A successful trial scheme to offer overnight weekend parking at selected Metrolink stops will now be made permanent.

In December last year, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) launched a trial offering Metrolink customers free overnight parking on Friday and Saturday nights at 15 tram stops, with a pick up time of 12pm the following day.

Local Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes, who is a member of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC), welcomed the news as it is something he has been campaigning for since Metrolink first came to Shaw and Crompton.

This Friday’s meeting of the TfGM Committee (10 June) will hear that the pilot scheme has been a success, with no capacity issues affecting regular daytime commuters.

The report recommends that overnight parking during the week is not introduced, as major events such as concerts and football matches would affect Metrolink commuters the following day.

A permanent overnight parking scheme would cover the 15 Metrolink Park and Ride trial sites including: Shaw and Crompton (90), Derker (251), Oldham Mumps (270), and Hollinwood (190) stops.