link to try to find out if I could park in one of the council-owned car parks within Northwich. I once got a parking ticket for not parking within the lines of their parks and then realised that I could have received two as I was not only not within the lines, but the unladen weight of my Pilote was over two tonnes. Northwich is blessed with having several "private" car parks in and around the town centre which don't restrict the size of vehicle parking within them. There are Gateway, Aldi and Lidl all with very easy walking distance and then, further out, Tesco then B & Q.
Initial e-mail response to JD from the council:
Thank you for your enquiry. In the legacy Vale Royal area we have several car parks some with height restrictions some with none. If you could let me know the area you will be visiting I can look at our records and provide you with some further information. The Vale Royal area covered Northwich, Windsord, Frodsham and Helsby and there are quite a few car parks in these areas. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Follow-up e-mail from JD to the council:
How nice it is to receive such a rapid response, thank you. My family live in Weaverham and it is to Northwich we are most likely to go for our shopping. I think I gave the approximate dimensions of my camping-car / motorhome in my enquiry and such a vehicle is unlikely to fit within the marked-out boxes in most car parks. I am aware that provision is made for camping-cars in the Little Roodee car park in Chester and that has encourage my wife and I to do some shopping in the city centre on occasions (much to the detriment of my bank balance).
Second e-mail response to JD from the council:
I have looked at our car parks in Northwich and many of them have height restrictions and those that don't will not accommodate your vehicle.
We do have provision in the Little Roodee car park in Chester and at all of our park and ride sites. I have attached the link to our website that might help you with the locations (Here). Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Chester
On 23rd October 2006, Chester City Council provided the following information:
1. All our car parks have height restrictions of 1.9 metres except the Little Roodee car park, Castle Drive, Chester, CH1 1SL. (NGC East 340343 - NGC North 365640). Details below are for the Little Roodee Car Park
2. If the motor home fits in the standard bay - 2.4 x 4.8 - standard car tariffs apply. If over two bays - two tickets required. If in a coach bay - this car park is also the coach park - coach tariff applies.
3. Public toilets available - not 24 hour - but no chemical waste facility - at the moment.
4. No specific space provision at the moment for motor homes.
5. Overnight rates available.
6. Full access for coaches and lorries.
On 25th September 2008, in response to a follow up request, the Council provided the following information:
The only Council operated car park without 1.9m height restrictions and suitable for motor homes is the Little Roodee car park. Providing the vehicle can fit in a normal car parking bay - 2.4m x 4.8m - the car tariff applies. If larger then the coach bays should be used with the coach tariff.
The tariffs are:-
Cars: Arrivals before 5.00pm - Up to 3 hours £3.00, 3 to 6 hours £5.00, Over 6 hours £6.00, Evening/overnight £1.50.
Coaches: Arrivals before 5.00pm - Up to 3 hours £5.50, 3 to 6 hours £8.00, Over 6 hours £10.00; Evening/overnight £5.00.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
1) Little Roodee car park; by River Dee crossing; can stay overnight. (Thanks to SL for providing this information on 19 July 2006).
2) Little Roodee car park. We saw this parking advertised in the Practical Motorhome magazine and decided to park there last Friday night 14th December. What a disaster that was. We arrived at 8pm and because we took up 2 spaces, being a motorhome, we payed for 2 overnight parking spaces. We were told in the mag that this car park was locked from 10.30 till 6pm every day, it is not. We went to sleep at 10.45pm and were awoken at 11.15 by youths in cars doing wheeles and skids around the car park a very scary situation. As you can imagine we had to get up and pack up and drive off as we could not sleep due to this noise and did not want our motorhome hit. The lads kept driving off and then coming back on. This should not be advertised as a secure parking for motorhomes - it is not. (Thanks to FW for providing this information on 19 December 2007).
Broughton Retail Park (nr Chester)
Off A55, couple of miles south of Chester. No overnight parking, but no height restrictions. Received July 2006. (Anon)
Wrexham Road Park and Ride
Thanks very much to GP for providing the following copies of correspondence on 8 October 2007:
I have copied you into e mails I sent and received from Chester City Council re cars parking in above height vehicle spaces at a Chester park and ride. A reasonable response, perhaps if was publicised others who have the same problem may contact their local councils in a similar vein.
E-mail sent by GP to the Council on 24 August 2007:
My concerns relate to the provision of motorhome spaces at Wrexham Road Park and Ride. Two weeks ago on Saturday my wife and I took our motorhome to Chester and made use of this excellent facility. On Tuesday 21st August last we again went to the same park and ride and found that four of the spaces where occupied by private cars with no obvious need such as a roof top box for example) to occupy these places. We managed to fit in and later moved off to the Grosvenor Garden Centre. On returning at about 3pm all the spaces were occupied, with only one motor home and two or three maintenance vans . These four cars where still occupying the spaces and seemed to have been there all day.
Is there any legal provision to deal with parking of non over height vehicles in these spaces? Could a sign be erected requesting car owners only to use the places if they are overheight? What action is the council prepared to take to deal with is issue?
Chester was recently quoted in a motorhome publication as a "motor home friendly" city. It would be a pity if its reputation were damaged owing to the action a few selfish cars owners.
Response by the Council on 29 August 2007:
Thank you for your email. We share your frustration that some motorists ignore the signs and park in the area reserved for over height vehicles. Unfortunately as the parking is free on all the Park & Ride sites there are no legal orders in place to dictate the terms and conditions and issue fines for any non compliance.
In the past the Park & Ride sites were relatively isolated and there was no need to for these orders to be in place. However as more people are using the sites for parking only there is an increasing need to have these controls in place and we are in the process of introducing the necessary orders to penalize people parking incorrectly.
Thank you for contracting us and for giving us the opportunity of explaining the situation to you.
Ellesmere Port & Neston
On 25th August 2006 Ellesmere Port & Neston Council provided the following information:
1. We have no height restrictions in any of our current pay and display car parks. We are introducing a new long stay car park within the next few weeks called Westminster car park which does have a height restriction barrier. This particular car park only has 75 spaces therefore it would not be an appropriate car park when visiting our town centre.
2. If a vehicle uses more than one bay we would expect them to purchase 2 pay and display tickets.
3. We do not have any facilities for the disposal of toilet waste. Refuse bins are provided in each car park.
4. We have some bays to cater for larger vehicle on our long stay Wellington Road car park.
5. Wellington Road car park is to be locked at 11pm each evening and our legal parking orders for all of our pay and display car parks state that 'no person shall use any part of a parking place for sleeping or camping purposes.
6. There is some restricted access caused by construction work being carries out in our Town Centre car park however once this is completed there will be no restricted access caused by narrow roads or entrances.
On 10th December 2007, in response to a follow up request, Ellesmere Port & Neston Council notified the following amendments to the information above:
1. There are no height restrictions in any of our pay and display car parks except Westminster car park. This particular car park only has 75 spaces therefore it would not be an appropriate car park when visiting our town centre.
5. Wellington Road car park is to be locked at 7pm each evening and our legal parking orders for all of our pay and display car parks state that "no person shall use any part of a parking place for sleeping or camping purposes".
Ellesmere Port & Neston Council have further details in the A to Z section of their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Cheshire Oaks outlet village/Coliseum retail and leisure park
Junction 10 M53. However, no specific parking for motorhomes. The coach park specifically excludes private vehicles although we saw one parked there. For Cheshire Oaks, our recommendation is to park in the overflow parking area of the Coliseum park (adjoining) behind Argos. If you go to the extreme end of this parking area, you can walk to the entrance to Cheshire Oaks, and you'll find plenty of space. Received July 2006. (Anon)
Click here for the Cheshire Oaks web site.
Vale Royal
On 4th October 2006 Vale Royal Borough Council provided a comprehensive hard copy document which is too large to scan for inclusion on this web site. The council also provided the following information:
No vehicle over 3.5t is allowed on any car park.
1. Height restrictions. A number of car parks have height restrictions but the information was only available to be supplied in hard copy form.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). The information was only available to be supplied in hard copy form.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. None specific to car parks.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. No.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. The information was only available to be supplied in hard copy form - basically, no camping, sleeping or cooking is allowed
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. No.
On 11 August 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
Most of the details supplied in October 2006 remain unchanged, however 2m headroom height barriers have been installed on two car parks namely: Hadfield Street, Northwich, CW9 5LU and Jubilee Street, Northwich, CW9 5JJ.
The following car parks have been added to our inventory: Barton Stadium, Tarporley Community Centre and Moss Road.
For your information I would also inform you that Vale Royal Borough Council will be amalgamating with Ellesmere Port & Neston BC, Chester City
BC and Cheshire County Council to become the Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Authority as from 1st April 2009 (web site Here). I do not know at present how or where parking services will be managed under the new authority.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Northwich
1) Linmere(?) Car Park; Post Code CW8 2JD; Longitude 02 40 12 W; Latitude 53 13 43 N; Approach from Jn with B5152 S of Delamere Station; Not *at* the Station but just W of it.
2) Delamere Forest Park Visitor Centre; Post Code CW8 2JD; Longitude 02 40 45 W; Latitude 53 13 36 N; Approach from Jn with B5152 S of Delamere Station; Drive past the small car park and Vistor Centre to larger car park at rear.
(Thanks to AL for providing this information on 11 September 2007).
Halton
A partial response to the request for information was received from Halton Borough Council on 7th November 2006:
Information on overnight parking facilities in and around the borough can be found on the council's website Here
As regards requirements for parking within bay confines including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear, the council's response was: "Halton Borough Council does not operate any parking facilities that require payment".
A further response to the request for information was received from Halton Borough Council on 1st December 2006:
these are the Halton Council maintained car parks in the Borough:
Runcorn: (a) Wellington St ( Height Restriction Barrier); (b) Nelson St; (c) Top Locks High St ( Height Restriction Barrier); (d) St Paul Gardens.
Widnes: (e) Albert Sq (Deacon Rd); (f) Bishops Way ( Height Restriction Barrier); (g) Caldwell Rd ( Height Restriction Barrier); (h) Robert St; (i) Lacey St; (j) Marsh St; (k) Thomas St; (l) Witt Rd; (m) Warrington Rd; (n) Hale Rd ( Height Restriction Barrier); (o) St Bedes.
In reply to your questions:
[1] Height restrictions. Those noted above have height restriction barriers set at 2m.
[2] Requirements for parking within bay confines etc. Vehicles are expected to park within the marked bays but no enforcement is carried out. No charge is levied for use of the car parks.
[3] Provision of toilets etc.: No toilet, waste or other facilities are provided, these are bare car parks.
[4] Spaces for motorhomes etc.: None
[5] Over night parking: Not permitted.
[6] Restricted access: There are no approach or access restrictions of any sort.
On 22 January 2009, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided a spreadsheet listing its car parks. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
The council also provided the following information:
Only the carpark at Egerton Street/Wellington Road has a height bar, set at 2m.
Overnight stays are not expressly forbidden but see below.
All our off street parking areas are created under traffic regulation orders which come with various conditions, including:
[a] No vehicle to be used for sleeping or camping or cooking
[b] If parking bays are marked out, each vehicle has to be parked within the bay space provided, and there are no extra-width bays provided for motor
homes etc.
[c] Waiting is limited to 12hrs. in any 24hrs.
Warrington
On 6th October 2006, Warrington Borough Council provided a spreadsheet of car parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
The Council also provided the following information:
The attached spreadsheet provides data relating to sites owned and managed by Warrington Borough Council.
I might suggest that you also consider contacting the Poplars 2000 site close to Junction 20 of the M6. Whilst the area is not owned by Warrington Borough Council, I am aware that it is used by Coaches and is convenient for the M56 as well as the M6. Poplars 2000 (also referred to as Poplars Truckstop) is owned by Granada (also known as Moto). The postal address is:- Poplars 2000 Services Ltd, Cliffe Lane, Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, WA13 0SP, telephone 01925 757777. Further detail is available on 'Google' by typing in Poplars 2000.
On 18 February 2009, in response to a follow-up request, the Council stated that the information above remained the same and that no changes need to be made.
Warrington Borough Council have parking details on their web site Here.
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 24 June 2010