BURNLEY'S Town Hall car park may be handed over to shoppers and other visitors.

The facility is now exclusively used by council staff who are charged a parking fee.

But the change could be made as part of a proposed increase in car parking charges aimed at bringing in an extra £40,000 annually.

Councillors at Thursday's meeting of the planning and environment committee will be asked to allow officers to hold discussions with relevant groups about the future of the car park. A report to the committee says that in order to maintain a vibrant town centre it is essential to attract shoppers and provide adequate car parking at favourable charges.

The Town Hall, or Victoria car park as it is properly known, is in a prime location to serve the existing town centre and the new development and if re-designated would be a considerable asset to the council.

Proposed increases in charges vary from car park to car park.

At St Peter's, day-long parkers will face a 30.7 per cent increase from £1.30 to £1.70, with five-day quarterly tickets up from £63 to £76 and six-day quarterly tickets from £68 to £81.

It will cost 70p (from 60p) for stays of up to two hours and parking between two to four hours will also increase by 10 pence. In general, commuter charges will increase from £1.40 a visit to £1.60.

Standish Street, which was a bargain 30p for two hours, will now be 40p for one hour, in line with other shopper car parks and 70p 1-2 hours, 90p 2-4 hours and £3 for over four hours. On Saturdays, the charge will be 80p a visit. No change is proposed for the market and Brown Street car parks.

A full list of changes in fees and car park designations will go before Thursday's meeting for approval.

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