THE suggestion for parking charges for a number of Darwen centre sites came not from Labour councillors, nor from the Regeneration portfolio, but from town-centre traders themselves.

The Council's response has been widespread consultation with all Darwen town-centre traders to have all the facts on the table, not in a mood of election-induced hysteria.

The logic behind the request was that parking, which ought to be for shoppers, was being used by people working in or close to Darwen town centre, even when their employers provided them with parking facilities.

There is even a suggestion that Manchester-bound commuters use these spaces rather than park near to the railway station.

Shoppers are denied spaces, not just for a couple of hours but all day and, as a result, probably drive on elsewhere or don't come to Darwen in the first place.

This situation is likely to get worse in the coming months as more than 100 town-centre jobs are promised with the refurbishment of the old Technical School site.

We are currently measuring the extent of the problem since Darwen town centre has a limited parking capacity.

Though the council can prevent motorists from parking in particular places, without us making specific orders or restrictions, they can park wherever they choose In the case of Darwen Market car park, motorists can park there for free for as long as they like.

It is suggested, it should be for the benefit of Market shoppers whose custom benefits stallholders and other adjacent traders.

Small charges of about 20p per hour for the first three hours, £1 per hour for the next two hours and then a £4 or more charge for five hours or more, it is argued, would not deter shoppers, but discourage the all-day parkers.

This principle is widely accepted elsewhere, but we want confirmation from Darwen town centre businesses of their commitment to it and a view on the level of charges if any are introduced.

Only when all this information is collected will any proposals be put forward and only if they have widespread support.

COUN ASHLEY WHALLEY, Executive member for Regeneration, Blackburn with Darwen Council.