Oldham Group pledges to suspend pavement parking fines
A political group in Oldham has sparked controversy by promising to suspend fines for illegal pavement parking in some parts of the borough, with residents and other politicians slamming the move as dangerous and unfair.
The Oldham Group distributed flyers to homes in the town centre pledging 'NOT to FINE motorists in inner wards for parking on pavements', prompting over 100 critical comments on Facebook from locals who say the policy puts vulnerable pedestrians at risk.
Parents with prams and wheelchair users described being forced into the road when footpaths are blocked, while Labour councillor Arooj Shah called it 'a postcode lottery on basic safety' that would create a two-tier system across the town.
Group leader Cllr Kamran Ghafoor defended the pledge, arguing residents have 'no choice' but to park on pavements due to narrow roads and lack of parking solutions, though the group hasn't explained how it would address the underlying parking shortage.
At a Glance
| What | Oldham Group pledged to suspend pavement parking fines in inner wards |
|---|---|
| Who | Oldham Group, Labour councillor Arooj Shah, Green Party candidate Stephanie Beverley, RNIB |
| Where | Oldham town centre and inner wards |
| When | Flyers distributed last week, April 2026 |
| Why it matters | Pavement parking forces vulnerable pedestrians into roads, creating safety risks |
| What's next | May 7 election will determine if policy is implemented |
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