Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have announced they are to increase the cost of parking in Blackburn Town Centre from 5th February 2024.
A report on parking charges from environment boss Cllr Jim Smith and growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood says that the “the continuing changes and improvements to the town centre offer” was one of the reasons for the increase.
This comes barely a week after Marks and Spencer announced it was leaving the town centre, another massive blow following the collapse & loss of Wilko and Debenhams.
To add to the bad news, the council will also extend these full rate charges to cover Sunday, which used to be free, then moved to a reduced rate.
So how much will you have to pay?
The new parking charges will be:
- On Street Short Stay (Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm): 30 minutes £1.50, one hour £2.10, 1hr 30mins £2.70, and two hours £3.10;
- On Street Long Stay (Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm): two hours £2.20, four hours £3.10, six hours £4, and over six hours £4.70;
- Off Street Short Stay (Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm): one hour £1.90, two hours £2.60, three hours £3.30, five hours £4.70, and over five hours £8.90;
- Off Street Long Stay (Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm): two hours £2.20, four hours £3.10, six hours £4.00, and over six hrs £4.70; and
- Feilden St Multi-Storey (Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm): one hour £1.90, two hours £2.40, four hours £3.40, eight hours £4.60 and over eight hours £6.90.
In contrast, Chorley Council are currently offering between 2 & 3 hours free parking in their town centre car parks to encourage footfall at Christmas. At other times of year, shoppers get 1 hour free on many car parks and pay just £1 for 2 hours parking on Flat Iron car park.
Burnley Council currently charge only 6 days a week and 1 hour parking starts at £1.10.
Ribble Valley Borough Council charge £2 for 2 hours on their town centre car parks (Monday to Saturday) but also offer 1 hour free on street parking.
Skipton offer an innovative Pop & Shop scheme where parking for 30 minutes is just 20p.
