Comment

Representation ID: 2152

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

As part of this representation we have reviewed Blackpool's Local Plan Making as a similar seaside town and comparable seaside resort. As part of the Blackpool Core Strategy Consultation and examination in public, the seafront businesses made succinct clear representation regarding the impact of traffic and parking on the sustainability and future growth of Blackpool as a tourist resort and destination of choice.
The [Blackpool] Seafront business representation noted that the major attractions that make Blackpool a tourist destination rely on easy access to car parking and good access from car parks to the attractions by foot and public transport.
The Seafront businesses further noted that this matter is often not well understood by councils, who generally consider that it is not necessary to plan car parking for peak periods only. In most industries, for example planning the levels of parking for shopping areas based only on the Christmas peak, this a reasonable approach but for the businesses which are seasonal and need to meet visitor targets to survive (or at least to continue at the present scale), this approach can have far reaching consequences.