Blackpool residents outraged as hotel given permission to expand despite parking woes

The Hampton by Hilton on South Promenade was given the go-ahead for a 74-room extension by the Blackpool Council planning committee last month.

A number of people had objected to the plans, citing inadequate parking in residential streets surrounding the hotel.

But Susan Parker, head of development control at the council, said a £10,000 traffic regulation order, paid for by Create Developments which delivered the hotel, would introduce residents only parking in nearby streets to stop visitors parking there.

This sparked some backlash from residents in other Blackpool streets - Dean Street, Hill Street, Moore Street, Bright Street and Rawcliffe Street - who say they too struggle to park due to tourists parking outside their homes.

Sean Hornby, of Dean Street, said: "We have been petitioning for residents only parking for ages. Since way before the Hilton even applied to expand. We were always told it wasn't possible. Now the Hilton is offering to pay the council £10,000, it's suddenly possible for them. It's like bribery.

"We have 56 coaches driving through Dean Street. There are disabled residents around here who can't even park in front of their homes.

"We have been pleading for two years. The amount of people who come in refuse to pay for the car parks so they drive around the streets looking for the non-residential only streets to park on. You can't put cones out in front of your house because you're not allowed.

"We are having to pay to park in the car parks in town while the tourists are laughing. Even if you have a disabled sign on your window, they don't care."

A petition appealing for parking changes, signed by around 90 residents, was given to Blackpool South MP Scott Benton at the start of the year.

John Blackledge, director of community and environmental services at Blackpool Council, said:

“We are aware that some local residents are frustrated by people parking in their area and have expressed concerns about the extension of the hotel on to a site which in recent years has been used as a temporary car park pending new development.

“Our Highways team will be looking to undertake a survey of the all the streets in the area as well as Dean Street and the residents listed in the petition. The aim will be to gain a better understanding of their use of the highway, parking habits and issues that they might be experiencing.

“This information will help us to identify if there are any potential parking control solutions that could be introduced which also take into consideration factors such as the use, size, layout of the streets and access requirements of the residents.

“In addition, as part of the planning process for the extension of the hotel a £10,000 contribution from the hotel will support a comprehensive review of highway use in and around the development and possibly minor works following the build.”

Scott Benton, MP for Blackpool South, said:

"My office receives probably half a dozen different enquiries from residents across Blackpool in relation to parking on their street every week. I submitted a petition on behalf of residents in January about it and we still haven't received any feedback.

"The concern I have is that the council doesn't have the ability to make dealing with parking requests a priority. We're sending half a dozen enquiries a week and we're not hearing anything back. It's clear to me that the council needs a review of how they are dealing with parking concerns.

"Parking problems in South Shore have been going on for a long time with competing demands from residents and tourists, and we have to try and find a solution."