Measures taken to help new Blackpool car park open sooner

The council, which will operate the new car park being built as part of the £32m first phase of the £300m Blackpool Central leisure development, wants the facility to be up and running in time for summer visitors next year.

A report says this will be achieved by using the same contractor (Ballast Nedam) to fit out the car park following its construction.

It says: "This proposal is intended to ensure that the new multi-storey car park is completed and operational at the same time the car park is handed over by the developer to the council in its capacity as tenant and operator."

The report to a meeting of the council's executive says this means the car park "can be open for use by the public prior to the summer holiday period".

It adds this will help "to mitigate against a shortfall of parking during the main visitor holiday period and maximise the council’s ability to derive a sourceof revenue during this period which may otherwise be lost."

Central Car Park will stay open during construction of the multi-storey, but with 250 parking spaces taken away from its current 900 total. Road diversions are also in place.

The new seven-storey car park will have 1,306 spaces including 25 electric car charging points. It will also be fitted with CCTV, an office and bicycle storage.

The investment is necessary to free up land on the site for further phases of development which include three indoor theme attractions including a flying theatre.