Disc parking to be extended?

4:29pm Monday 21st January 2008

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PLANS have been unveiled to extend short stay parking restrictions across Rossendale.

Rossendale Council is considering rolling out its current disc parking system, which restricts parking to a maximum of two hours, at car parks across the borough.

The council, which will discuss the matter at a meeting of its cabinet meeting tomorrow, says that disc parking would ensure a turnover of spaces and more availability of parking for shoppers and visitors to the towns.

If the cabinet agrees to back the scheme, an order will be made and become valid within 14 days.

A report prepared for the cabinet said that commuters and those employed in the town centre would be able to park on other unrestricted town centre car parks and outer town car parks.

But Rachel Lydon, owner of Heto shoe shop in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, said: "This two hour parking system is a real nuisance! Many customers who come to Rawtenstall want to spend longer than two hours in the town.

"Talking to my customers, they would rather pay a nominal fee of say 20 or 40p an hour to park but choose how long they want to stay, not be forced out after two hours!

"The people who are taking up the long term spaces are either the commuters into Manchester who leave their cars in Rawtenstall and then get on the X43 bus or by office and bank workers who work in or around the town.

"I personally think that all the car parks should be free for up to three hours and then a small charge for every hour thereafter."

Objections were received from 13 people. One Haslingden resident said the proposals wouldl make premises less attractive, with no parking available for staff.

Three objections were received regarding availability of parking space for health care professionals working at Irwell Medical Centre in Bacup.

The car parks under consideration are: Bacup Baths, Bank Street, and Rochdale Road, Bacup; Adelaide Street, and Water Street, Crawshawbooth; Coal Hey Street, Hindle Street and New Street, Haslingden; Ormerod Street, Rawtenstall; and Hall Street and Market Street, Whitworth.