Published March 11, 2019 at 16:25
We are aware of rumours circulating on social media that Rossendale Council has put together a secret plan for parking in Rawtenstall. We wanted to address those rumours.
No secret plan for parking has been put together. As our leader Councillor Alyson Barnes said in February, we are developing a broader parking strategy, which will be shaped and influenced by a cross party working group and which will be undertaken in consultation with traders groups and the community partnership.
We are also commissioning a study to review car parking to help support the development of the strategy.
We also don’t recognise the figures that have been circulating. According to studies, there are 421 long and short stay car places.
No spaces have been given to new flats yet and there are no proposed plans at all to give the new spa any designated spaces.
We have discussed and agreed some parking allocation for both Transdev and Together Housing as part of discussions to move the Spinning Project scheme forward but this again will be factored into the overall parking strategy.
It is important to note that on-street parking and enforcement is the responsibility of Lancashire County Council and we hope LCC work with us to make sure a range of car parking spaces are available so people can park and spend time in our town centres.
Finally, it has always been Council policy that shoppers can enjoy free parking on those owned by us, a commitment which was renewed again by our leader in February.