WARRINGTON Borough Council is being urged to spend part of the profit generated from parking charges at The Forge on carrying out a 'facelift' of the site.

Between December 12 – the date free one-hour parking was controversially removed – and March 17, income from parking charges at the Stockton Heath car park totalled £43,175.

Following the changes, parking is free for up to 15 minutes, £1 for up to three hours and £2 for more than three during the charging period, which runs from 9am to 3pm Monday to Saturday.

Chris Elliott, of Egerton Street, has lived yards from The Forge for almost 14 years and is calling for the authority to improve the state of it immediately.

And the council has confirmed this week that a survey on the car park will start soon.

Mr Elliott has highlighted the 'huge pot holes, cheap repairs, litter, faded line markings, derelict toilet block and shabby recycling area' at the site.

The 49-year-old added: "It seems like collecting the cash from the pay and display machines takes priority as that task is done daily.

"However, general repairs and maintenance don't seem to get the same attention.

"Most people do not support the council's approach to the Stockton Heath and Lymm car parks and we all just live with their current cavalier approach.

"However, the current run-down state of the Stockton Heath site is an insult to those that use it and pay to park.

"The council is continually messing around with how much it costs to park there.

"You can park for free after 3pm but I don't think it's well understood – people still park on the streets in Stockton Heath. It causes congestion and it is dangerous.

"The profit is not being put back into the car park and the general state of it is a disgrace.

"It has not been resurfaced properly since I have been there.

"They are collecting the money and not doing anything with it. It seems silly.

"The car park needs a proper facelift.

"Nothing has been done about residential parking in Stockton Heath.

"If you cross the bridge and go to the north of Warrington there is loads of residential parking spaces but if you drive down them there are no cars.

"They are in areas where you don't need parking.

"All they seem to do in the south is take money and do nothing with in in the south but do in the north.

"They are neglecting the south, it seems out of balance."

The council has responded.

A spokesman said: “Plans are in development for the improvement of The Forge car park and we will be carrying out a topographical survey in the coming weeks.

“This will enable us to understand the feasibility of improving the layout, drainage and lighting at the site.

“Future works undertaken as a result of this will be accompanied by extensive resurfacing.

“In the meantime, we continue to carry out regular inspections on the car park and to undertake general maintenance on a regular basis, including pothole repairs.

“The cold weather during the winter months can have a negative impact on the car park surfacing and we work hard to respond to that.”