Fury at plan to change Blackpool parking scheme

CHANGES could be made to Blackpool's residents-only parking schemes to allow visitors to leave their cars in the restricted zones for up to an hour.
Thousands of letters have been sent out as part of a consultation process lasting until October.

It would mean tradespeople could park for an hour while working at a property in a residents' parking zone. Some areas already have this option, but now all neighbourhoods involved in the scheme are being contacted for their views.

There have been protests after workers have been given parking fines while attending call-outs although trades people can apply for a special pass.

But the proposals have angered some people who say it is not fair for them to have to pay for a residents permit while other people could park for free for up to 60 minutes at a time.

People living in Burwood Drive, near to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, fear patients will clog up their road if free short- stay parking is introduced.

Park ward councillor Peter Collins said: "It is a congested road and there are genuine problems there with regard to parking. I am arranging to meet with some of the residents and will take the issues forward on their behalf."

Householders living in the Revoe area say it is unfair for residents to have to pay up to £20 annually – £10 for their own pass and £10 for a visitors pass if they want one – while others could park for free.

Ward councillor Doreen Holt said: "The feedback I'm getting is that why should residents have to pay to park while others get it for free. Plus they don't think there are enough traffic wardens to monitor it properly, so the residents-only scheme would be abused.

"But the problem is that if you do have a birthday or family gathering, and you have family who all have cars, you only have one visitors' pass. My advice to people is that they should make sure they respond to this survey with their views."

Coun Ian Fowler, deputy leader of Blackpool Council and cabinet member with responsibility for parking, said everyone's views would be taken into account.

He said: "The council is very keen to ask people what would be best for them and this latest letter is an indication of that process taking place in respect of residential parking. If there is support for this proposal then we will take people's views into account when considering future changes to residents' parking zones."

There are currently 23 residents-only parking schemes in Blackpool covering the following areas: Austin Grove, Bryan Road, Bennett Avenue/Montreal Avenue, Blenheim Avenue, Burwood Drive, Crestway, Eaves Street, Exchange Street, Fleet Street/Westwell Grove, Garden Terrace, George Street, Granville Road, Grenfell Avenue, Ibbison Court/Kent Road, Lakeway, Lytham Road/Central Drive, Morston Avenue/Alston Road, Palatine Road, Raikes Parade/Leamington Road, Ripon Road, Riversway, Seafield Road, and Watson Road.

'Whim' costs taxpayer 46,000 pounds

BLACKPOOL Council faces a £46,000 bill to meet the cost of opposing a bid to give Bispham gala field town green status, it has been revealed.

Following a hearing in April, it was decided there was not enough evidence to prove the land had been used continuously for sport and leisure for at least 20 years.

That meant the application by the Ley Farm Friends failed.

The council had objected because it feared the move would interfere with its management of organised events on the land such as the annual gala.

But it has emerged that opposing the bid has cost the taxpayer £46,000.

Now the ward councillor and portfolio holder for tourism and regeneration, Coun Maxine Callow, has hit out at the campaigners – claiming their application has been a waste of time and money.

She said: "A whim of one woman and 10 other people has cost Blackpool Council £46,000.

"I'm not against people doing this, but you should have to collect a lot of signatures before an application can go ahead.

"That £46,000 could have been better spent on filling in pot holes, or on care homes, or on vulnerable people or it could have paid for a teacher for two years.

"There was a vote last year at full council that said this area must be kept green and it's in the town plan so there was no need to make this application."

But Beverley Moy (pictured), of the Leys Farm Friends, said 60 people, not just 10, had signed the application.

If it had succeeded it could have prevented supermarket chain Asda from going ahead with a building project on a strip of land adjacent to Warren Drive.

She said: "There were 60 people who filled in a witness statement and that surely is what democracy is about.

"The amount of open space we have in Blackpool is very limited.

"There is only one town in Britain with less open space, which is Plymouth.

"So of course it is worth fighting for these areas of Blackpool."

Mrs Moy added that she was not intending to make any further applications for town green status.

Blackpool Council's legal department has confirmed the cost of defending the application had so far cost £45,000 with another £1,000 expected to be spent on finalising the matter.

The Blackpool Town Hall hearing was held in front of Rhodri Price Lewis, QC, but Blackpool Council had to call on Stockport Council to ratify his recommendations.

Blackpool Council worker charged over alleged fraud

A Blackpool Council worker has been charged over allegations she stole more than £600,000 from the council.

Cathryn Wiles, 45, faces 25 allegations of theft relating to benefit payments totalling £617,000.

The move follows an investigation into “ghost” payments that were made to foster families who, it is claimed, did not exist.

Wiles, of North Drive, Cleveleys, is currently on bail after being charged by Blackpool police.

Wiles is due in court on Friday.