Rochdale - FREE after 3

In a bold move to bring shoppers into the town centre of Rochdale, the council have decided to allow free parking after 3:00pm on weekdays - and all day on Saturday and Sundays.

The council thought that 3:00pm would cater for mothers collecting their children from school and going shopping afterwards.    The main idea was to attract shoppers from Rochdale's out of town shopping centres that have free anytime parking.

It can be revealed that the new parking arrangements have been a huge success and that there has been a dramatic increase in town centre trade.   Cafes are particularly doing well with family meals.