Car park cost changes ‘good for business’
CHANGES to pay and display charges in Ormskirk are designed to increase footfall rather than make money, council bosses say.
West Lancashire Borough Council is to remove the one and two-hour options at its car parks in the town centre, but reduce the charge for three hours to £1.
The council is introducing the changes on a oneyear trial, after which it will be reviewed before further possible changes.
Despite criticism from other councillors, the Labour-run council insists that the changes are being made to benefit the town centre that money is not a motivating factor and that no extra revenue is expected under the new rules.
It said the main purpose of the changes was to attract more people to the town for longer periods of time, meaning that rather than visit just one business and then have to return to the car, they can stay to visit others.
The changes are being installed as as part of the Ormskirk Town Centre Strategy and come after extensive discussions with businesses.
The council approved this proposal at its meeting on Wednesday, February 29 and agreed that charges should be consistent over all its short stay town centre car parks to make costs easier to understand for visitors.
The changes are subject to an amended Traffic Regulation Order which, as part of the process, will need to be advertised for public consultation.
The proposed new charges for short stay car parks – Ormskirk Bus Station, Market Way, Lunesdale, Moorgate, Wheatsheaf and Park Road, located at the rear of Pound Stretcher, would be: Up to 3 hours: £1. Up to 4 hours: £2. Proposed new charges for long stay car parks The Stiles, Derby Street West, Park Pool, and Hutton Way would be: Up to 3 hours: £1. Up to 4 hours: £2. Up to 9 hours: £3. The proposed new charges for the Hants Lane car park would be: Up to 3 hours: £1. Up to 9 hours: £2. Parking will remain free on Sundays, Bank Holidays and between the hours of 5.30pm and 8.30am, while Blue Badge holders will still be able to park for up to three hours free in any town centre council car park.
Clr John Hodson, whose cabinet responsibilities include parking, said: “These measures would take away the concerns of visitors thinking they have to rush back to their cars to avoid getting a parking ticket.”
Rival councillors had previously criticised the proposals, arguing that the loss of free parking and the 40p option would be a deterrent to shoppers.
Cllr Ian Davis, finance spokesman for the Our West Lancashire group, said, “This proposal fails to recognise how the high street has changed in recent years and the fact that Ormskirk Town Centre now has to compete with the Ringtail Retail Park in Burscough less than two miles away where parking is free.
“The Labour council in Chorley reduced the cost of parking there when they took over from the Conservatives, including introducing free parking on Saturday afternoons.”