Town offers four hours’ free parking (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Town offers four hours’ free parking
8:00pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Chorley
FREE parking for the first four hours is to be introduced at most of Chorley’s car parks in an attempt to boost town centre trade.
A five-month trial is set to begin at the start of September which will see parking charges waived for long periods.
It will mean visitors to ‘long-stay’ car parks at Queens Road, Water Street, Friday Street, George Street, Farrington Street and the Gillibrand Walks side of Fleet Street will not be charged for the first four hours.
A new range of tariffs will be introduced for the premium short-stay car parks at the Flat Iron, Portland Street, West Street and St Mary’s and the Market Street side of Fleet Street.
The changes will see the charge for an hour’s parking reduced from 70p to 50p and a previously unavailable two-hour charge of £1 introduced.
Another change will see a 30-minute option for 30p introduced.
All-day parking at the long-stay car parks will remain at £3.50.
Councillor Peter Wilson, deputy leader of Chorley Council, said: “We have made a commitment that we want to take immediate action to improve the local economy.”
Motorists shopping in Chorley welcomed the scheme.
Jason Whitehead, 47, from Whittle-le-Woods, said: “It would encourage me to come here more.”
Jackie Jones, of Eaves Lane, Chorley, said: “Some of the car parks are a little way from the town centre but I reckon people will use them if they’re free for four hours.”
The loss of revenue during the trial is estimated at £42,000.
