People living near new Co-op Live arena 'incorrectly fined' for parking near their own houses

Dozens of residents living near Co-op Live and the Etihad have been 'incorrectly given parking tickets' creating a ‘weeks long appeals backlog’, it’s been revealed.

A new residents’ parking scheme for the Eastlands area was launched alongside the 23,500-capacity venue’s opening on Saturday (April 20), replacing an existing scheme in place for event days at the Etihad Stadium nearby.

The new programme is in place seven days a week, from midday to 11pm. It was brought in to clamp down on gig-goers and football fans causing traffic mayhem for locals by parking on residential roads.

READ MORE: Co-op Live was just days from opening, then it all went wrong

However, 159 parking tickets have been handed out over the Co-op Live opening weekend by ‘over zealous’ enforcement officers. Beswick residents have reported there’s confusion over how to book a visitors’ pass to their homes as required, meaning their guests have been ticketed.

There’s also been confusion over the operational hours of the programme, and one councillor has said they were contacted by a motorist who was fined for parking across a driveway. It was their own driveway.

That’s led to a surge in appeals to Manchester city council officers, who runs the scheme. Reportedly, this has resulted in ‘the backlog in dealing with appeals [being] weeks long’.

“We’ve only ever asked for one thing with the changes to the Eastlands parking scheme, and it’s to remember that the scheme exists to protect residents,” said Ancoats and Beswick Councillor Alan Good.

“I’m beyond disappointed at how many problems have arisen from the introduction of the scheme and that residents have been left in the dark whilst challenging incorrectly issued tickets. We’ve asked questions about how the parking wardens have been trained and I’ve asked council managers for a plan on how they’re going to get on top of the situation.”

Following the reports, a spokesperson for the council confirmed that any resident accidently issued with a ticket can get it cancelled straight away, and ‘if an appeal is made the clock stops’ on a 14-day half-price early-payment window for those correctly ticketed.

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "Through the Eastlands RPZ the council has worked to ensure that residents living in close proximity to the Co-op Live Arena and the Etihad will be able to park close to their home, whilst preventing out of area motorists creating logjams in the area during event nights.

"Engagement has taken place since March 2022, providing residents with information and updates on how they can apply for free permits, or how to apply for visitor or carer passes. All current information on the scheme is available on our website, at https://www.manchester.gov.uk/parking.

"During the opening weekend of Co-op Live there were 159 PCNs issued, 16 of which have been appealed. The Council can confirm when an appeal is made the case is frozen as is the 14-day early payment window.

"If a resident with a parking permit or a resident who is entitled to a resident parking permit has been issued with a PCN, the PCN will be cancelled if the resident appeals the PCN. This also applies to visitor permits as well. The Council will support residents when applying for a permit, but we would remind people that it is their responsibility to ensure that they have applied for a permit, in order to avoid any future penalties being issued."

If you want to find out more about the Eastlands Parking scheme, you can do so online here.