SO Burnley Council are to consider introducing charges to park in front of Towneley Hall to ease congestion, deter long-term parking and save money on park rangers.

Those who use the park regularly will be aware that it is rare that all the spaces in front of the hall are occupied and that the vast majority of parking is for an hour or so while people walk round the woods, feed the ducks, teach their children to ride bikes, etc.

It is only at peak times at weekends that signs are put up to divert car users to the other car parks and only on rare occasions, normally when an event is on, that a ranger is stationed to divert traffic.

Simon Goff of the council claims that these few hours of ranger time cost the council £10,000 per year. Much as we appreciate the work and commitment of the rangers, we cannot accept that they should be on a higher hourly rate than the Prime Minister!

If the proposals to charge are genuinely to ease congestion, we would expect them only to apply at peak times (weekend afternoons?) and that parking for the first 90 minutes will be free.

If the proposals are for charging at other times or for short-stay parking, then we will know that this is a cynical attempt to make money out of those that love Towneley, especially those less mobile but not disabled for whom the other car parks are bit far.

We await the details proposals with interest.

IAN GILBRAITH (Secretary, Towneley for the People), Manchester Road, Burnley.

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