Littleborough’s parking problems

Littleborough square

The meeting room at Hare Hill House Littleborough was full with local residents and councillors attending a public meeting organised by Littleborough Civic Trust to provide an opportunity to discuss possible solutions to Littleborough’s parking problems.

Councillor Janet Emsley started the event by outlining the action which she and the other ward councillors have taken to investigate the possibility of using the former gas works site on Hare Hill Road Littleborough as a landscaped car park.

Rochdale Online director John Kay, a long standing Littleborough resident, spoke in support of using land which is already owned by Rochdale Borough Council, for this purpose. He explained that 350 residents responded to a questionnaire which was delivered to every house and business in Littleborough by Littleborough Neighbourhood Forum.

He explained that 93% of the responses wanted more off-street parking in the village centre and 72% thought that the on-street parking was a problem.

He added: "Littleborough is the tourism centre for Rochdale Borough and, unlike most villages, Littleborough may have the land to provide a solution."

Reno Minopoli, also a Littleborough resident, spoke against the use of the Hare Hill Road site. He suggested that there was already sufficient other under used car parking in Littleborough. He also made several suggestions for alternative solutions to the parking issues that would provide an alternative to the village losing the natural grassland on the former gasworks. He had started a petition in support of his views which has over 100 signatures.

Members of the audience were  invited to have their say with Councillor Janet Emsley noting all thoughts and information from those present.

Councillor Emsley gave a promise that the Council would prepare a contamination survey for the Hare Hill Road site and the results would be made public.

She also said she will see whether the Council would prepare a car Parking survey for Littleborough, but warned that cost factors might prevent - she agreed to report back on the cost if this would not be dealt with by the Council. The Littleborough Neighbourhood forum may have to apply for a grant to cover this work.