Parking in Rotherham
Free parking schemes will be withdrawn due to the axe falling on the necessary government funding.
--- Free After Three is expected to end in September 2010 ---
--- Free on Saturdays will end after Christmas 2010 ---
Now the government of Rotherham has long pursued an anti-car policy. This has been followed with almost religious fervour for at least thirty years with people been encouraged to walk, bus or cycle. A couple of years ago free parking was introduced on Saturdays after 10am. This concession was withdrawn after about a year as it was reckoned that it was not attracting more shoppers to visit the town. Well it certainly attracted me! I remember that it was well-publicised in the Advertiser however I spoke to many people who knew nothing about it until it had gone.
What with the Credit Crunch and the many unoccupied shops in Rotherham another initiative has started to try and attract casual shoppers and visitors. From 1 June 2009 it is free to park hence the scheme is called 'Free After Three'. From April 2010 parking has made free all day Saturdays. This was being funded from a £6million reward grant from the Government. Following the General Election in May 2010 this has been withdrawn.
Saturdays Free
All council-run car parks and on-street spaces are free on Saturdays. The scheme, developed by Rotherham Borough Council with the Local Strategic Partnership, applies to all on-street parking and council-run car parks in the town centre starts officially on Saturday 17 April 2010. Free parking is subject to time restrictions for the particular parking area.
The Free After 3 campaign will also continue for another year, further encouraging people to visit during the week, as well as at weekends, to support town centre businesses.Free After Three
"The scheme, which has been developed by Rotherham Borough Council in partnership with Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, applies to on-street parking and council run car parks, six days a week and all Rotherham Council car parking (including on and off street) will continue to be free all day Sunday.
The 'Free After 3' campaign aims to encourage people to visit the town after 3pm and support town centre businesses during the current economic downturn. It builds on a number of recent Town Centre Management initiatives, such as the Business Grants Scheme and the online discount shopping voucher scheme click-backs - all of which aim to give retailers financial support to develop their businesses especially during these difficult times."The Free After Three scheme has also been extended and will continue for another year, further encouraging people to visit during the week, as well as at weekends, to support town centre businesses.
Multi-Storey Parking
Levels one and two of the car park on Wellgate re to have a two hour limit to free up spaces for shoppers. Longer parkers and season ticket holders will have to go further up.
On Street Parking
From 13 August 2009 Rotherham Borough Council has reduced some on-street parking charges in a bid to boost town centre trade. Parking fees on Westgate, Canklow Road, Main Street, Chapel Walk, Maltkiln Street, Sheffield Road and Masbrough Street are now 20p for a 30-minute stay. These lower charges have been introduced after representations from businesses on Westgate and Canklow Road who contacted the authority after it appeared that the newly-introduced parking charges in the area were having an adverse effect on trade. There are also changes soon to be announced to the on-street parking bay maximum stays. Most bays will change from a one-hour to two-hour maximum stay and there are now more options for the required length of stay, leading to more flexibility for shoppers, while also continuing to encourage the turnover in vehicles to help trade.
For a map of Rotherham centre showing the car parks please visit Rotherham Town Map.