Train station park and ride facility to be “addressed”

Rochdale Station's Park and Ride car park

Rochdale Train Station Park and Ride facility is to be “addressed” as part of the Rochdale town centre parking strategy.

As previously reported by Rochdale Online News, local drivers have been calling for an extension of the commuter parking service to stop an overspill of vehicles onto neighbouring streets, with some cars found being parked on pavements:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100661/

Today (Thursday 28 January) a Senior Engineer from Rochdale Borough Council’s Highways department confirmed that although there are no set plans in place to extend the area, it is to be addressed.

John Gillighan said: “The works at Rochdale Train Station have been carried out in consultation with Rochdale Mobility Planning Group who assisted us in ensuring the improvements would be suitable for people with mobility impairments.

"The waiting restrictions on the north side of Miall Street will prevent parking across the entrance to the train station access leaving the area free for pick up and drop off as well as access for emergency vehicles.

“This is part of the ongoing improvements, with further planned works to promote access to the Park and Ride area.

"Whilst no extension option to the Park and Ride is being considered at present this is planned to be addressed as part of the Rochdale Town Centre Parking strategy.”

The works at Rochdale Train Station include the following:

• No waiting and loading restrictions on both sides of Sarah Street for its full length and the north side of Miall Street for a distance of approximately 50m.
• No waiting restrictions on the South side of Miall Street and surrounding the entrance to the Park and Ride.
• No waiting restrictions on the north and south side of Sarah Street for approximately 50m, 7am to 9am, on Hare Street.
• New street lighting on Sarah Street (already in place).
• A raised traffic calming platform at the junction of Sarah Street and Miall Street.
• Build out on Sarah Street South eastern end.
• New footways along pedestrian desire lines between the Miall Street station entrance and the Park and Ride. 

This aims to resolve the following issues:

• Commuters inconsiderate parking on the surrounding roads and footways.
• Commuters parking across loading areas on Hare Street and in turn businesses loading from the highway.
• Insufficient street lighting.
• Vehicles speeding along Miall Street.
• Motorists ignoring the one-way system on Sarah Street.
• DDA compliant access from the Park and Ride facility into the train station.