Commuters unhappy with parking charges

Commuters have hit back at the new parking to be provided around Rochdale Station in relation to parking charges.

The new parking plans will see a provision of 354 parking spaces on Central Retail Park in an arrangement with Town Centre Securities, and an additional 30 spaces on Richard Street.

The spaces on Central Retail Park, where the old MFI building was situated, will be pay and display at a charge of £1.50 per day at a capital cost of £11,100.

The new spaces have been welcomed by commuters; however, the charge has not.

Richard Greenwood from STORM (Support the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester rail lines) said: “Commuters are not happy at all.

“Many are still thinking with the 33% increase in a season ticket that it will be so much cheaper to drive in.”

Commuter Guy Warburton said: “Whilst an additional car park is indeed welcome, charging most certainly isn't. I have parked without problems for years on Maclure road for free and there is no way I am going to pay to park at Rochdale.

“This is just a last minute solution to a problem that should have been sorted out months ago. Has the Council even bothered to consult with commuters to see if they would be prepared to pay £1.50 on a daily basis? I suspect not.

“I can park for £1.50 in Manchester, with an attendant on-site and as much as I would like to continue to catch the train, the introduction of charging is just not going to make it worthwhile and it looks like I will be driving into Manchester from Oct. onwards.”

Rochdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Development, Councillor Dale Mulgrew said: “There will be a newly created car park off Richard Street for free, as well as, naturally on road parking on Richard Street.

“We are responding to the impending closure of High Level Road and with regards to the large car park on the old MFI site we need to cover the outlay of putting a car park in place and the maintenance costs and other costs, as a result it will take the council around nine months to cover our investment.

Councillor Mulgrew added:“This is not money spinning, facilities need to be provided for parking and there is a pressing need as result of the Metrolink works.”

It is possible that the new car park will be subject to the free after three parking on Monday to Friday and free all day on a Saturday.