Preston Bus Station Parking Fees to Increase by 20 Percent

Strategic Insights -

The price of parking at Preston Bus Station's 600-space multi-storey car park is set to rise by 20 percent, with both pay-and-display charges and pre-paid permits affected. The increase, the first in nine years, aims to fully recover the costs of operating the facility. Cabinet member for highways and transport Warren Goldsworthy said the move will bring fees "back into line" with those elsewhere in the city centre while maintaining a competitive pricing structure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The price of parking at Preston Bus Station's multi-storey car park will increase by 20 percent, with pay-and-display charges rising from £1.60 to £1.90 for a two-hour stay and pre-paid permits increasing to £215 quarterly and £800 annually.
  • The new fees will make the bus station car park cheaper than several other multi-storey car parks in the city centre, including the St. George's Shopping Centre and Avenham multi-storey.
  • Despite the increase, up to four hours of bus station parking at the new £3.90 rate is now 40-90 pence more costly than at St. George's and Fishergate, but remains 10 pence cheaper than in the Avenham multi-storey and £1 less than on Hill Street.
  • Any revenue received after running costs have been accounted for will go into "the council's highway budget."
  • The number of parking sessions at the car park during the 2024/2025 financial year was 129,000, generating almost £436,000 in income.
  • The council will not be converting the pay-and-display machines to accept card payments, citing the cost of upgrading the kit.
  • The parking bays reserved for blue badge holders, parents with young children, and electric vehicles being charged while parked will be "tidied-up and formalised".

Statistics:

  • The new price of pay-and-display charges:

+ Up to two hours: £1.90

+ Two to four hours: £3.90

+ Up to 12 hours: £4.80

+ 24 hours: £7.20

  • Quarterly pre-paid permits: £215
  • Annual pre-paid permits: £800
  • Total parking sessions at the car park during the 2024/2025 financial year: 129,000
  • Total income generated from parking during the 2024/2025 financial year: almost £436,000
  • Number of disabled parking spaces: 16 (increasing to 37)
  • Number of parent-and-child bays: 20
  • Number of electric vehicle charging points: 6

Sources:

  • Lancashire County Council's cabinet meeting
  • Local Democracy Reporting Service
  • Lancashire County Council press release