Parking charges a 'disaster for borough'

PARKING charges will be a disaster say business owners Peter and Tim Bull

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A LOCAL business which recently moved to Oldham claims the introduction of parking charges to the Prince's Street car park will be a disaster for the borough.

On May 2, Oldham Council made an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to introduce of charges to the car park which will come into effect on June 19.

The scale of charges are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday as 0-2 hours, £1. 2-5 hours and over 5 hours, £2.50. From 6pm-midnight, £1. At the weekend 8am to midnight 0-3 hours free and over 3 hours, £2.

The Chronicle asked people using the car park what their thoughts on the incoming charges are.

Tim Bull, a director of Rocksalt IT Consultants, who recently moved to Oldham from Stockport after securing a £5,000 grant believed it would be a disaster and admitted that when making the decision to relocate, parking in the borough was a major concern.

He said: "I travel from Stockport to here because we have a business in the town centre on Queen Street.

"It is a disaster because if you think about it you can go to the Trafford Centre and park for free and you come to Oldham and you have worse selection of shops.

"You want to encourage business, not discourage business. My staff are all going to have to pay around £2.50 per day for parking.

"It is 100 per cent detrimental. It will be a complete disaster. This was the best thing they have done to Oldham. It was massive for Oldham. When we were relocating, the parking was my biggest concern."

His brother, Peter Bull, who is managing director of Rocksalt, added: "What it is going to do is there is going to be more parking on the streets. It is going to be a problem for people, for local residents.

"People will lose spaces outside their homes, there will be more crime because the cars are not parked in a safe place.

"It is a nuisance for anyone who wants to do business in Oldham. We will have to find clients somewhere to park. Free parking is great for Oldham."

Steve Logan, of Lees, agreed with the introduction of the charges and felt it was right for people

He said: "I am surprised it took so long. I believe it was going to be a Marks and Spencers.

"It is a car park so why not get some revenue from it?

"It was very kind of them to do it for free, but should people's council tax pay for free parking? I don't think so.

"I will probably still use the car park, I might go back to walking into the town centre though."

Andy Whitworth (24), from Chadderton, who parks at the car park to go to work in the town centre, said: "I work in the town centre, I mostly cycle but every now and again it is nice to have a free car park."