Under-used park and rides could be scrapped

Two under-used park and ride services which cost £1,800 a day to run could be scrapped in Preston and Lancaster.

The Walton-le-Dale Park and Ride near Preston and the Caton Road Park and Ride in Lancaster are both at risk of closure, as the number of people using them was below the level needed to cover their costs, Lancashire County Council has said.

The sites currently cost the council about £550,000 a year to operate combined, but regularly see fewer than half of the spaces filled.

The sites were established to encourage more sustainable travel into Preston and Lancaster city centres in a bid to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Parking at both sites is currently free, with income generated through the £2.50 return bus fare.

However, Walton-le-Dale costs about £1,020 a day to operate but is only used by 200 of the needed 550 return customers to cover its costs.

Meanwhile Caton Road costs about £780 a day to operate and is used by 150 return customers, with 400 needed to cover its costs.

The council said that as both sites had about 600 parking spaces each, it meant current park and ride use was "well below capacity, with income from fares falling well short of covering the costs for these services".

Proposals to consult on the potential closure of both sites as well as possible alternatives are set to be considered by the council's cabinet next week.

Any future decision about the Caton Road site would also take account of the county council's wider work to support the Eden Project in developing its transport offer, the council said.

County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: "I want to be clear that no decision has been made to close either park and ride.

"Both sites require significant ongoing public subsidy, so we need to consider whether this represents the best use of public money, while also looking carefully at what any changes could mean for people who rely on the services."

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