One of the new signs at the museum car park in Uppermill.
Oldham Council has said the new time limits at car parks in Uppermill are still receiving a “positive” response from local people.
But the council has also revealed that similar schemes in Royton and Shaw will be suspended for the time being, because of concerns raised by local businesses.
The restrictions were brought in last month to try to free up spaces in car parks for visitors and shoppers. There was a mixed response from Uppermill businesses, with some hoping the changes would help them attract more customers, while others were worried about where staff would leave their vehicles.
In Uppermill, drivers are now only allowed to stay in the museum car park for three hours, with two-hour limits in place at the Hare and Hounds, Smithy Lane and King George V playing fields car parks.
Vehicles aren’t allowed to return to the car parks in question within four hours. The limits operate between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week. All the car parks remain free.
The new short time limits don’t apply to the car park at the leisure centre, although it is a longer walk from there to the centre of the village.
Cllr John McCann
Cllr John McCann, who represents Saddleworth South and holds the relevant portfolio in the Oldham Council Cabinet, used a council statement to say: “When this scheme was first mooted we expected, and have received, views from people who are opposed to it.”
He added: “However, as previously stated, our parking attendants across the borough continue to receive positive feedback from motorists looking to find accessible parking, and this has been consistently reported in the local media.”
Cllr McCann went on: “Residents are happy they can now get to park in the district centres so they can use local services and shops. It also means local businesses will see money spent with them which may otherwise have gone outside the borough.”
He also announced there would now be an extra effort to get tough on drivers who wrongly park in bays reserved for disabled people.
Cllr McCann said: “We make no apologies now for clamping down on people who think they can park in disabled bays without a blue badge and get away with it. Our message is simple – you have been warned and you will be given a parking ticket.”
The council has previously said the limits will be reviewed after they’ve been in place for six months. You can read more about that from Saddleworth News here.
The latest council statement can be read in full here.
Perhaps a little disappointing that there has been no mention here by the council themselves of the public review and consultation that they have promised.
This does seem a little one-sided from Cllr McCann, who was a member of that review panel, so should be well aware that as well as some people being positive about the restrictions, there are also people who are still very much opposed to them.
Although I do agree with being extra tough with people that wrongly park in disabled bays.
The council is arguing that to ask a parking attendant what kind feedback they get from people that have successfully “parked” is some sort of indicator of public opinion….. Have the council not thought of sending someone to the baths car park and ask them guess we’d then get at least a balanced “survey”
Prosecuting people parking in spaces reserved for that suffer from a disability it would be my guess that this was already being done….. Guess I was sadly wrong.
Too right, Phil. Despite my previous posts on this matter it seems that people are still parking with no thought for others at Uppermill Leisure Centre.
To be fair to the Leisure Centre, they had signs advising people not to park on the footpaths, however these have since dissapeared and people continue to do so – leaving cars a task to get past the narrow road to park near the entrance.
Why don’t people use their common sense? Why block the pavement when there are ample spaces in the main car park? – thoughtless…
I think Oldham Council should be cautious before rushing to judgement.
I have spoken to quite a few local businesses who say trade has DECLINED since this scheme was introduced. All those empty spaces could mean people are just not coming into Uppermill.
A six month review, which is what Nick Watts and I successfully argued for, is what is needed – let take the long view on this and not just play pre-election party politics with this important issue.
Agree, Give it the full 6 months, However, i’d like to know how can trade “decline” when there is an improvement in the amount of spaces to park? Perhaps traders will see a reversal now that shoppers can use a space for a couple of hours rather than driving elsewhere. It seems the general public like it and Nick Watts dosen’t because he no longer has a space to leave a vehicle for him and his visitors however long they need. I’d be interested to know which businesses are against the new scheme. It seems that Uppermill is turning into a cafe village geared up to tourists, and the thriving businesses are giving the public just what they want. Look at the new chip shop – Queues all week, so they’re not suffering from this new parking scheme.
Come on Parish Councillor Hulme – who says trade has DECLINED? Tell us please.
I went for a walk to the new chippy yesterday and I have never seen so many shoppers going to the car park with purchases from shops in Uppermill. It was very busy indeed.
The present state of the economy might be one reason for a drop, as people tighten their belts. Not a car park with spaces for potential shoppers to use.