Shoppers shun Chorley Labour Council's £1.6m decked car park. And the mysterious barrier | Chorley Conservative Association Skip to main content
Logo icon
Chorley
Conservatives

Main navigation

  • About Us
  • Where you live
  • Events
  • Get Involved
  • Chip-in
  • News
  • Survey
  • Contact
Logo icon
Chorley
Conservatives

Shoppers shun Chorley Labour Council's £1.6m decked car park. And the mysterious barrier

  • Tweet
Tuesday, 29 January, 2019
Decked car park
Peak shopping Saturday
The mysterious barrier councillors didn't approve
Plans presented to the development control committee
70 more spaces beyond the barrier

Local campaigner and armchair auditor Peter Malpas has been watching how shoppers have been shunning the top floor of the Labour Council's £1.6 million decked car park which was added to the existing surface car park on Friday Street last year.  The car park, on the east side of the railway, opened in November. 

It's important because it was built from taxpayers hard earned money. 

Market days and Saturdays, the upper deck of 117 spaces rarely has more than 10 cars parked

Peter remarks "I've been following how popular the decked car park has been and how it has relieved parking problems on their halved Market Walk shopping centre car park.  And frankly, it's not popular with shoppers. And when I have visited there have been rarely no more than ten vehicles on the upper deck.  And that's a huge waste of taxpayers resources with each of the new 90 extra spaces added across the site costing £17,500 each".

Each extra car parking space added to the Friday Street site has cost taxpayers over £17,500 each

The surface car park is reasonably busy, just as it was before the expensive structure was added during the autumn of last year.  Despite 117 spaces on the upper level, only 90 extra car parking spaces have been created across the whole car park.

The mysterious surface car park barrier not shown to councillors

When councillors approved their own planning application they agreed to plans showing free access across the whole surface car park, both under the decked area and beyond.  But visitors will see that there is a barrier preventing convenient access to another 70 surface spaces on the uncovered area.  Peter Malpas thinks there's a reason, "It's as though Chorley's Labour Council had an afterthought to try to force demand for their decked car park.  But it isn't working."

No lift for the upper deck

The upper deck is also difficult for those with difficulty walking, who would need to use one of two steps.  Though a council report acknowledges that they could use one of the two vehicle ramps.

Shoppers want to park close to the shops

"But as everyone knows", claims Peter, "shoppers visiting by car will always want to park close to the shops. But it's easy spending other peoples money".

Do you agree with Peter's assessment? Please take part in our survey.

And if you like what Peter and his colleagues in Chorley Conservatives are doing, why not make a donation?

  • Articles
  • Local News
  • Opinions

The decked car park - what do you think?

  • Current Chorley's £1.6 million decked car park
  • Local issues
  • National Issues
  • Get involved
  • Your details
  • End
1.1 Is Labour's decked car park a waste of money?
1.2 Should the barrier be removed giving convenient access to another 70 surface spaces?
1.3 Do you drive into town to shop or do business?
1.3 When you visit, which car park do you aim to use?
170 spaces
44 spaces
44 spaces
110 spaces
69 spaces
51 spaces
25 spaces
58 spaces Long Stay; 49 spaces short stay
316 spaces
33 spaces
102 spaces
71 spaces
101 spaces

Let’s stop Labour’s strikes and build a better railway

Thursday, 16 June, 2022

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on building a railway fit for the future.

Register for more news from Peter Malpas and the Conservatives

Stay informed on the latest news.

In which of these ways can you help us?

The information you provide is used in accordance with our Data Collection and Use policy. By clicking this button you agree to your information being used in accordance with that policy.

Show only

  • Articles
  • Local News
  • Media
  • National News
  • Opinions
  • Speeches
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

Chorley Conservative Association

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • 100 Club
  • About Us
  • Becoming a councillor
  • Donate
  • Get a postal vote
  • Get Involved
  • Gov.uk news
  • Join Chorley Conservatives
  • Survey 2022
  • Volunteer Code
  • Volunteer in Chorley
  • Where you live
  • Young Conservatives
Donate nowPromoted by P Goldsworthy on behalf of Chorley Conservatives all of Britannia Buildings, Drumhead Rd, Chorley North Industrial Park, Chorley. PR6 7BX
Copyright 2022 Chorley Conservative Association . All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree