By Charlotte Green
TIME-restricted parking along part of Beal Lane in Shaw will be trialled for a year in a bid to help people visit the local shops.
It comes after a petition of 100 signatures was submitted to Oldham Council and the traffic order panel agreed to introduce time-restricted parking between Jubilee Street and Cheetham Street.
The new rules mean people can park for a maximum of three hours between 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, with no return within three hours.
Greater Manchester Police officers accepted that people already park along the road but they were concerned it would not meet the minimum width for two-way traffic if parking bays were formalised.
The introduction of controlled parking bays will confirm to motorists it is ‘acceptable and safe’ to park – which it does not recommend, the report states.
GMP added they had concerns about the addition of new parking bays on a busy commuter route as it could lead to safety issues at the mini roundabout junction and ‘injudicious driving behaviour’.
Ward councillors said the measure would merely formalise what is already happening on the road.
Cllr Howard Sykes stated it would hopefully move mill employees who use the road as an ‘unofficial car park’ while Cllr Hazel Gloster said it would be to the ‘advantage of the community, residents and businesses’.
Similar changes, including double yellow lines and disabled spaces, have been introduced across Oldham to tackle other nuisance spots.
Locations include Princess Street in Lees, Denton Lane in Chadderton, and Rock Street and Robson Street in Oldham.
Implementing the changes will cost Oldham Council a total of £9,600 – with more cash needed to keep them maintained on a yearly basis.