Request for free parking in Blackpool town centre

But Blackpool Council says it is reluctant to remove charges at a time when some visitors are returning to the resort.

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives on the council, has called for free parking to be considered to encourage people to travel by car and reduce pressure on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak.

He said: "The current crisis has decimated our town centre and retail stores which will be desperate to start trading again when the time is right.

"That means hundreds of staff returning to work and people starting to shop in Blackpool again.

"The Government clearly recognises the importance of providing free parking in town centres.

"Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said he is in talks with local authorities about making it easier for motorists to park near their workplace to help minimise crowding on trains and buses.

"As more people return to work and shoppers go back to the town centre our current limited bus service will be become over crowded and difficult to maintain social distancing.

"The Government has told workers to drive, cycle or walk to work if they possibly can because social distancing is only possible on public transport if passenger numbers are reduced by 90 per cent."

Council leader Coun Simon Blackburn told a recent virtual meeting of the council that free parking was regularly put forward as a solution to Blackpool's problems but he was "not sure it was that simple."

In a further response following the meeting, he said: “As part of our planning for a return to normality, whenever that may come, we will of course look at car parking charges.

"However, as we see large numbers of visitors already starting to come to Blackpool, I think most council tax payers would want those visitors to be paying, rather than being subsidised by those of us who live and work here.”