IT is hoped a new car park will help tackle a shortage of spaces around a busy health centre and sports complex.
Blackpool Council is proposing to provide 200 new parking spaces on land at Stanley Park following the demolition last year of former greenhouses and gardeners’ cottages.
The scheme, which is being partly funded by Blackpool Primary Care Trust, will see 50 spaces allocated to workers based at the Whitegate Drive Health Centre.
It is hoped this will free up more room on the site for patient parking.
Meanwhile, more spaces will be provided for users of Blackpool Sports Centre which currently only has room for 160 vehicles prompting overflow parking on nearby streets during busy times.
Coun Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and culture, said: “The current car park fills up so quickly at busy times and we find people park on the neighbouring residential streets.
“I’m sure this will provide a big relief to those residents as well as making it easier for people to enjoy the facilities at the sports centre and park.
“This car park will also be used by NHS staff working at Whitegate Drive Health Centre.
“We know the parking problems patients and local residents have experienced and this should be the perfect solution for everyone.”
There will be 360 spaces,
Patients have complained they are forced to park in neighbouring streets because there is not enough parking at the health centre, but residents-only restrictions have led to some motorists being given parking tickets.
Barry Stoll, of Marton, who is taking his case to a tribunal, said he did not believe the proposed new car park would ease the situation.
He said: “Putting a car park this far away is not going to solve the problem because I don’t believe health workers will use it.
“Common sense needs to prevail to allow people to park on the side streets.”
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