Anger over town centre parking charge plan

1,830 sign petition after leaked report

PLANS to introduce parking charges in Rawtenstall town centre would be ‘devastating’ for local businesses, it has been claimed.

Under proposals, free park- ing would only be available at short stay car parks for up to three hours for shoppers staying in the town, with fees also introduced at long stay car parks.

Around 100 Park and Ride spaces would also be introduced to cater for people using the X43 bus service to Manchester.

The Friends of Rawtenstall group have launched a petition calling on Rossendale council to scrap the plans, which has been signed by around 1,830 people, after a leaked council report revealed plans to charge for parking.

Cabinet member Coun Andy MacNae said the leaked report is out of date, but confirmed that plans to charge would be unveiled in the near future.

THE introduction of parking charges in Rawtenstall town centre would be ‘devastating’ for the local economy, it has been claimed.

Under new plans, free parking could only be available at short stay car parks for shoppers staying in the town centre for under three hours, with fees also introduced for long stay car parks.

Around 100 ‘Park and Ride’ spaces would also be introduced to cater for people using the X43 bus service to Manchester.

There are currently a number of free to use short stay car parks in Rawtenstall that require drivers to display a parking disc.

A number of new car parks are expected to be created in the town as part of the next phase of the multi-million pound Rawtenstall redevelopment project.

The Friends of Rawtenstall group have launched a petition, which has so far been signed by more than 1,750 people, calling on Rossendale council to scrap plans to charge for parking which was contained in a leaked council report.

Cabinet member for tourism Coun Andy MacNae said the leaked report is now out of date, but confirmed that plans would be unveiled in the near future to introduce charges at the car parks.

He said it was ‘reasonable’ to charge a fee, which would be less than £10 for long stay parking, and that it was ‘scaremongering’ to suggest that shoppers would be hit in the pocket.

He added that no firm proposals or parking solution for the town had yet been formulated.

Peter Wood, who chairs the Friends group, said the changes would impact shoppers, tourists and businesses, and accused council chiefs of not being ‘upfront’ about the charges during town centre consultations.

He said: “There is a lot of anger at the council’s proposals. It’s always been a big plus that Rawtenstall has free parking, if people have to pay to park they might think they might as well go elsewhere.

“I am hoping they listen and don’t go forward with these charges because it will hit small businesses, their customer base and also the people who work here.”

Bev Cook, who runs Tryst Hair on Newchurch Road, also opposes the plans and believes traders should be given free parking permits.

She said: “I’m really worried about it. A lot of people come into Rawtenstall to shop and I think they’ll kill it off com- pletely. Everybody’s up in arms about it. The people who work here shouldn’t have to pay. We are noted for lower wages in the Valley, and now we’re going to be facing more parking fees when you come to work. I don’t see why we should be penalised.”

But David Gould, chairman of the Rawtenstall Chamber of Commerce, said people are ‘overreacting’, adding a fee will help free up short stay spaces for genuine shoppers.

He said: “It’s been made very clear with the Chamber that parking for short stay periods up to three hours is going to continue to be free of charge. There are town centre workers who are parking in the short stay spaces currently, and that doesn’t make sense. Three hours is plenty in a small town like this.”

But Mr Gould echoed concerns over the number of centre spaces to be designated as ‘Park and Ride’ for bus passengers. He said: “That space should be used for people work- ing and visiting - it’s a loss of valuable car parking space. To me it should be short stay parking.”

Coun MacNae said: “It’s unequivocal that it will be free parking for people to shop in Rawtenstall, and we want to look at charges for long stay parking and people parking up all day.

“We’re exploring having a different scheme for traders and businesses than for, say, people parking up to use the X43. All the evidence is three hours for people coming to shop is enough.”

Coun MacNae added that they had identified some ‘probably better options’ than installing a Park and Ride parking facility off Kay Street.

He said: “We are looking much more broadly across the whole of Rawtenstall and options have come up there. The detail is all up in the air. We can’t narrow down a parking solution before we have identified all the uses of the town centre site.”

A council spokesman said: “The council have started to look at the issue of parking in Rawtenstall particularly as it’s becoming a real issue, especially commuters parking up all day which limits spaces for shoppers and affects trade.

“No decisions have yet been made and we will be asking for traders’ and residents’ views before deciding what to do.

“To be clear though councillors are committed to maintaining free parking for shoppers.”