Oldham MP speaks out about pavement parking

An Oldham MP has spoken out about a ‘serious problem affecting every corner of the borough’.

MP and Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution in the UK Jim McMahon said the level of pavement parking across his constituency is ‘not just frustrating, it’s dangerous’. 

In a statement shared on social media, the representative for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton shared some of the pavement parking hotspots in the area. 

They include Broadway outside Henry Newman College, Frederick Street, around Hulme Grammar, and Union Street, where pedestrians are regularly ‘forced into oncoming traffic’. 

Mr McMahon said: “Pavement parking continues to be one of the most common complaints raised with my office and it’s clear we are facing a serious problem that is affecting every corner of our borough.

“I hear from residents who are blocked from using the pavement safely, whether they’re pushing a pram, using a wheelchair, or just walking to the shop. It’s not just frustrating, it’s dangerous. … 

“Union Street in the town centre has become a real flashpoint. The mix of fast food outlets, high footfall, and a sharp increase in delivery drivers means we’re seeing regular obstructive pavement parking. Vehicles are double parked, blocking bus stops, and mounting kerbs, especially during evening hours. Residents and businesses alike are raising concerns and it’s clear that more needs to be done.

“These are just a handful of examples. Let me be clear, this is a borough wide issue affecting both our town centres and residential areas. Too often, it feels like those doing the right thing are being punished while those who flout the rules face no consequences.”

Oldham council is in the early stages of turning Union Street into a designated ‘red route’, where stopping is strictly limited. 

Once established, only emergency vehicles would be permitted to park on the road, with blue badge holders and Hackney Carriage Taxis allowed to stop briefly to allow passengers in or out but will not be permitted to wait. 

The new rules would be enforced by ANPR cameras. 

Mr McMahon praised the move, alongside Oldham’s efforts to bring traffic enforcement back ‘in house’ instead of employing contractors. But he cautioned that residents wanted to see more ‘visible street level enforcement’. 

While many residents welcomed tighter policing on parking, others noted that the borough-wide problem runs deeper than a few rogue drivers flouting the rules. One resident warned: “Don’t use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Our roads just aren’t cut out for the level of car ownership we have, particularly in our many terraced houses streets.” 

Another added: “Often houses have two or three vehicles, and struggle to find space for one. If you want to solve illegal parking, we need more places to park.”