Blackpool: Parking charges to go up at seaside resort

Ticket prices will increase along the Promenade and in parts of South Shore

Visitors to a seaside resort will have to pay more to park near to some of its most popular destinations.

Rates will be increased at two multi-storey car parks in Blackpool, as well as along the Promenade and in parts of South Shore.

Town centre parking will cost £4.50, up from £3.50, with eight-hour stays increasing from £11 to £12.

Blackpool Council said it would "invest in improved parking" but opposition figures criticised the changes.

Increased charges on the Promenade, Watson Road and Bond Street will see the price for two hours going up to £3 from £2.50.

'High demand'

The council said it had decided not to introduce whole-scale increase, but to focus on areas of high demand.

The prices will bring the Talbot Road and West Street multi-storey car parks in line with the charges set out for the new 1,306-space multi-storey car park, which is due to open on Central Drive by Easter.

Drivers parking in the Talbot Road multi-storey car park will face ticket price increases

A council report said the increases would "offset some of the significant costs incurred for the continued upgrade of the parking infrastructure".

It added: "Any wide-scale increases at this point are more likely to result in a downturn in patronage and could harm town centre trading and tourism recovery plans."

A Conservative opposition councillor warned the increases would be bad news for some businesses.

Councillor Diane Mitchell, who represents Waterloo ward, said: "This is a poor decision by the Labour-run council to increase charges yet again.

"Businesses in the Bond Street and Waterloo Road area are already struggling with difficulties around parking.

"This will only make the situation worse and drive business away from our brilliant local businesses, B&Bs and shops."

Blackpool receives about 20 million visitors a year.