Parking for £1 discount deal for festive shoppers in Blackpool

It is hoped the discounted deal, along with a programme of entertainment, will entice residents and visitors to spend their money in the resort’s shops during the festive season.

Cheap bus and tram tickets are also being offered to tempt shoppers onto public transport as a means of getting into town while roadworks are in place. But town hall chiefs have ditched last year’s free parking offer.

People will be able to park for up to three hours on Central, East Topping Street and West Street car parks for £1 during December.

In addition, Blackpool Transport will offer £1 tickets to use trams and buses after 5.30pm on the three late night shopping Thursdays (December 6, 13 and 20) and all day every Sunday during December.

Coun Mark Smith, Blackpool’s cabinet member for business and economic development, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce discounted car parking throughout the month of December on three of our main town centre car parks.

“It means people will be able to park for three hours for just £1. We hope that will encourage our own residents to shop in their own town centre this Christmas and will also provide an attractive deal for visitors coming from out-of-town.”

Last year some traders said too much of the free parking got taken up by town centre workers instead of shoppers so it is hoped the discounted offer will stop that.

The scheme is being funded by the council, and the Town Centre BID (Business Improvement District) which last year contributed £25,000.

It will start on Saturday December 1, which is National Small Business Saturday as well as the day of Blackpool’s Christmas Lights Switch-On in St John’s Square, and will run until January 1.

A BID spokesman said: “Blackpool town centre has so much to offer to Christmas shoppers in terms of the mix of independent and national brands, illuminated streets and a vastly-improved range of cafes and restaurants.

“We hope the discounted offer will be a great incentive for people to not just shop in Blackpool this Christmas, but also enjoy some of the rich entertainment that is on offer at our theatres and venues.”

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives on Blackpool Council, said he would have liked free parking introduced again in the run up to Christmas.

He said: “Although £1 to park is a good discount, I would have preferred to see three hours of free parking offered. This would also stop people who work in the town centre taking advantage of the scheme to park all day.

“I welcome the £1 fares being introduced on buses and trams and that is something I have been calling for but I think it should be over the whole Christmas period.”

Jane Cole, managing director of Blackpool Transport, said they were pleased to back the scheme this year.

She said: “We are delighted to be supporting Blackpool town centre by offering customers greatly reduced fares so that they can get in and out of town on key shopping days in the run-up to Christmas and New Year.

“It’s a great benefit to our regular riders, but also a fantastic opportunity for other people to experience how good Blackpool’s public transport offer has become.”

This year sees a number of Christmas productions in and around the town centre including the Beauty & The Beast pantomime at the Grand Theatre, The Wizard Of Oz at the Opera House, Santa’s Sleigh at the Pavilion Theatre in the Winter Gardens; and Aladdin at The Blackpool Tower Circus.

In addition there is a wide range of Christmas events at venues such as Viva.

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