Just when you thought Blackpool was starting to attract more people to the resort (albeit through the medium of a sunken ship) council leaders introduce plans to minimise the attraction.
From The Gazette
SHOPPERS and tourists have joined calls for Blackpool Council to rethink controversial hikes in parking charges.
Prices have gone up by as much as 66 per cent at some town centre locations.
A four-hour stay on the council-run Central Car Park has rocketed from £4.40 to £7.
Weekend shoppers in Blackpool town centre were livid at the increases, with "ridiculous", "idiotic" and "greedy" among the angry comments directed at council bosses.
Thelma Stables, 62, a town centre worker from Layton, who was out shopping with her grandchildren, said: "It's ridiculous.
"Blackpool needs to get people into town, not push them out, so the council should think about reducing prices.
"I work in the town centre and I see how hard it is for Blackpool business."
Poulton resident Paul Hindle said he preferred the longer journey to Preston because of the cost of parking.
The 50-year-old said: "I think Blackpool should introduce a park-and-ride system.
"Perhaps from near the football ground, creating a car park there and perhaps killing two birds with one stone.
"Parking is the reason we go to Preston instead."
Visitor Sue Marsden, 45, from Cleckheaton in Yorkshire, was visiting the resort to see a play at the Grand Theatre and therefore needed all-day parking.
"Can you believe it cost me £12 to park?," she said.
"I've never had to pay £12 to park anywhere – it's unbelievable.
"People will simply stop coming to Blackpool."
And Brett Moorhouse from South Shore was another advocate of nearby Preston, saying he hoped the council would get the message or risk losing business to their rivals.
"Why not go to Preston?" he said.
"You can use the park and ride which is much easier."
Council chiefs have defended the rises stating it was the first time since 2006 prices had gone up while parking tariffs were "fair and similar" to what other towns charge
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