The Problems of Car Parking in Preston

Residents in Avenham are against the building of a new shopping and apartment complex on Avenham car park, according to a local news agent.

Taru Bhakta, co-owner of Dips News on Avenham Lane said there is already a shortage of car-parking spaces for Avenham residents and this will make it worse.

The project planned by Local developer Salya Homes will create over 300 new apartments and 13 shops.

But 600 car parking spaces would be lost – stretching Preston's already clogged parking to the limit.

Mrs Bhakta a long-time resident of the Avenham area said that both business men and shoppers park in the area leaving no spaces left for actual residents.

She said, “People I know, who come in the shop, are really fed up. Often people are having to park far away from their homes.

“Most people around here cannot believe that the council are reducing the number of car-parking spaces when they should be making more; they’re getting their priorities wrong.

“Councillors should be making sure there is ample parking space for us rather than focusing all their attention on new regeneration projects.”

Mrs Bhakta thinks that the problems with parking in the Town Centre could be eased if more effort was put into park and ride schemes.

“If more people used the park and ride then it would reduce congestion and maybe reduce the number of Town Centre visitors who park in residential areas.”

“The problem with it now is the cost of busses. To take the bus from near the park and ride to the Town Centre costs £2.30.”

“It’s no wonder people don’t use public transport. Prices like this make it cheaper to run a car.”

Mrs Bhakta however does not think a congestion charge for Preston would be good for the city.

“Unless they had a special pass for people like me, if I went to pick up my son, as I often do, I would charged. This would be terrible for us and for most people who live around the Town Centre.

“It may also cause me to lose passing trade. If that happened I would lose my usual morning and evening trade.”

In Mrs Bhakta’s experience Preston is not a car friendly place.

“It’s hard to navigate around Preston. I find it difficult when people ask me directions to the Town centre, even though it’s so close.

Despite being against the Avenham development Mrs Bhakta is in favour of new Preston regeneration in principle.

“I think Preston should be made to look as nice as possible and be made up to date.

“Customers often comment on new projects they’ve read about in the LEP. Most things I hear are positive; they are glad that effort is being made to improve their city.

“They have done a lot of improvement already, for instance in the park and on some of the buildings in this area. Regenerations and developments can be good and bad.”