FREE car parking will be introduced across Tameside on set days to tempt shoppers and boost town centres.
Council leader Roy Oldham will introduce a raft of measures designed to tackle the recession and cushion the impact of the economic downturn.
It is expected shoppers will be allowed to park for free after 3pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The fillip is a ‘reward’ in return for residents taking part in fortnightly black bin collections which is set to save the council more than £600,000.
Although part of next month’s budget, Councillor Oldham leaked the plan early after Tories put forward a motion at full council demanding the return of a weekly black bin collection, claiming it was "unpopular" and "a risk to public health".
But it was thwarted when Labour councillors forced through an amendment and declared ‘managed collections’ must continue to be rolled out boroughwide. They insisted there was no "substantial objection" by the public and no evidence to indicate a health risk.
Councillor Oldham said: "The savings arising from the managed refuse collection should amount to over £600,000 and much more in future years. That money will be used in return to the people for their engagement and their recycling efforts."
He added that recycling rates had hit 50 per cent in five trial areas and claimed out of 53,000 households, only 23 complaints had been received. Rebel Labour councillor Sean Parker-Perry, who recently broke ranks to condemn managed collections, was absent from the meeting.
Councillor Basil Beeley, Conservative environmental spokesman, said: "I was hoping from at least one vote from Labour tonight. Unfortunately, Councillor Parker-Perry must be at home recovering from having his legs slapped."
The recession was high on the agenda and it is hoped the town hall budget will ease the difficulties.
More than £10m has been set aside to help small businesses through the hard times with a further £6m set to be ploughed into ‘essential’ capital works across the borough.
In an attack on global banking chiefs, Councillor Oldham said: "While they have been emptying the pockets of the world’s communities they have been filling their personal ones. Some even have the nerve to attack public sector employees and are immune to the damage they’ve caused themselves."
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Voice of Sanity (29/01/2009 at 12:35)
And I'll bet most of that is heavy garden waste !!!
Christopher Standish-Johnson (29/01/2009 at 14:35)
Dennis the Menace, Hyde (31/01/2009 at 01:42)
WELL I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU ROY OLDHAM .........
MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO WERE IN THE INITIAL TRIALS WERE NEVER ASKED OUR OPINIONS ON THIS MATTER !!!!!!
WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS IN THIS I ASK YOU ??????? IS THIS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM ONE OF THE SO-CALLED "BEST RUN COUNCILS" ???????, YOU MUST HAVE CERTAINLY PAID SOMEONE TO HAND THAT TITLE OUT !!!!!!!!!
I sincerely hope that the people of Tameside can see that this "free parking" is going to have NO impact whatsoever on the ecomonic downturn !!!! its just another "sop" to the public at large to make those who cannot see too clearly that the way Concil services are operating is becoming increasingly sub standard !!!!
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM ROY ?????
LETS HOPE THIS COMING SUMMER IS NOT TOO HOT !!!!, OTHERWISE THANKS TO ROYS IDEAS THE WHOLE BOROUGH WILL SMELL JUST LIKE IT DID IN THE 80'S WHEN SMITHS BROTHERS OPERATED !!!!! ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT STENCH ????? ---- BECAUSE ITS ON ITS WAY BACK METHINKS !!!!
Mr. Justice, Ashton Under Lyne (02/02/2009 at 15:29)
Rather than being ‘proactive’ during this credit crunch for the business rate payers of Tameside, there has been very little public action from Tameside and the leadership. Unlike the national government Tameside has acted too little too late and offered little in the way of implanting an effective strategy.
This recent announcement from the ‘leader’ Roy Oldham speaks volumes of the poor leadership at this time which has been more reactionary than decisive.
We are now expected to believe that this parking offer is possible on due thanks to the fortnightly bin collection, its is natural to save money when you cut services, this is not a situation which can be used as clever money management.
The free parking offered is pitiful at only being free after 3pm, I cannot think of many people who like to go shopping after 3pm on a Saturday, with only 2 hours of shopping available before the shops close. It’s shameful helping hand to the business of Tameside.
Roy Oldham speaks of global banking chiefs ‘emptying the pockets of the world’s communities, whilst filling theirs’. A statement from an un publicly elected council leader, one who is the only council leader with his own personal driver.
Perhaps Tameside would fair better if there was a change of leadership. Now is the time for change, Roy Oldham has been leader of Tameside council since 1980. We would not except this if it were a prime minister or president. We need change and I call on the people of Tameside execute a vote of no confidence on Roy Oldham.
Sir Elliott Pest , Newton Nr. Hyde. (04/02/2009 at 21:46)
Hyde is all but finished as a shopping town, and none of the other have much left to offer either.
Maybe the re-opening of Ashton indoor market will help them, and the Point at Denton helps there, but Hyde, sorry to say but its done for.