Pharmacy fights parking pain

PARKING problem: Wolstenholme and McDiarmid pharmacy in Market Street, Shaw

Urgent service hit by delays
PARKING restrictions are delaying staff at a busy chemist from making crucial deliveries to needy patients.

Short-stay limits mean workers at Wolstenholme and McDiarmid in Shaw have to park more than a five-minute walk away before dragging heavy oxygen tanks to their vehicle.

But despite raising the issue with Oldham Council more than five months ago, the Market Street pharmacy is still waiting for the problem to be resolved.

Owner Steven McDiarmid is now calling on the council to declare his situation as an exceptional circumstance.

Village parking is currently restricted to two or three-hour free stays in selected car parks from 8am-6pm — which means Mr McDiarmid (55) is limited in parking near his pharmacy.

He said: “I am not knocking the council about the parking restrictions in the area because I know it has to look to the wider picture — but this is a specific issue. We are not making any commercial gain.

“We are often asked to provide an emergency service and parking on the other side of Shaw presents a problem.”

Mr McDiarmid asked local councillors, including leader of the opposition Howard Sykes, if a designated parking space at the rear of his property could solve the problem. Councillor Sykes called the situation “unsatisfactory” for the pharmacy.

He added: “My colleagues and I have written to the Parking Shop to outline the service the pharmacy provides and I have asked that consideration be given to this individual case.

“We are now at a point where we have been advised by the car parking client officer that there is work being undertaken to roll out a consultation in the Royton area and then this will be the format for all the other districts.”

A consultation date has not yet been decided for Shaw.

Cabinet member Councillor Jean Stretton said: “We have listened to the public about a range of issues following the initial introduction of new parking arrangements earlier this year.

“A similar review process will also be undertaken across other affected district centres later this year.”