A new study has suggested that Manchester is the best city for parking in the UK - yes, really. Ask any Mancunian whether they’d agree with such sentiment, and they’ll undoubtedly throw a few choice words your way as they recall the nightmares of finding parking spaces near the arena before an Ed Sheeran gig.
The research from car finance and loan firm Moneybarn analysed the number of NCP parking spaces versus the number of licensed cars in each UK city to reveal the ‘best’ city for parking. With 37.77 parking spaces per 1,000 cars, Manchester came out on top of the list ahead of Cambridge's 35.92 spaces per 1,000 and Colchester's 28.08.
While the numbers relate to the amount of possible spaces in town, is it fair to really call Manchester the best city for parking? Well, probably not. In the last few months alone, the Manchester Evening News has covered plenty of parking woes across Greater Manchester, from cowboy parking firms dumping cars on streets near Manchester Airport to people being fined just for queuing to get out of car parks.
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It was reported in 2020 that there are currently around 30,000 off-street car parking spaces within Manchester city centre, most of which are run by private companies like NCP and Euro Car Parks.
At the same time, some 12,500 spaces are expected to be lost in the next few years due to increased redevelopment within the city. While the number of vehicles in Manchester has dwindled since the pandemic, and as more initiatives favouring bikes and public transport roll out, many still face difficulty finding a spot. There also seems to be a lack of confusion about how to park too.
Earlier this year, M.E.N reporter Dianne Bourne spoke about the 'ridiculous' car parking situation in town. Recalling the ‘good old days’, Dianne wrote: “You used to just get a ticket when you drove in, and then paid at the ticket machine when you went out. Simple.
“Not anymore. Oh no, now you need to not only remember your entire licence number plate (a challenge in itself at times), but also decide exactly how long you're going to be staying there. Which of course isn't always very easy when you're on a night out for example, or on a work job that doesn't have a specific end point.
“It's basically just a massive pain in the bottom, in my opinion, that means you either pay more than you need to - or not enough - and further increases your chances of tripping up and getting a fine.”
Then there’s the issue of confusing parking apps, which make it difficult for anyone carrying cash or a bank card to pay for their space.
Out of the 5.2 million penalty charge notices handed out in 2021, some 341,000 were handed out by Manchester Council - the highest by any local authority. In total, the number of fines handed out in the city-region was up by 27 per cent from 2020.
While more than a few motorists have probably earnt their charge notice for inconsiderate or even downright baffling parking, many, like Ellie Brierley, say they felt the fines were completely unwarranted.
Ellie, from Stretford, made headlines last month when she revealed she had been struck with a £70 notice while trying to leave her local Tesco car park. Stuck in standstill traffic for ninety minutes during the August heatwave, the mum of two said she had no chance of getting out any sooner.
Despite her initial appeals being denied, her fine was finally cancelled earlier this week.
Others have reported receiving fines despite 'perfectly parking' their cars. A number of motorists said they had been slapped with £100 charges months after using the Paradise Mill car park on John Street despite paying and displaying a ticket.
In a separate incident, a dad slammed a parking firm's decision to fine his wife £100 after she failed to park correctly during a family emergency. Christopher Moore, 36, said his wife Sarah had pulled into the Stretford Mall car park - which is free for up to three hours - after their daughter started suffering a panic attack. Having been parked up for 'several' minutes, the family were issued with the fine due to parking outside of the bay's marking.
What are your thoughts on the parking situation in Manchester? Share in the comments below.
Moneybarn’s research found that while Manchester is supposedly well-equipped in accommodating motorists, it was one of the most expensive places to park. The city-region came out 11th on the list for most expensive cities with an average cost of £3.61 for an hour stay - albeit far cheaper than Edinburgh's £7.78 or London's £6.56.
Describing why Manchester was named the UK cities with the most available parking, Moneybarn said : “Manchester has the best parking provision in the country with 37.77 NCP parking spaces per 1,000 registered cars. One of the largest cities in the country, and one of Northern England’s major business centres, Manchester attracts a vast number of visitors every year whether for business, pleasure or a combination of the two.”
When the M.E.N’s Nick Jackson reviewed parking apps in the city earlier this year, he concluded: “I think many prospective visitors to Manchester who have visited Trip Advisor to find out about parking ahead of their journey have received valuable advice. Chiefly, it is: 'Go on the train or bus, and leave car at home'."
And it seems that advice perhaps remains just as fitting today. While Manchester may, allegedly, have the most parking spaces in the country, it doesn’t mean it’s exactly easy or viable to park in the city. And, let's be honest, it certainly doesn’t make it the best place for parking, either.
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