Car park charges are coming down

Some charges for the council-run multi-storey car park in Cannock town centre will fall from the beginning of June.

Cannock Chase Council is taking steps to encourage trade in its market hall off Church Street.

From June 1 the charge for a stay of up to one hour in the five-storey car park will fall from 80p to 60p. The charge for one to two hours will be cut from £1.60 to £1. A new charge of £2.40 for two to three hours is being introduced. The existing all day charge of £3.20 will remain as will the season ticket rates.

The car park, which is managed by developers St Modwen, also serves the Prince of Wales Centre. The fourth floor is free for theatre patrons for evening performances.

Traders in the market hall below the car park have previously criticised parking as expensive.

Last year the council announced that nearly all of the 61 stalls in the market, which runs on a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, were occupied despite the recession.

The concrete-structured 1960s market hall and car park are included in proposals for the eventual wider redevelopment of the town centre.

The council and market traders have been working together to agree a set of affordable actions to improve the market for both shoppers and traders.

Councillor Danny Davies, Chase Council's town centre development leader, said: "We are cutting the rates for up to two hours to encourage more people to use it and to shop at the market hall and town centre shops.

"A lot of traders are suffering in the current environment and we are always looking for ways to help them."

Councillor Davies said that the council was looking to start on the Cannock redevelopment following completion of measures to improve Hednesford and Rugeley town centres.

He said he expected proposals to be put forward within 18 month to two years. "A new market hall and replacement car park facilities will form part of this," he added.