Free parking essential to Shop Local say Lib Dems

Date published: 10 August 2010

Bury Liberal Democrats have taken community opposition to car parking charges to the next level, and launched an online petition encouraging Prestwich people to oppose the charges, shop locally and support local businesses.

Local Councillor Richard Baum who represents this part of Prestwich said: "Our opposition to car parking charges remains strong, but it has never just been about the parking charge. Prestwich Village is not a place where parking charges are sensible at all. Most people in Prestwich want a vibrant and succesful town centre with places to shop, places to eat and drink and local services like the Library, adult education and Walk in Centre. Everyone I talk to is worried that charging for parking will destroy many of these facilities.

The Longfield area of Prestwich has to compete with Tesco and Morrisons, or Manchester Fort just down the road. All of these have Free parking. What consideration has been given to the impact on nearby residential streets which will probably be clogged up with commuter parking as people find ways to avoid the charge?

Recently Rochdale Council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats, has made all parking in Council car parks FREE on Saturdays in a bid to help local businesses.

"We're asking for everyone to sign our online petition and give us your comments at the LovePrestwich.com website. Why can't Bury Council see sense on this one? Parking charges on Fairfax Road are wrong for Prestwich. We need to shop local and tell Bury Council that we won't be bullied by them."