Concern over work starting near Rochdale station

The Chairman of STORM (Support the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester Rail lines) has expressed his concern over the impending works to be carried out around Rochdale train station.

On Monday 25 October work will begin to lay the new track along High Level Road and Maclure Road; a new stop on Maclure Road will also be built. The Metrolink works will be ongoing until mid 2011.

The key elements of work include:

• High Level Road will be closing permanently on 25th October.
• Parking will be suspended along Station Road, Maclure Road and outside Rochdale railway station.
• Maclure Road (from the fire station to the railway station) will be closing to traffic until early/mid 2011.
• Diversion signs will be in place for traffic.
• Until December, Station Road will remain open to traffic.
• The existing taxi drop off area will be temporarily moved further along Station Road.
• Diversions to bus services will be indicated on bus stops.

The Chairman of STORM, Richard Greenwood said: “It has always been the policy of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) since it was founded in the early 1970s that parking for the railway commuters from Rochdale station could always be adequately provided by on-street parking around the station.

“It is also a stated policy of the GMPTE that adequate car parking should be provided at all commuter stations for Park and Ride. It is a further stated policy of the GMPTE that rail commuter parking should be free.

“It was clear over two years ago that the work to bring the Metrolink line from Oldham and Manchester to the Rochdale railway station area would mean that all on-street parking previously utilised by railway commuters would be lost either through permanent road closures (such as High Level Road) or double yellow lines or resident only restrictions (Station Road, Richard Street and Maclure Road).

“This fact was drawn to the attention of GMPTE as the body responsible for provision of commuter car parks. The GMPTE had previously promised a 300 space car park at Rochdale station but decided not to proceed at a secret meeting some 18 months ago. This fact was kept secret for some time and even Rochdale Council were kept in the dark. They say that even now they have never been officially notified of the decision!

“When it became clear that the GMPTE intended to do nothing to provide alternative commuter car parking for the 200+ Park and Ride commuters from Rochdale Station,  Rochdale Borough Council had to step in to take some action. The best that they have been able to arrange is to lease an area (the old MFI warehouse site) approximately 300 yards from the station for which, naturally, a rent has to be paid.

“Because a rent has to be paid, Rochdale Council are having to put a daily charge of £1.50 on the car park. This will increase the travel cost of a weekly rail season ticket holder from Rochdale to Manchester by 30%. The weekly rail ticket is £22.60 and the weekly car park charge will be £7.50.

“No wonder Park and Ride rail commuters from Rochdale are up in arms.

“The justified criticism of the GMPTE is on three grounds, firstly to refuse to provide any immediate car parking for displaced rail commuters is contrary to their stated policy.

“Secondly to refuse to refund the cost of leasing the former MFI site to Rochdale Council so that parking for commuters could be free is again a denial of their own stated policy.

“Thirdly to abandon any plans at all to provide a car park at Rochdale Station.”

A spokesperson for GMPTE said: "We are currently working with Rochdale Council to look at how on-street parking provision might be better managed in the long-term. There is also a proposal for a Park and Ride scheme at Rochdale Railway Station under the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, subject to the outcome of the Government's spending review."