CHARGES on Blackburn’s flagship multistorey car park are to be dropped, council bosses have announced.

It comes after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the £6.5million car park was being shunned by shoppers because it was up to 50 per cent more expensive than the nearby facility at the Mall.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council has reduced its rates, making it on a par with the shopping centre for short-stay parking and cheaper for longer stays.

Up to eight hours’ parking will cost £3 and over eight hours £5 during the week, considerably less than the Mall, which charges £5 for six hours and £8 for over six hours.

Meanwhile, shoppers will also be able to park for free on the market rooftop car park on Saturdays after 3pm.

The changes will come into force in November.

Bosses admitted many shoppers were not even aware of the new 550-space Feilden Street car park.

It opened five months ago, but just 34 cars were counted recently on a Friday lunchtime.

Regeneration chief Dave Harling said: “Feilden Street multistorey car park is a new high-standard facility in the town centre that many drivers do not know about yet.

"We hope that these changes will put it on the map and encourage even more users.”

Coun Harling, who took over the post last month when Labour regained control of the town hall, said the changes to the market car park rates would help traders through the disruption created by the planned move to the shopping centre.

He said: “We are trying to help the market traders through this difficult time as much as possible.

"It is hoped that this will act as an incentive for shoppers and encourage them to continue to support their local market.”