CONSERVATIVES and Labour are at loggerheads over proposed changes to free parking in Ellesmere Port.
Labour had introduced four hours’ free parking late last year while it controlled the former Ellesmere Port and Neston council. But Conservatives had proposed changing it to “Free after 3”, on a similar model to Chester.
The Tories, who control the new Cheshire West and Chester authority, had cited a “massive budget gap”.
However, Labour’s Cllr Justin Madders complained that councillors were given “just three hours’ notice that there was to be a review of that decision”.
He said: “To pretend this is a democratic process is just a joke.”
But Cllr Gareth Anderson (Con) insisted that there would continue to be an element of free parking in the town, and that new proposals could see it extended to a greater number of car parks.
