Free parking boost to Chorley trade (From This Is Lancashire)

Free parking boost to Chorley trade

8:00am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

Free car parking every Saturday afternoon is to be introduced in Chorley from next month.

The new measures, which will come into force on October 1, are intended to boost the local economy.

It’s the first time free parking has been offered in the town centre on a Saturday afternoon and the trial will run until the end of January.

Parking for one hour on short stay car parks will also be cut by 20p.

The three-hour maximum stay on all short stay car parks will be extended to four hours and charging periods for the day will end at 5pm rather than 6pm.

Parking will remain free on all car parks on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Council leader Coun Alistair Bradley said: “We’ve made a commitment that we want to take immediate action to improve the local economy and this is just one thing we’ll be trialling to get more people coming into Chorley.

“We’ve listened to traders and shoppers and their view is that free parking will provide a greater incentive for people to visit Chorley town centre rather than going to neighbouring towns or cities.

“We’re very much about making things happen so we’ve decided to give it a go and see what impact it has rather than waiting any longer and leaving businesses to struggle during some of the most difficult economic times for a generation.”

The parking tariff trial will be clearly advertised within the car parks.