A FREE parking scheme has been scrapped because people working for the council were clogging up the spaces, it has been revealed.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has revealed that it scrapped the 'free-after-3pm' scheme on Blackburn Market car park when staff transferred to offices at The Exchange in nearby Ainsworth Street.

Staff who transferred to private firm Capita when it took over many council services, started leaving their desks just before 3pm daily to move their cars from pay and display car parks into free parking spaces nearer to their office.

Council bosses revealed the problem when they were pressed to explain why they had axed the scheme and increased parking charges on the market car park in June.

Ronnie O'Keeffe, president of the Chamber of Trade, told a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen's executive committee: "Scrapping the free parking has had a real knock-on effect for the market traders.

"Blackburn Market used to stay busy until quite late compared to other markets, thanks to the free parking. People knew they could drive in and pop into the markets for free, but that doesn't happen now.

"The traders are badly missing the trade to the point where they are trying to come up with some sort of scheme so they can pay for the last two hours to be free.

"I know council staff were clogging up the car park but imposing parking charges isn't helping the traders at all."

In June, Blackburn's market car park one hour rate went up from 50p to 60p, two hours from £1 to £1.20 and a new standard rate for over six hours of £10 was introduced.

Parking on the market on Saturday for up for four hours rose from £1 to £1.50, although other charges remained unchanged, apart from the end of the 'free after three' parking. Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration, said: "In effect, the staff weren't doing anything wrong because it was free to park there.

"But it wasn't doing trade any good because no one could park there so that is why charges were introduced.

"Reversing them would only create the same problem.

"The reason we are introducing on-street parking fees as well as new car park charges is to stop workers clogging up spaces all day which are meant for shoppers."

On-street parking charges should start in February -- even though the wardens to enforce them will not be on the streets until April, effectively making the charges voluntary for the first two months.

Nobody from Capita was available to comment.