CHARGES on Oldham town centre car parks are being reintroduced to NHS staff not on duty, the town hall has announced.

Payments were temporarily suspended at the beginning of the lockdown at the end March to ensure staff has somewhere to park while they were going about their vital roles.

The move has been prompted as car parks gets busier as more people return to work, businesses start to lift the shutters and schools re-open.

Charges we will be reintroducing parking charges from tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3).

NHS staff can continue to park for free while they carry out their duties – as long as they display a parking pass that will have been issued from their place of work.

On street car parking fees will also be reintroduced and enforcement in residential parking zones will also return.

Bus lane enforcement will also restart. Parking charges at Dovestone Reservoir will also be reintroduced.

Oldham Council leader Sean Fielding said: “When we introduced these measures, we were very clear that they were only a temporary measure.

“NHS staff are doing a brilliant job, under very difficult circumstances, and we are happy to show them our support.

“This will allow them to go about their vital duties without having to worry about paying to park and possibly using public transport.”

However, he added this does not mean NHS workers can park illegally or unsafely.

If their parking is deemed to have put others at risk then they would face a possible fine, he said.

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