Fears over plan to charge for St Annes and Fairhaven promenade parking

Already, the St Annes Enterprise Partnership (STEP) has hit out at the idea, currently put out to consultation by highways authority Lancashire County Council, with STEP chairman Colin Ballard predicting it would have a detrimental effect on St Annes trade.

“If we take away the free roadside parking, I really fear visitors will go elsewhere,” he said.

Residents of streets off the promenade are also concerned at the effect such a measure – with payments set to apply from 8am to 6pm – would have on their areas.

Philip Harrison of Eddington Road, Fairhaven, said: “Visitor parking over the summer in our area has already been fraught and tightly packed, this intervention will simply make life much more tricky for local residents.”

B&B owner Alison Levi, of Derbe Road, St Annes, said: “Many of the users of promenade parking are local residents who live just a little too far away to walk. These proposed payments will unfairly impact on them taking their daily exercise.

“Other users of the promenade parking are from further distances than local. We are after all a wonderful attraction as a tourist destination.

“To impose charges at a time when tourism is being impacted by falling numbers due to not least Covid 19 but other economic factors is utterly irresponsible. I would urge your readers to send in their objections to LCC.”

John Edwards of King Edward Avenue said: “The plans as presented have not been thought through in a logical manner.”

Kevin Eastham, a former Fylde mayor who lives at Fairhaven, said: “Fairhaven is an ideal location to `park and forget` for healthy walking without having to time yourself getting back to the car. None of us like to pay if we don’t have to, so the intrusion into residential streets will become an unnecessary nuisance.”

Many have turned to Fylde MP Mark Menzies for help and he is urging as residents concerned at the proposals to be sure to contribute to the consultation before the closiing date of Thursday, November 19.

Mr Menzies said: “A lot of residents have been in touch with me concerned that these proposals will simply move traffic from the Promenade to the side roads – and I fully understand their worries.

“There is no provision within these proposals to prevent day trippers parking outside residential homes, and visitors will clearly look nearby to park for free.

“I’ve sent all of the concerns registered with me to Lancashire County Council – it is vital as many people as possible contact them in writing to ensure they get a true sense of the level of objection before the deadline on November 19.”

Peter Bell, regulation and enforcement manager for Lancashire County Council, said of the proposals: “This is intended to help better manage parking by encouraging visitors to consider the best option for the length of their intended stay in conjunction with the off-street car parks provided by Fylde Borough Council.

“The proposals include a restriction on overnight parking to cars only in response to ongoing nuisance and hygiene issues caused by long term parking of campervans.

“There is also a proposal to introduce some bays for buses and coaches near Fairhaven Lake to help free-up more space for cars on Fylde Council car parks.

“The new orders also clarify arrangements with existing on-street parking in the area to help with future enforcement.”

Representations should be made in writing to: The Director of Corporate Services, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ or by e-mail to [email protected].

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