BLACKPOOL still offers the cheapest car parking for high street shoppers despite a sharp rise in tariffs.
Car owners have felt the pinch this week as many local councils around the country announced a rise in car park charges.
The Gazette reported yesterday how shoppers and local business owners have been angered by Blackpool Council who have raised t
heir tariff by as much as 66 percent on some on-street parking meters. But in fact, the resort is still the cheapest place to park in the region for shoppers who want access to high street stores.
The Talbot Road multi-storey car park will set shoppers back £2 for four hours parking compared with £3 for the same time at the bus station in Preston, £4.50 to park in a Manchester city centre NCP and £3.20 to park at Lancaster's St Nicholas' arcade.
For shoppers visiting smaller town centres, Wyre offers even cheaper rates with shoppers being able to park for four hours in Poulton or Cleveleys for just £1.60.
John Holt, manager at Houndshill shopping centre said: "Parking is always an unpopular issue but unfortunately people do have to pay for it.
"I am pleased to hear Blackpool has one of the most reasonable parking rates for shoppers.
"Eventually NCP will be taking over the Hounds Hill Car Park so we will be working to ensure the rates are shopper friendly so people have enough time to shop and eat.
"Keeping prices reasonable does help us compete with out of town shopping centres and keeps people shopping locally."
Shoppers who only want to park in a town centre for a short while however fare best in Wigan where parking for one hour costs just 80p. Lancaster follows with a 90p charge for 60 minutes but Blackpool and Preston both charge £1.
Blackpool is also considerably cheaper than neighbouring towns for drivers who want to leave their car for 24 hours. Bank Street near Blackpool North station offers an overnight rate of just £3.30 closely followed by Preston bus station which charges £4 for 24 hours.
Competition runs high among neighbouring towns in the North West who compete to bring shoppers in.
A spokeswoman for Fylde council said: "Off-street car parking charges in Fylde are voted on each year by Fylde councillors who, using local information from neighbouring areas, will decide whether or not to increase charges or to keep them the same.
A spokesman for Preston Council added: "We look at rates of competitor car parks within the city centre and set our charges according to what we feel is appropriate."
