Traffic wardens driving business away!

Town centre businesses, many struggling with the worst trading for decades, say that the town's traffic wardens are so overzealous they are driving shoppers away. Despite a recent Lib Dem cabinet request to NCP, who control the traffic wardens in Rochdale, to reduce the number of wardens (now known as Civil Enforcement Officers - CEOs!)  comensurate with the reduction in the number of cars coming into the town centre, the wardens are still pouncing on motorists commiting even the most minor indiscretion.

The problem is not restricted to the town centre, wardens were out in force ticketing customers of The Gallows on Kiln Lane, Milnrow on Boxing Day.

Licensee Peter McCormick said: "This is absolutely ridiculous, many of our customers assume that bank holidays are exempt from the parking restrictions, which are in force to improve the traffic flow during school times.

"There is no need for these restrictions to be enforced outside of the drop off times and collection times during the school terms, we have stated on many occasions that the problem only arises when the parents are collecting or dropping off their children but you will never see a traffic warden at these times.

"I think they don't want the confrontation with the drivers they would sooner put tickets on unsuspecting motorists."