TRADERS who launched their own Christmas free parking scheme in Blackburn town centre have said more needs to be done to encourage shoppers to return to the town centre.

In October, it was revealed Blackburn with Darwen council would not be repeating last year’s festive free parking offer, claiming the costs were too high.

So shop owners and bosses at the Chamber of Trade, devised a scheme which meant customers’ parking is refunded out of their profits.

Now, John and Anne Hall, of Portfolio cards and crafts shop in Simmons Street, who participate in the scheme have said that the council’s poor efforts at improving car parking in the town is losing them business.

Mrs Hall said: “We joined this scheme because the parking had been made so difficult that it was discouraging people from coming into town.

“But this scheme is only a little pinprick in a permanent problem faced by traders. We need to do as much as possible to attract customers into town.”

She stated that the scheme had improved business slightly but urged council bosses to look at the costs and locations of parking in the centre.

“We need to encourage more custom,” she said. “We have hardly any new customers because there is just no footfall so we have to rely on our old customers.

“The council offer free parking in the college car parks off Montague Street but that is just too far. We need parking to be improved nearer to the shops.”

As part of the scheme, anyone spending more than £20 will get up to two hours’ of parking fees refunded.

Marian Jennings, who travels into the town centre from Darwen regularly, slammed the council for its “diabolical parking facilities”.

The 72-year-old, who is disabled, said: “If I want to secure a car parking space then I have to set off really early and even then when I get one I’m limited to how long I can stay.

“This new scheme by the shop owners is great but parking needs to be improved drastically.”

No-one from Blackburn council was available to comment at the weekend.

However, previously council bosses have said at the weekend shoppers could park for free in all on-street parking bays on Saturdays from 3pm, until January 4.

They could also park for free on Jubilee House car park during the week and at weekends, at college car parks every weekend, Starkie Street car park on Saturdays and Sundays, and Byrom Street on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of January.