PRESTON Borough Council has had to U-turn its policy of giving free parking passes to charities because it's costing them thousands of pounds in lost revenue.

So far this year, they have given passes to several Preston voluntary organisations including the Samaritans and Age Concern.

The passes allow volunteers to use one of the bus station's multi-storey car park spaces free of charge.

But after a flood of requests from other organisations all keen to take advantage of the passes, the council put the brakes on the scheme. At a committee meeting last week they agreed any further applications would be refused as each pass was costing the council a potential £612 a year in lost income.

The most recent group to apply, International Aid Services which runs a charity shop in Friargate, was denied a pass this week, as was Drugline earlier in the year.

Council leader David Borrow said: "We have provided parking for some organisations but each time we do it costs us so there is only a limited number we can give out.

"The general thrust of our policy is that if we are assisting voluntary organisations, we do it though grants rather than car parking for their staff."

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