Parking charges in Oldham will be temporarily scrapped to help support NHS and key workers during the coronavirus crisis.
The council has announced it is suspending fees at its car parks in the town centre to make it easier for people to carry out vital jobs and potentially avoid using public transport.
All pay and display machines will be covered to make the changes clear.
The town hall has confirmed that if a designated ‘key worker’ did somehow receive a fine for parking it would be waived.
On street car parking fees have also been suspended, as well as enforcement in residential parking zones.
Due to the lack of traffic on the roads all bus lane enforcement has also been suspended 'until further notice'.
Enforcement staff within the council are now being deployed elsewhere to help run vital services.
As of Sunday, Public Health England said there were 82 positive cases of coronavirus in Oldham.
Council leader Sean Fielding said: “NHS staff, council colleagues and other frontline workers are doing a brilliant job.
“They are continuing to support our most vulnerable residents under very difficult circumstances.
“To show our support we have introduced free parking in our town centre car parks and on-street bays.
“This will allow essential workers and volunteers to go about their vital duties without having to worry about paying to park.
“The decision also follows the government’s guidelines around social distancing and discouraging key workers from using public transport.”
Officers warned that the relaxation of rules did not mean that key workers or health workers can park illegally or unsafely on roads in the borough.
If their parking is deemed to have put others at risk then they would face a possible fine.
