PARKING charges in Lymm and Stockton Heath generated more than £66,000 for the council between December and March – after controversial changes came into force.

In December, the council removed free one-hour parking at The Forge in Stockton Heath and Lymm's Davies Way, Pepper Street and Henry Street car parks but amended the policy to allow for free 15-minute stays.

Following a public backlash the authority has decided to bring back free one-hour parking at its Lymm sites.

However, the scheme in place at The Forge will remain unchanged.

From December 12 – the date the changes came into force – to March 17, income from parking charges at The Forge totalled £43,175 – an 84 per cent increase from the year before.

The financial figures have also revealed the significant increases from the years prior.

From December 2012 to March 2013 charges at the site generated £16,620 in income, £18,632 from December 2013 to March 2014, £19,654 from December 2014 to March 2015 and £23,427 from December 2015 to March 2016.

From December 12 last year to March 17, income totalled £10,764 at Pepper Street car park, £8,866 at Davies Way and £3,414 at Henry Street.

It brought the total to £23,044 – a 58 per cent increase on the year before.

It means the combined total of income generated in Lymm and Stockton Heath from last December to March came to £66,219.

From December 2012 to March 2013, the total for the three Lymm sites was £11,751.

It was £14,208 from December 2013 to March 2014, £13,965 from December 2014 to March 2015 and £14,546 from December 2015 to 2016.

Former council leader Cllr Ian Marks (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) believes 'income to the council was small compared to all the losses incurred by the traders'.

He said: "The extra income generated in the three months came as no surprise because that is exactly what the charges were designed to achieve.

"Taking an inclusive view, it was right to restore the free hour. In the future, income to the council will continue to increase.

"The reduction, due to the free hour, will be offset by the extra revenue from evening charges but no one can be sure what the net effect will be."

Lymm parish councillor Anna Fradgley, who led the campaign urging the council to reconsider the changes, added: "We are delighted that the council listened to businesses and councillors and reinstated the one-hour free car parking in Lymm.

"This was our top priority because businesses are really suffering and this change was essential to kick-start the recovery.

"I urge residents to come back to the village and support our traders once again."

Council bosses previously confirmed income generated will be reinvested into transport projects.