Tories call for high street car parking charges to be axed
JON MACPHERSON
HYNDBURN’S Conservative group has urged county hall to drop plans for parking charges on a popular high street.
Councillor Tony Dobson said they have spoken to Lancashire County Council (LCC) leader Geoff Driver over plans in next month’s budget to introduce pay and display parking on Queen Street in Great Harwood.
More than 1,200 people have signed an online petition against the scheme which critics say will be ‘horrendous for local businesses’.
Hyndburn council unanimously passed a Labour motion at a Town hall meet- ing last week to write to LCC and ask for the proposal to be abandoned.
Coun Dobson told the meeting: “The Conservative Group are going to support your motion because we have all spoken to the leader of LCC and emphasised the fact that Accrington and Hyndburn’s free parking is really important to the future prosperity of Hyndburn and it’s a key strategy we do want to use.
“We have contacted LCC, irrelevant of party politics, to make that point very clear.”
The scheme also includes towns like Clitheroe, Whalley, Burnley, Padiham, Colne and Nelson but Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson fears this could be the ‘thin end of the wedge’. He said: “If these go in then the following year they will extend it a few more towns because it’s an income generation.
“They have not understood the difference between a large urban conurbation in Preston to small towns where parking outside the business is the life bread of it.”
Great Harwood councillor Gareth Molineux said the pay and display machines will cost around £40,000 to implement and claimed the money would be better spent on wardens to enforce existing parking restrictions.
He said: “The only reason that I can logically think these meters are coming to Great Harwood is to generate income. It’s nothing about parking, safety or alleviating congestion. The shopkeepers, residents and this council doesn’t want it.”
LCC said no decisions have been made about where the parking changes could be introduced and residents will have a chance to respond in a formal consultation.
A spokesman added: “The current status of the proposal as a whole is that it forms part of the proposed budget which will be discussed by full council in February.”