Blue Badge owners hoping to visit Rochdale Town Hall expected to park 500m away

Date published: 12 September 2023

Blue Badge owners hoping to visit Rochdale Town Hall after redevelopment will be expected to park on Smith Street car park – some 480m away.

With the creation of a new pedestrianised town hall square on the former town hall car park, 18 parking bays for Blue Badge holders have been lost, with the council now revealing that extra Blue Badge bays have been added nearly half a kilometre away.

The walking distance between the Smith Street car park at the former Mecca Bingo to the town hall – via Smith Street and South Parade – is 483m, whilst the Esplanade spaces are around a 321m walking distance from the town hall.

The nearest car park to the town hall is the Lower Broadfield on King Street, which was converted to Blue Badge bays in April last year.
 

Read more: Lower Broadfield car park becomes disabled parking onlyPublished: 08 April 2022

However, the car park has since reverted back to a ‘standard’ car park, with just two designated disabled bays.

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways and facilities said: “Officers from Rochdale Borough Council’s highways service met with RADDAG (Rochdale and District Disability Action Group) before the town hall re-development work began.

“As a result of the loss of the 18 bays in the vicinity of the town hall, extra designated Blue Badge bays were added to the highway and nearby council car parks.

“The Esplanade now has five, which is an increase of three, and 16 were added to Smith Street car park, meaning there has been no loss of spaces.” 

Rochdale and District Disability Action Group has been contacted for comment.