‘Park for free to make up for chaos’
TOWN HALL LIFTS CHARGES FOR FOUR WEEKENDS AS ROADWORKS APOLOGY
DRIVERS are being offered free parking in the city centre as a ‘thank you’ for their patience during chaotic roadworks.
As an apology for problems caused by works around Regent Road, town hall bosses are lifting charges in council street bays for the next four weekends – however there is a catch.
The offer doesn’t extend to those meters in the heart of the city centre and only applies to bays in designated areas on the outskirts of town, around Piccadilly Station, Castlefield and First Street, close to Deansgate Locks for instance.
Charges will be waived on Saturdays and Sundays from this weekend to February 2 and 3, from noon to 8pm.
For parking purposes the city centre is split into four zones and the offer will only apply to zones three and four.
Stickers will be attached to machines serving bays in the area covered, telling customers they don’t need to pay.
Those in zones one and two will have to pay and display as normal.
The council say they have decided to make the gesture to thank people for their patience during the roadworks at six junctions on Regent Road – including the key Mancunian Way and Chester Road interchange. They also want to try and attract more people into the city centre to shop, eat and socialise during weekends. The roadworks, a joint £15m project between Manchester and Salford councils, began in August and are set for completion this summer.
However, the large number of lane closures is creating daily misery for many, with their commutes drastically increasing and daily queues and bottlenecks in the affected areas of the two cities.
Bosses say they understand the frustration this is causing and that the free parking is a thank you for their patience.
Manchester city council’s executive member for the environment, planning and transport, Coun Angeliki Stogia, said: “Our city centre is benefiting from major investment in its road network, which will ultimately bring about real and lasting improvements to traffic flow, which are necessary to keep our city moving while it continues its rapid growth.
“However, we know that major projects of this kind cannot be completed without causing some short-term disruption.
“This offer of free parking for the next four weekends is a way of saying ‘thank you’ to residents for bearing with us while the essential work is completed, while also promoting our fantastic city centre businesses, by encouraging more people to come into the city to enjoy the wide range of shops, restaurants and cultural attractions on offer.”