Parking axe sparks fury

PARKING backlash . . . traders in Royton want parking permits

BUSINESSES are rising up against plans to scrap all-day parking in district centres.

Oldham Council announced that only two or three-hour free stays will be possible in selected car parks from today and will be enforced from 8am-6pm.

But fuming traders are demanding parking permits after saying there was no consultation over new short-stay schemes in Royton or Shaw.

Council chiefs claim local businesses have shown support for the parking system as drivers can’t find parking to nip into shops.

But Craig Simpson, who runs Sparkles Adventure Play and uses Royton’s precinct car park, has pulled traders together to show strength against the long-stay parking axe, saying traders were not consulted first.

Infuriated business owners will be joining him to air their views at a meeting tonight.

He said: “Everyone is up in arms. Traders pay thousands in business rates yet aren’t getting any permits to park, but market traders who pay £25 for a stall are.

“I speak on behalf of all the traders in Royton — we were not consulted whatsoever on parking. The council is going to kill trade and we’ll have to park in front of all the houses. Residents aren’t going to be happy about that.”

Peter Wright, who runs the Village Chippy, said he would demand answers on why businesses were not consulted, while Neil Woodcock, from Quality Meats, said he can’t close his shop to move his car every three hours.

Emrys Hillan, of Fatboy Trims hairdressers in Shaw, said car parks at the back of the market and surrounding roads are being reduced to three-hour parking.

There are only 106 long-stay spaces left at Kershaw Street car park which will quickly fill because of near-by flats.

He added: “The council says it has been in touch with all the local businesses but we have not been informed at all. The businesses here have heard nothing about it.

“There’s been no issues with parking. We have asked for permits and they said no. Not one business is in favour. A lot of people are upset. All the businesses are up in arms as shopkeepers can’t park their cars. Kershaw Street will soon be full and there’s nowhere else to park.

“I think it’s terrible. I think they are doing it to get a pay and display in Kershaw Street car park.

“We just feel it’s the final nail in the coffin. The only good thing in Shaw is no parking restrictions.”

Councillor John McCann said: “The new system has been well advertised in the press so I don’t know how people can say they weren’t consulted.

“Residents had chance to object at the traffic regulations order panel — they shouldn’t have left it until the last minute.

“As far as I know it was rather well-received in Royton — one or two weren’t in favour but most people could see that if nothing changes with long-term parking we’ll have nowhere for customers to park.

“It is not the council’s responsibility to provide private parking for each person at their place of work.”

A council spokesman added that business traders won’t be issued with parking permits.

Tonight’s meeting is open to all and takes place at Royton Youth Centre from 7pm.