6:10pm Sunday 2nd August 2009
By Peter Magill
A PARKING amnesty has been ann-ounced by council bosses for shoppers in towns and villages across the valley as part of a credit crunch fightback.
Parkwise attendants will cease to patrol the county’s off-street car parks from September, with a replacement contractor concentrating solely on kerbside infringements instead.
But Rossendale council’s executive has now backed proposals for the borough’s car parks to remain free for at least a year and a half — if shoppers and workers can use their new freedoms responsibly.
Rossendale council leader, Coun Tony Swain, said: “As a result of the continued economic downturn we have decided to suspend parking enforcement in Rossendale once the current contract with Parkwise expires later this year.
“We believe that many traders will support this and that it will have a very positive impact on helping to improve the number of people who want to come and use our shops and facilities.
“We are calling on local people not to abuse the system and to only use the car parks for as long as they need to complete their business in the town centre.
“We will take a look at the situation again in around 18 months’ time once the economy begins to pick up or if people abuse the car parking we provide.”
The move has been welcomed by traders, especially in light of continued delays over the redevelopment of the Valley Centre and Newhallhey.
Tony Garner, president of Rawtenstall Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that the parking enforcement is coming to an end in September.
“We have been going through one of the worse recessions ever and yet trade has been hit by a Draconian approach to parking.
“We have seen too many examples of over-zealous policing of the rules — for example, people being booked at 5.45pm on almost empty car parks.
“With trade suffering we need to do everything we can to encourage people to come to our town centre and shop here.”
He also called on shoppers to allow town centre shop and office workers to use long-stay spaces.
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