MORE than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for free car parking after 3pm in Ellesmere Port.

Independent politicians John Wilson, Henny Moore and Jonathan Starkey are spearheading the campaign, launched on Friday, which could significantly boost the local economy. An identical scheme in Chester has proved popular with shoppers and residents.

Posters outlining the trio’s proposal for Ellesmere Port have been put up throughout the town centre and Port Arcades, and petitions are available to sign in dozens of shops and market stalls.

Anyone who supports the idea but hasn’t signed yet has until the end of this month to do so.

The three independents believe that bringing the free parking period forward from the current 6pm to 3pm in all the borough’s car parks during weekdays will be beneficial to both shoppers and traders by:

Allowing families to park in the town for free after the school run.

Allowing all ages to shop in daylight hours, even in the winter months.

Providing businesses and market traders with a second busy period of the day.

Cllr Wilson said: “The response has been quite phenomenal. More than 2,000 signatures have already been collected since Friday.

“I have a feeling that this campaign will have wide support throughout the whole of the borough.”

FREE car parking after 3pm will help bring more people into Ellesmere Port town centre.

That is the view of Independent politicians John Wilson, Henny Moore and Jonathan Starkey, as well as market traders.

A campaign to introduce the move was launched on Friday and so far more than 2,000 people have signed a petition, which will be handed to the borough council in early September, in support of the idea.

Organisers say it will allow families to park in the town for free after the school run and customers of all ages to shop in daylight hours, even in the winter months, as well as providing businesses and market traders with a second busy period of the day.

Cllr Wilson (Stanlow & Wolverham) said: “The response has been quite phenomenal. More than 2,000 signatures have already been collected since Friday.

“I have a feeling that this campaign will have wide support throughout the whole of the borough.”

Former borough councillor and Independent politician Jonathan Starkey said: “There is justification for free parking. There is a surplus of funds generated from car parking charges after car park maintenance and ongoing costs are taken into consideration.

“In these days of increased pay awards for publicly elected officials and bleak economic forecasts for the tax payer, it would be seen by Ellesmere Port businesses and residents alike as a caring move by the borough council and a win-win situation for all, especially if no back door increases in actual parking charges are made to fund the move.”

With regards to the town’s market, Cllr Henny Moore (Stanlow & Wolverham) said: “It wouldn't be a bad idea to scrap the charges for town centre public toilets at the same time, as spending a penny could cost you a lot more than some of the bargains you can pick up at the market, especially if you are shopping for any length of time with a family in the town centre.”

Brian Hannaway of the Market Traders said: “We are all in support of this campaign and I have no doubt that a move for free parking after 3pm on weekdays in the borough would also encourage the majority of shoppers back that the market and town centre businesses lost when car parking charges were first introduced to the borough.”

Port Arcades centre manager Les Lyon said: “Anything that will make Ellesmere Port more appealing and add value to customers has got to be a good thing and something we would support.”

Borough council leader Justin Madders said he has spoken to Brian Hannaway about trying to find ways of attracting more people into the town centre and this is an idea that would be given “major consideration.”

However, he admits any move would always “boil down to money” and added that cash raised from parking charges is re-invested in other services so any decision taken could impact on those.