Call to suspend parking rules

A CALL has been made to suspend parking restrictions in Uppermill car parks during gas main works.

A public meeting at Uppermill Civic Hall, organised by Saddleworth Parish Council, heard suggestions ranging from parking permits to building a multi-storey car park to solve parking problems.

Residents will have to wait until a review in September for the solution following the introduction of time-limited stays that has led to complaints from residents about people parking outside their properties for long periods, and from businesses saying customers are staying away.

Saddleworth Parish Councillor Ken Hulme wants the parking restrictions suspended while gaspipe works are carried out on the main road through the village over the next few months.

He said: “I am extremely worried about the effect on local businesses that these gas main works, along with other road works in Saddleworth, will have — particularly in Uppermill.

“I am already hearing from local businesses that trade is suffering because of the parking restrictions imposed in village car parks.

“Both residents and businesses seem to be losing out because of the two-hour time limit, which is discouraging people from visiting Uppermill to shop while forcing long-stay car parking on to streets in the village centre.

“From what I have been hearing from local businesses urgent action is needed now and one immediate step that could be taken is to lift car park restrictions in Uppermill to encourage people to shop in the village.

“Everything must be done to stop Uppermill businesses going to the wall — which I fear is a real possibility in the current circumstances.”