A BUSY Stockton Heath car park has been labelled as a ‘disgrace’ amid fresh calls for major surface repairs.

Warrington Borough Council says it carried out pothole repairs and surface patching totalling £9,000 at The Forge, off Egerton Street, last month.

But councillors and residents remain concerned over the state of the authority’s site.

It was highlighted by Cllr Peter Walker (LD – Stockton Heath) at the recent full council meeting, where he asked for significant investment into the car park to be considered.

Deputy council leader Cllr Cathy Mitchell (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) told him that it will be considered.

Cllr Walker says the car park is currently a disgrace.

“As a councillor, I, along with many others, have been asking the council to improve The Forge car park in Stockton Heath for some considerable time and I am told that plans to do this are being developed,” he said.

“At busy periods it is full to capacity. It is one of the few out of town car parks where charges are made and it makes a significant profit.

Warrington Guardian:

The Forge car park in Stockton Heath. Photo by Chris Rogers

“I want some of that money reinvested.

“I want to see it resurfaced and relined, pedestrian access improved, the number of parking spaces increased and electric vehicle charging points installed.”

Chris Elliott, who lives yards away from the site, has also expressed fears over the state of it.

He claims south Warrington is, once again, being ‘denied investment’.

But the issue has sparked a response from the Town Hall.

A council spokesman said: “Car park maintenance at The Forge, including pothole repairs and surface patching, was completed last month.

“This is part of a regular repair schedule across all of our car parks.”

It confirmed the work cost around £9,000.

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Cllr Mitchell added: “I found it curious that, following my budget speech, the Lib Dems criticised us for not making enough cuts.

“They then reeled off a wish list of items that they wanted us to spend money on, this being one of them. The work has already been completed.”

From Monday to Saturday, it is free to park at The Forge for 0 to 15 minutes, it costs £1 for 15 minutes to three hours and it costs £2 for over three hours.

It is free to park there before 9am and after 3pm, from Monday to Saturday, and is free to park on Sundays.