Park free in town centre

SHOPPERS are set to benefit from free parking at weekends in Oldham town centre all year round after a festive scheme was extended.

Oldham Council introduced free parking at 12 of its car parks on Saturdays from October 15, 2011, to last weekend in a bid to ease the financial strain on visitors and boost business.

Now, in a bid to offer further support to traders and shoppers, parking at Hobson Street car park will be free for all motorists on Saturdays and Sundays.

Starting this weekend, the offer will apply throughout new opening hours at the site on Saturdays from 7am to 7pm and Sundays from 8.30am to 5pm with no restriction on the length of stay.

The multi-storey facility, just off Union Street, has a capacity of 697 spaces.

Motorists are also reminded that a range of on-street parking bays in the town centre — 293 in total — are also free from 6pm onwards on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays.

Council leader Jim McMahon said: “It is important that Oldham Council continues to help the town-centre economy in what remains a challenging climate for everyone.

“This new scheme will run indefinitely, although we will continue to monitor and review its uptake in the coming months.”

Motorists are reminded that the other council-owned venues involved in the previous scheme will all revert back to pay and display from Saturday.

These are: Civic centre, Waterloo Street, Southgate Street, Bow Street, Bradshaw Street, Oldham Sports Centre (Rock Street), Tommyfield, Clegg Street, Garlick Street, Cannon Street and New Radcliffe Street.