News - NSL

Manchester, Bury and Rochdale councils will be innovatively working together with their civil enforcement partner NSL Services Group over the 3 days of the Oasis concerts at Heaton Park on the 4th, 6th and 7th June to ensure routes to and from the venue remain clear for everyone to both get to the concerts and back home again afterwards.

Concert visitors have been advised that there is no parking in the area around Heaton Park and they should plan their route using public transport or make use of the event's Park and Ride facility.

Civil Enforcement Officers from all three councils together with mobile units and three trucks will be making sure that the roads are kept clear, while signs will be placed on all major routes leading to Heaton Park, informing motorists of parking restrictions.

Using new powers for the first time during the three nights of the concert, the officers will also help residents living near the concert site by removing cars which block any access to residents' driveways. Concert goers who park illegally in this way are being warned they will have to collect their cars from the vehicle pound in Bowlee Park as well as receiving a fine. 
   
Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said:  "Ticket holders have been provided with information directing them to the Park and Ride at Bowlee, Rochdale if they are driving. Concert goers can use the special bus service running from the city centre - from Lever Street and Corporation Street - and existing bus services along with the Metrolink make it easy for them to get to and from the venue. There's no need to drive to Heaton Park itself and therefore no excuse if you park illegally.

"We'll also be working with residents to make sure the concert has as little impact as possible on their lives, by using new powers for the first time to stop motorists blocking their driveways."

And Gary Webb, NSL's Communication Manager commented: "The concerts will attract up to 70,000 people and as part of an education rather than enforcement approach NSL are telling concert goers in advance to leave their cars at home or use the Park and Ride."

"There's nothing worse than going to a concert and having a great time only to find your journey home is delayed because someone is illegally parked. With the concerts scheduled to finish at 11pm latest we want to help everyone get to the concert on time and home again afterwards with the minimum of disruption."

This is the first time the councils and NSL have worked together in such a way and it is being seen as a blueprint for covering other major public events in the area. And in publicising restrictions before the event it's hoped that concert goers won't 'look back in anger' and avoid getting a Penalty Charge.