A WEBSITE that calls for the scrapping of parking charges at key times in Blackburn centre has been set up by an anonymous man from the town.

Rescueblackburn.co.uk argues that the council's current system of charges is killing business and the appeal of shopping in the town centre.

The simple site invites visitors to leave comments that are later posted for viewing.

The man behind the site, a Blackburn businessman, asked for his name to be withheld but said the site was not intended to be political or controversial but to come up with practical solutions to perceived problems of trading in the town.

"I just felt that there's a lot of people out there that would give genuine good comments that the council could take on board in a sensible way," he said.

"Blackburn town centre struggles to bring people in between 9am and 11.30am and 2pm to closing time."

He said the trend meant that only workers were shopping in the town centre on weekdays and that people didn't come just to window shop.

At long stay car parks charges are £1.20 for up to two hours, rising to £3.50 for over six hours. In short stay car parks fees start at 90p for up to an hour, rising to £7.50 for more than five hours.

He said the council should introduce rates like 20p for half an hour.

Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, hit back at the site.

He said: "The fact that this year will see the construction of a new 500 place multi storey car park, the redevelopment of the shopping centre as well as the completion of the cinema, Sudell Cross, Northgate and Cardwell Place rubbishes their claims that Blackburn is declining.

"The opposite is the case."