Town centre car parks are for shoppers, not office workers, says council leader

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, has taken issue with the complaints of town centre hairdresser Greg Couzens about the increase in car parking charges in Rochdale town centre.

Mr Couzens said he is "outraged with the decision" and is also "concerned low-paid workers will struggle to park in the town".

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112130/town-centre-car-parks-empty-on-first-day-of-increased-charges

Councillor Farnell says town centre car parks are "for shoppers, not office workers".

He added: "Greg Couzens can't have it both ways.

"Before the changes to parking charges I regularly saw shoppers driving round and round the car parks unable to find a space.

"With only a limited number of parking spaces available, the Council is right to prioritise shoppers. With our free for three hours parking at any time, Rochdale has the cheapest car parking in all of Greater Manchester - and beyond.

"Long stay car parks a little further out of the town centre are available for those who want to park all day. Office and shop workers should use those. They work out cheaper for all day parking.

"I am not sure what point he was trying to make with the picture of an empty car park at 9am. Yes, before the changes it would have been full of office workers' cars. If the picture had been taken a few hours later he would have found it busy with shoppers' cars.

"If our town centre shops are to thrive we need to make it as easy and as attractive as possible for shoppers to get into town.

"For office workers and shoppers alike, we have also got excellent train, tram and bus services."