Free parking boost for shoppers

Rotherham Borough Council has announced that up to 70 spaces in the former Tesco car park at Forge Island can now be used for up to three hours for free during the week.

And in another boost for shoppers, the whole car park will offer unlimited parking at weekends.

Spaces in the car park’s red zone — which currently allows one hour’s free parking — now qualify for the extended time during the week.

The council’s strategic director for environment and development services, Karl Battersby,  said: “It is an extremely handy car park for anyone visiting the shops and businesses around west side of town and offers an easy access parking option into the town centre as a whole, including the area around the Minster and the High Street.

“The increased free parking will be offered over the next three months as a trial period to see how the public react.

“However, we are sure that this ‘on-the-doorstep’ parking will be appreciated by the many businesses, shops and restaurants in that area, who we have pledged to support as the town centre evolves."

Salon owner Peter Bird, who runs Peter Bird Hair Designs on Corporation Street — a long-term campaigner for free parking in the town centre, called the move “marvellous news” for both shoppers and the town in general.

He added: "It’s wonderful and in my view, a really good move.

“I am delighted that the authority has actually listened to the traders, who have been asking for more free parking for a long time.

“This is a good start to what should be a controlled free-parking town.

“Traders and businesses in the town are really trying their best and there is a lot of good news around with the improvements and the extension to the market.

“The increase in free parking on Forge Island means that the shopping experience for visitors will be much easier and much more pleasurable.”

The council pointed out that ticket machines on Forge Island had yet to be updated and advised motorists parking there to enter their registration as usual, select one hour and display their ticket, which would now be valid for three hours.  

A spokeswoman added: “There will be signage on site to explain this until the machines are updated.”