Town decides on opposite approach to commuter parking

OVER in Darwen, traders are upset that parking charges are being introduced on town centre car parks during the week.

Blackburn with Darwen council says it is doing so because car parks are being used by people parking up in town to get the train to Manchester. Commuters in other words.

Oh to have the option of going to work by train!

But seriously, there won’t be parking charges at the weekend – presumably to ensure weekend shoppers aren’t put off from coming into Darwen.

Darwen’s activities to deter commuter parking couldn’t contrast more with what’s happening in Rawtenstall, where Rossendale council has included a dedicated car park for commuters in its new bus station plan.

Confirmation came last year that 50 spaces will be created for people using the X43 service into Manchester from Rawtenstall. The council says such a move will benefit traders as it means people will be parking up in the town.

Traders are less sure – especially as the overall impact of the project, as reported last October, was a net reduction in free parking in Rawtenstall town centre for shoppers.

So much is riding on the success of the new bus station and whatever is built around it – and Darwen’s decision to take the opposite approach to commuter parking should be something our council looks at too.