ANGRY traders are demanding a meeting with council bosses after claiming their plea for a U-turn on pay-and-display charges fell on deaf ears.

Traders across Blackburn town centre fear the increases will lead to more people travelling to out-of-town shopping complexes where parking is free.

Two hours on Blackburn's long stay car parks will rise from 80p to £1, while a six-hour stay will cost an extra 50p, rising to £3.50.

This includes car parks in Alma Street, Simmons Street, Montague Street, Starkie Street, Mill Lane, Paradise Lane, Canterbury Street and St Paul's Street.

Daytime charges on Blackburn's short-stay car parks rise from 60p to 70p for one hour; £1.20 to £1.30 for two hours and £1.80 to £2.00 for up to three hours.

Blackburn's rooftop market car park is also affected, with one hour going up from 50p to 60p, two hours from £1 to £1.20 and a new standard rate for over six hours of £10.

Car parks close to Blackburn College are due to close because they are in the path of the Barbara Castle Way extension, which is the final link in the town centre orbital route.

A car park has been created near Blackburn fire station to compensate.

Ronnie O'Keeffe, president of Blackburn Chamber of Trade, said: "People wouldn't mind paying extra if the car parks were secure, but some of the ones with the new prices don't even have CCTV.

"The car parks are also being shoved further out of the town centre.

"People don't want to have to park a long way from the town centre, but that is what they are having to do because of the changes to where the car parks are.

"As a result, it means shoppers using our long stay car parks will have to walk further into Blackburn town centre than they would if they used a long stay car park in Preston and walked into their town centre.

"We have written to the council requesting a meeting in the hope that this can be overturned.

"As I have said, this is like another nail in the coffin for us."

The council said it decided to increase parking charges in line with inflation. It was able to hold prices last year and this will be the first increase in two years.

When she heard about the rise, Eileen Hargreaves, secretary of Market Traders Federation, said: "Parking is a very important issue to us and the traders will go berserk when they hear about the increases.

"We keep being told we have a bright future but we need the help of the local authority for the here and now."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I don't think it is another nail in the coffin at all.

"People appreciate what is on offer in Blackburn and the rises are, overall, in line with inflation.

"I am, of course, always happy to meet the Chamber of Trade."