- Victory for residents as parking scheme is approved by Manchester City Council.

- Labour hail successful 12 month campaign.

City centre residents can now join a more flexible, less restricted and better value for money parking scheme following a successful campaign by your City Centre Labour team.

Manchester City Council approved the changes this week following a consultation with residents and businesses in the city centre.

Residents have the option of either purchasing a permit covering the chargeable hours outside 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 8am-8pm Saturday and Sunday or a 24hr permit covering Monday-Sunday 8am-8pm (in zone 3).

Residents can also purchase a permit for zone 3 even if they live in zone 2.

Permits will be available to any resident who can show proof that he/she owns a car, lives in the city centre and does not have a current off-street parking space. Restrictions limiting permits to those in buildings built before 2004 and without any parking provision in the building have been lifted. Residents can also purchase more than one permit per household.

Permits can be paid for quarterly, 6 monthly or annually providing more flexibility for residents.

City centre resident and Labour campaigner Joan Davies said:

“This is a real victory for residents who have long been asking for a more flexible scheme that is easier to join and better value for money. I’ve already spoken to many residents eager to sign up.”

City centre Labour & Co-op councillor Kevin Peel said:

“I made this a priority when I was elected last May and I’m delighted that we were able to deliver for city centre residents.

“There’s more to do and I called on the council to look urgently at re-zoning and creating more spaces in zone 2. However what we have in this initial phase of the new scheme is far better than what we had before.

“I think this really highlights what Labour councillors working with a Labour council can deliver for city centre residents.”

For more information about the city centre residents parking scheme, visit the parking section on the council’s website here.