One of the new signs in the museum car park.
The promised review by Oldham Council of the new parking restrictions in Uppermill will take place, it has been confirmed.
According to a statement from the the Chairman of the Saddleworth and Lees Traffic and Transport committee, Cllr Royce Franklin, the review will examine “all aspects of the car parking situation in Uppermill.”
Time limits were brought in on several car parks in Uppermill back in February, in the hope that more spaces would be freed up for shoppers and other visitors to the village.
The initiative divided opinion at the time, with some business owners believing it would help bring more trade to their shops, while others were concerned their staff might be forced to park a long way from work.
An Oldham Council panel agreed to hold a review after the scheme had been in operation for six months, following an intervention at a meeting in March by Uppermill business owner and resident Nick Watts, who raised a petition of 750 signatures against the plans.
Under the restrictions, drivers are 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. Parish councillors have also voted to include the Civic Hall car park in the scheme once it is safe to use following the building work.
Vehicles canât 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 donât apply to the car park at the leisure centre, although it is a longer walk from there to the centre of the village.
In his statement, Cllr Franklin acknowledged that the leisure centre car park “remains underused.” He said: “It is appreciated it is human nature to get a car parking space as near as possible to ones destination but for those business drivers who need to park all day it is an excellent provision which cost the council a great deal of money to refurbish.”
Cllr Brian Lord
Also quoted in the statement was senior Lib Dem parish councillor Brian Lord: “It is very clear a full review is necessary. Before the restrictions were imposed drivers were leaving their cars on car parks in some instances for days or even weeks thus depriving shoppers and visitors alike of the car parking spaces.”
He added: “There are three quite distinct groups of drivers in Uppermill: tourists, shoppers and residents. It is impossible to satisfy each of those groups all the time. For those who shop in Uppermill from outside villages there is no doubt the spaces on car parks means shopping in the village is much easier and more attractive and therefore stops drivers going elsewhere.”
Cllr Lord concluded: “Businesses can reap the benefit from their trade. Additionally those visiting the doctors in Smithy Lane can now park and be on time for appointments.”
Separately, Oldham Council carried out a survey on some streets to see whether there was any appetite for residentsâ parking permits. Only those living on Back Lee Street, Village Green and Boltonâs Yard responded in favour above the necessary 50% threshold, but residents on some other streets have since expressed concern about the impact the time restrictions have had.
Cllr Franklinâs statement hinted that other streets may be included in a future permits arrangement: “Permits for these three are now under consideration but it is now clear with the restrictions the impact for other streets is only just being realised.”
Past articles from Saddleworth News about this issue can be found here.
Iâm pleased to hear this, but just to clarify :- what Oldham Council promised in the meeting was a “Full Public Consultation” and not just a “Review”
I think we need to be very clear here - itâs insufficient to ask a few people leaving the car park if they were able to find a space and were happy with the restrictions (of course the answer will be yes from them!)
Iâm afraid to say that up to know, this has been the Councilâs “review” method - and itâs completely inadequate and completely misleading.
What I asked for and what Oldham Council promised was a “Full Public Consultation”
- anything less than this would not be giving all parties a fair chance to be heard.
There are definitely at least two sides to this argument and all parties involved deserve a right to be heard equally.
Thereâs absolutely no reason not to hold a full public consultation to allow that to happen.
Anything other than that would be a failure on behalf of both the Borough and Parish councils to deliver what they promised and owe to the community.
“There are three quite distinct groups of drivers in Uppermill: tourists, shoppers and residents.”
Er… and people who work here servicing the tourists shoppers and residents
They are again conveniently forgotten by Mr Lord
Good Point George!
Interestingly enough, the posters from Oldham Council about the parking restrictions said specifically that theyâd listened to what the businesses wanted and put the restrictions in place this as a result
So whilst Oldham Council chooses to listen to one group only, Mr Lord chooses to forget about them all together!
All the more reason for a full public consultation so everyone interested - including the business owners and staff - have a chance to have their say
I donât understand the point youâre trying to make. Are you saying you want to be able to park in a public car park all day because you work in Uppermill? If thatâs the case, park at the Leisure Centre and leave the Uppermill centre car parks for people coming and going all day. That encourages visitors, shoppers and doesnât let tourists park all day depriving anybody else of a chance. Failing that, go back to the old Labour regime of charging. Surely nobody wants that (except Labour maybe).
George seems to ignore the fact that if there isnât anywhere for visitors/shoppers to park (because the spaces are full of workers parking there all day) then the workers are not likely to have a job in the long term. Most people have restrictions on parking near where they work. Itâs not a very long walk from the village to the sports centre and the parking is free there.
What Iâm saying is that people should be consulted about parking in Uppermill.
There are lots of people affected and lots of opinions, including all those in the comments here.
Iâm not saying any of those opinions are right and wrong - but I think we can agree that as a Parish Council - they should at least make an effort to listen to those opinions.
Having said that, considering the outcome of todayâs Parish Council Meeting on this, including amendments and amendments to amendments it would seem that some members of the Parish Council are far more interested in hiding behind political protocol then they are of actually listening to the people and doing something to help the community.
Are takings up or down?
Mr Watts stood at the recent elections on the sole issue of allowing car parking in uppermill on a non restricted basis. This is hwere is lives. There has been a full public consoltation !!! it was the election and Mr Watts came last. People want come in the Upprmill, Park, Shop and leave. The swiming baths can be used for longstay.
Derek: To answer your question - some shops have said to me that takings are up, others have said takings are down.
More have said to me that takings are down - but my discussions alone are not a proper or public consultation.
A full public consultation should give the bigger picture.
Mr Wheeler your comments are wrong and libelous at best - I did stand as an Independent in the election, but I did NOT stand on the issue AGAINST the parking restrictions, I stood for a full public consultation on the parking - and that was far from my SOLE issue.
Yes I both live and work in Uppermill despite the fact it would be far more convenient for me personally and my business if the restrictions in the village car parks were removed, I still want to have a fair and public consultation so everyoneâs opinions can be heard equally.
What could anyone possibly have against holding a public consultation so all sides of the argument can simply be heard fairly?
…libellous at best â bleedinâ accurate more like!
Mr Watts wouldnât be satisfied if the outcome of any public consultation went against his own viewpoint. Heâd still be banging on, and on, and on…