Fees may be introduced for parking permits

Residents are unhappy about plans that may see parking permits no longer be free under a new council consultation.

As part of the current Resident Parking Policy, each household is eligible to apply for one resident permit and one visitor permit, with businesses within the zone eligible to apply for two business permits, which are currently free of charge.

The Highways Service potentially has to process up to 2,170 permits over the full renewal period: the cost of undertaking this is currently paid for using the Council’s revenue budget.

However, a new council consultation has proposed residents be issued just one permit free of charge, with each household able to apply for up to three further permits at a cost.

The move has been proposed to save Rochdale Borough Council up to £22,000 by 2021.

Middleton resident Wayne Dixon said: “Where I live, we only need a parking permit to force car booters to park on Bowlee so the council can charge them.

“The money from that should fund the parking permits as we would not need them if the council did not hold the car boot sale.”

Littleborough resident Mark Whittaker said: “I oppose plans to introduce charges for parking permits. Several of our elderly neighbours are house bound and don’t have access to email and can’t easily get to the local post box. Is the council planning to go to the affected properties and speak to residents personally?

“Many are not able to get out of the house and have home care visits two or three times a day. Many pensioners won’t be able to afford the proposed charges. By not having the visitor permits, it will mean the carers won’t be able to attend their properties for daily care. The lifeline people need will be cut.

“This will discourage family members to visit family members as they will need to pay for parking on the Lake (of which has increased in cost this year).

“I am concerned our council tax has increased this year and now residents are being hit with further charges. It is not acceptable and several residents will feel trapped by restricting cars visiting. 

“We pay our taxes, own our houses and freedom to move around should not be policed by Rochdale Council.”

Victoria Bradshaw, chief finance officer at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is one of a number of proposals which is currently out to public consultation to help the council save £3.6m from the general budget in 2019-2020. The consultation will run until 5pm on Monday 10 September.

“We welcome feedback on these proposals and residents can give us their views online, in person at one of libraries or customer service centres or through the post by writing.”

The consultation closes Monday 10 September 2018.

Contact

Survey: https://consultations.rochdale.gov.uk/council-wide/nh-2019-20-020/consultation/intro/

Email: consultation@rochdale.gov.uk

Write to: Freepost RTKH-UCCB-JSJU,

(Rochdale Borough Council, PO Box 100, Public Consultation)

Rochdale,

OL16 9NP