Time is running out for residents in Ellesmere Port to have their say on plans to limit the length of stay at Whitby Park's car park.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is planning to limit the maximum length of stay at Whitby Park car park to four hours on weekdays.

The restriction would apply 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.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Cllr Christine Warner said: “The council wants to direct non-park users who need to park for lengthy periods to alternative locations, to protect the park for its intended use and make access easier for park users. If you have any comments on our proposal, it’s not too late to get in touch.”

The local authority 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 more capacity than Whitby Park car park, providing 274 parking spaces (compared to 156 at Whitby Park).

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.

People can share their views by completing the survey on the council’s website at www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/whitbyparkcarpark , scanning the QR code on consultation signage at the car park, emailing parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or completing a paper questionnaire (available from Ellesmere Port Library, the Portal, the Civic Hall and Theatre Porto) or writing 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.

The consultation will close on Tuesday, April 2.

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.