WILMSLOW BUSINESSMAN RAISES AWARENESS OF FREE PARKING

A Wilmslow businessman has designed and funded a new sign to increase awareness of the Council`s `Free after Three` parking initiative.

Steve Kennedy, owner of Mail Boxes Etc, has installed a double-sided sign on Water Lane alerting passing motorists to the fact they can park in the Spring Street Car Park free of charge after 3pm each day.

Cheshire East Council introduced free parking after 3pm in the Spring Street Car Park, along with six other car parks across the Borough, in August. However, there was concern that the Council`s scheme would not succeed in encouraging more people to visit the town because drivers were not aware of it.

Steve explained “I had a conversation with Cheshire East Council about `Free after Three` parking initiative, and that really it needed promoting on the street for it to be effective and to help retail in the town with free parking for that slot.

“There were no signs at all on Water Lane and just a couple of A3 signs inside the car park (one in the stairwell after you had paid). My reasoning was straight forward, that there is little to be gained in launching a great initiative without marketing and advertising it to the fullest extent and signs re-enforce any messages implemented through the media, which people could otherwise forget over time.”

Steve added “I said I could fix the problem easy, if they would let me sponsor a vinyl banner I could print it and fix it in place really quickly.”

Cheshire East Council will review the new scheme after six months.