Bury Council is proposing to introduce parking charges at a number of car parks in Ramsbottom, as part of a wider plan covering 22 council-owned sites across the borough.
The council’s cabinet is being asked next week to approve a public consultation on the idea. Nothing is being decided just yet – the vote is specifically on whether to go out and ask people what they think, not on introducing charges themselves.
The Ramsbottom sites named in the proposals are Market North, Market East and Market West on Union Street, Prince Street, and Railway Street. That’s 103 spaces across five car parks, grouped under two charging locations.
If the consultation goes ahead, Bury town centre’s existing tariff would be used as a starting point. That would mean charges somewhere in the range of £2.40 for up to two hours, rising to £6 for stays of more than five hours. Sunday parking is suggested at £1.50.
The proposals follow an independent review of 39 council-owned car parks across the borough. The review found that high occupancy and long-stay parking at certain sites was reducing availability for shoppers and visitors. Officers say charges could help improve turnover and support regeneration plans in the area.
Financially, the council has an additional £434,000 income target tied to parking and traffic enforcement measures as part of its 2027/28 budget. Any surplus from parking charges would be ringfenced for transport and community purposes under existing legislation.
The full report is due before cabinet next week, as reported by the Bury Times. If the consultation is approved, responses would feed into final proposals, which would then come back to cabinet before any decision is made.
Source: www.burytimes.co.uk and Bury Council
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