Free Christmas parking announced

The Leader of Rochdale Borough Council has announced that residents and visitors to the borough will be able to park for free over the festive period.

From Saturday 14 December to Sunday 5 January 2014, parking will be free every day after 10am on the council’s town centre car parks in Rochdale and Middleton.

This will include the bus station multi-storey car park in Rochdale town centre, which
will remain open for the festive season.

Town centre car parks in Heywood and Littleborough will also continue to remain free of charge.

The Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert, said: “This is an important step towards helping to boost the economy of the borough’s town centres supporting our local businesses.

“Parking is already free after 3pm, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, but by extending the free parking over the Christmas period we hope that it will entice shoppers in to the borough and encourage them to stay longer to sample the variety of shops and the excellent programme of Christmas events.

“The atmosphere around Christmas is just fantastic and we are sure shoppers and businesses will welcome the benefits.”

The car parks included in the scheme are:

On street: (Rochdale)

• Esplanade, Packer Street, Oldham Road, Drake Street, St Marys Gate, Fleece Street, Nelson Street, Church Lane (inner), South Lane, Hunters Lane, Cheetham Street, Yorkshire Street, Newgate, Church Lane (Outer), Water Street, Whitehall Street.

Off street: (Rochdale)

• Bus Station, Back Oldham Road, High Street, Whitworth Road, Church Lane, Eastgate, Reed Hill, Broadfield Upper, Broadfield Lower, Town Hall Square, Upper Yorkshire St, Greenwood Street, Penn Street, Baillie Street, River Street.

Off street: (Middleton)

• Middleton Archer, Limetrees, Chapel Street, East View, Market Place

Details are also available on the council’s ‘car parks pages’ at www.rochdale.gov.uk