Free parking for three weeks during the Christmas shopping period

Free Christmas parking

Shoppers can park for free in town centre council car parks after 10am from Saturday 13 December to Saturday 4 January (inclusive).

The changes will apply in all town centre council car parks in the borough and include on street pay and display parking areas.

Council Leader, Councillor Richard Farnell, said: “We want to do everything it can to support local shops and free parking is just the ticket to help boost trade. Our town centres have a number of independent shops and high street names, as well as some great places to eat and drink, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to come and enjoy them during the Christmas shopping and January sales period. By introducing free parking we are trying to make it as easy as possible for our residents and visitors to support our many local businesses at a time when we know money is tight.”

Graeme Fitchett, Manager of Marks and Spencers in Rochdale, said: “These types of initiatives are crucial to businesses at this peak trading time and give towns like Rochdale a massive opportunity to help lure consumers away from the big out of town shopping centres.”

Visitors will have plenty of choice about where to park following the opening of the new 200 space car park on the former bus station site, which is set to take place this Friday (28 November).

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/92812/the-changing-face-of-rochdale-town-centre

The car parks on the Baillie Street and the former St Andrew's site add a further 300 spots for shoppers, an increase of 85 on the previous number of spaces provided in the old bus station car park.

Signage and pathways will also open on the former black box site on Friday to make it easier for visitors to move around the town centre.

Free parking sites

Off Street
Back Oldham Road
High Street
Whitworth Road (Dunhelm)
Church Lane
Eastgate
Reed Hill
Upper Broadfield
Lower Broadfield
Town Hall Square
Yorkshire Street
Greenwood Street
Upper Penn Street
Lower Penn Street
Baillie Street
Milton Street East
Milton Street West
River Street
Middleton Archer
Limetrees
Chapel Street
East View
Market Place

On Street
Esplanade
Oldham Road
Drake Street
St Mary’s Gate
Fleece Street
Nelson Street
King Street
Church Lane (inner)
Church Lane (outer)
South Lane
Hunter’s Lane
Cheetham Street
Yorkshire Street
Newgate
Whitehall Street
Water Street