Pandemic hits Blackpool's parking revenue

A report says from April to September this year, revenue from car parks fell by around £1.1m to £1.9m, compared to just over £3m for the same period last year.

Income from on-street parking was down by 22 per cent to £414,522 in 2020, from £531,045 in 2019, for the same time.

The report, to the tourism and economic development committee, says: “The current year-to-date performance has clearly been adversely affected by the pandemic, first by the national lockdown over April, May and part of June, and latterly by the introduction of Tier three restrictions which has decimated visitor numbers over the crucial October half-term period.”

It adds when the first lockdown began in March, the impact was “immediate” with 40,000 fewer people using car parks in that month alone.

Key workers were allowed to park for free in the town centre until restrictions were lifted in June and July with car park use increasing as visitors returned to the resort.

But “the introduction of Tier three restrictions in October had an immediate and very substantial negative impact on visitor numbers, with a corresponding

down turn in car park usage.”

However the council is hoping to be reimbursed for some of its lost parking revenue through the Government’s Compensation Scheme for Sales, Fees and Charges.

The scheme means local authorities must absorb losses up to five per cent of their planned 2020/21 income, with government compensating them for 75p in every pound of relevant loss thereafter.

The council’s first claim for the period April 2020 to July 2020, submitted on the September 30, includes an element for revenue lost from parking.

Patronage and income was also slightly down when comparing the financial years of 2018/19 with 2019/20.

Car park income was down five per cent to just over £5m from £5.3m, while income from on-street parking was down four per cent to £835,567.

This was partly affected by extended closures at Seasiders Ways and Foxhall Village car parks.

Blackpool Council operates more than 5,000 parking spaces in the town including 900 on-street bays and 24 car parks.

A Paybyphone app was used for more than 75,000 transactions in the first four months since it was launched in May.

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