Parking at the new Prestwich travel hub will cost between £1 and £16, Bury council has confirmed. The charges were revealed as the council aims to cover operational costs while supporting the evening economy.
Charges and free parking times
Prices start at £1 for one hour and rise to £16 for a stay of 12 to 24 hours. Parking will be free between 6pm and midnight, with the council saying it wants to support a 'thriving evening and night-time economy'. Sunday parking will have a flat fee of £1.50, and a monthly pass will be available for £60.
Cyclists will also be charged £1 per entry to use cycle storage at the hub. Other car parks in the town centre are expected to remain free, except for Longfield car park, which will be unavailable due to site investigation work.
Financial rationale
Bury council said not charging for parking would mean subsidising the hub by around £300,000 each year. Running costs include staffing, utilities and maintenance. Leaders believe the charges will allow the hub to meet operational costs while representing 'best value for money'. From year two, they expect the hub to generate around £203,000 per annum in additional income once costs are paid.
The council revealed this week that it is facing a difficult financial position and will ask the Government for assistance in balancing its books. It is also considering measures such as turning off streetlights, introducing a green waste charge and cutting youth services.
Hub details and opening
The Prestwich Travel Hub is intended to improve connections for people travelling to, from and through the town and create a 'convenient gateway' to the centre. It is part of a wider regeneration programme that includes around 250 new homes and the replacement of Longfield Centre with shops, leisure spaces, a library and a market.
The council hopes the hub will open this autumn, with construction having reached 'practical completion'. The site was handed over to the authority at the end of September. APCOA Parking (UK) Limited has been selected as the operator.
The site will be staffed between 6am and 6pm daily and will have 24-hour CCTV coverage. Only cashless payments will be accepted. Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for regeneration and growth, said: "This investment is about creating a Prestwich that works better for residents, visitors and businesses, while retaining the character and community spirit that makes the village special. We recognise that introducing charges is a change, so it's important to be clear about why we're doing it."
She added: "The Travel Hub is a modern, managed facility with security, staffing, electric vehicle charging and cycle storage. Like any major piece of infrastructure, there are costs associated with operating it safely and effectively. The alternative would be for local taxpayers to subsidise those costs. We believe it is fairer that the people using the facility contribute towards its operation, while keeping charges broadly in line with parking tariffs elsewhere in the borough."
Full parking costs are: one hour £1.00, two hours £2.40, three hours £2.70, four hours £3.20, five hours £4.30, five to 12 hours £6.00, 12 to 24 hours £16.00, Sunday flat rate £1.50, free between 6pm and midnight, monthly pass £60, EV charging £0.64 per kWh, and cycle storage £1 per entry.
