Shoppers confused by new parking rules in Rochdale Town Centre car parks

Car ticketed in Lower Penn Street car park

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Shoppers are confused by the new rules in council car parks in Rochdale Town Centre despite the council installing new tariff boards informing people using them that there are new parking rules in place.

Since 1 May, people using council car parks in Rochdale Town Centre have been entitled to three hours of free parking – but must still display a ticket, which is free of charge to obtain, in what the council describes as long stay car parks.

In short stay car parks, where the parking limit is three hours, shoppers do not need to display a ticket.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: “Up to three hours free car parking was introduced on all our town centre car parks earlier this year to give customers more flexibility, encourage people into the town and support the local economy.

“New tariff boards were also installed to make these changes clear and additional signs were placed around our car parks reminding people to display a ticket. A ticket must always be displayed in all our long-stay car parks.

“The details of how to appeal a penalty charge are printed on the back of the ticket - all appeals are considered on an individual basis.”

Despite the new tariff boards, those using the car parks are still confused as to when they should and should not display a ticket.

In the Milton Street car park, opposite Number One Riverside, on Wednesday (24 June), Rochdale Online observed 88 cars parked in the car park. Out of the 88 cars that were parked, 51 had a ticket displayed, 21 were permit holders and 16 did not have a ticket displayed or did not have a ticket displayed visibly.

In the Lower Penn Street car park, one shopper said she was not aware that she had to display a ticket until she was informed by her daughter when parking the car.

During the hour that Rochdale Online was observing four car parks in Rochdale town centre, seven cars had been issued with penalty notices – five of those were in the Milton Street car park.

Mr Widdup added: “191 Penalty Charge Notices have been issued to vehicles that have been parked beyond the bay markings, in a disabled bay, after the expiry of ticket and without displaying a ticket.

“Drivers are responsible for checking the rules of any car park and we’d again like to remind everyone that a ticket must always be displayed in our long-stay car parks.”