Fury over Uppermill parking U-turn

A U-TURN decision not to enforce parking restrictions in Uppermill has been met with fury.

Councillor Mike Buckley demanded to know why councillors were left in the dark about a decision not to fine drivers breaking the two-hour limit on spaces.

He said he was alerted by a Diggle resident who, after struggling to park, was told by a shopkeeper that all-day parking was still available due to lack of enforcement.

She is then said to have had this confirmed by an parking attendant, who added that tickets were, however, still being doled out for those that parked outside or over the white lines.

It’s the latest twist in a controversial and long-running saga in which time-limited stays were enforced on car parks last summer after a packed-out public meeting to garner local opinion.

Councillor Buckley said: “I was shocked to say the least that this has happened.

“This decision has been taken after so much effort and debate had taken place to decide on a course of action. Now it’s being completely overturned by someone, I don’t know who or on what grounds.

“It beggars belief that tickets are still being issued by parking attendants for parking outside marked bays, yet time limits are being ignored.

“We need to ask officially why this decision was taken, who by and why we were not consulted.”

He later added that it was giving an unfair advantage to those in the know about the lack of enforcement compared with village visitors sticking to the restrictions.

The move was branded outrageous by Councillor Garth Harkness, while Councillor Alan Roughley said that not applying the restrictions was irresponsible and brought the council into contempt locally.

The revelation follows months of heated debate during which a review of the restrictions was pencilled in to begin this April.

But it was suggested that the results of surveys, intending to examine the effectiveness of the measures, could be skewed by locals knowing they won’t face punishment.

While similar restrictions were suspended in Royton and Chadderton by bags being put over signs awaiting review, this has not been the case in Saddleworth.

But confused car-owners are being warned not to take the news as a green light to overstay the limits.

Councillor Royce Franklin said: “It could be a risk parking over the time limit. If someone chooses to park for more than two hours they will still be liable for prosecution.”

The district partnership agreed to write to the Highways Department demanding answers.