Two-hour free parking begins after council U-turn

Two hours of free parking has been introduced in parts of Greater Manchester following a council U-turn.

Two years ago there was uproar from shoppers and traders in Tameside after charges at 42 pay-and-display car parks were increased from £1 to £3.50 for three hours.

However, motorists voted with their wheels, and visits to one car park in Ashton-under-Lyne fell by 20%, with shops seeing their takings collapse.

It led to a change of heart and the revised two-hour charge-free period now applies to all Tameside Council-run car parks from Monday to Saturday before 18:00 BST.

Val Unwin, who runs Decisions Clothing in Ashton-under-Lyne, said: "It's the best thing that could have happened right now, the only downside to me is its taken longer than everyone would have liked."

Karen Whelan, who runs Chicken BBQ in the town's Market Avenue, also said the decision had come too late.

"They should have done this from the start because people have gone elsewhere now so hopefully it might bring them back," she said.

"We hope it will bring them back."

Council leader Eleanor Wills said the authority had "taken stock of the parking offer and reflected that, as it stood, it didn't meet the needs of people".

She added: "This two hours will hopefully encourage people to come into town centres."

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