Parking restrictions across Manchester will be relaxed to help key workers and city centre residents.
Manchester Council have announced an overhaul to parking restrictions in the city, as the country works to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.
All council car parks and those run jointly with NCP, will now be free to use for key workers and residents who have yellow line restrictions outside their properties.
NCP have also published a full list of car parks that will be made freely available across the city.
It comes after residents working from home said they had been made to park further away to avoid restrictions, putting their vehicles at more risk of crime.
The council confirmed that traffic wardens will still be operating, but will move their focus to the "most serious contraventions."
Parking officers will be particularly prevalent around key areas and hospitals, to ensure vital access for emergency vehicles is maintained.
Their work will also target obstructive or dangerous parking, including parking on yellow lines at junctions, breaches of loading restrictions, zig zags at crossings and the obstruction of dropped curbs.
A spokesperson for Manchester Council confirmed that "necessary social distancing" will be adhered to by parking enforcement officers.
Resident parking schemes already in place, will also continue to be managed by the council.
The government announced last month that free parking will be provided to NHS staff and volunteers working in hospitals and social care.
That applies to all on-street parking and open, council-run car parks.
Permit templates are being issued, which staff and volunteers will be able to use in order to take advantage of free parking.
Drivers wanting to appeal a parking ticket are still able to through the council's website.
Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: "The movement of emergency services and vehicles transporting food and other key supplies is absolutely critical at this time.
"So we need to make sure that parking is appropriately monitored and essential travel is not impeded.
"Key workers, plus residents who cannot park for free outside their homes due to parking restrictions, can benefit from free parking by using their nearest NCP car park, with additional measures in place to ensure that NHS and social care workers can park safely as required, without fear of facing charges."
Drivers should check at www.ncp.co.uk to ensure the car park they wish to use is included in this scheme before parking.
