Town centre changes in Chorley

VISITORS to Chorley’s Tuesday market and Flat Iron car park will notice some further changes from this week as the market moves from its usual location to the opposite end of the Flat Iron and work begins on the new car park arrangement.

The move of the Tuesday market is part of Chorley Council’s preparation plans for the extension to Market Walk shopping centre and will coincide with the introduction of new parking tariffs on the Flat Iron and across all town centre car parks with new pay and display machines being installed.

This phase of the car park and public realm work is expected to last around two months and will restrict access to the parking area directly in front of Booths although the store will remain open for business with customers able to park on other sections of the Flat Iron as well as being offered free parking on alternative town centre car parks.

During this phase of work the car park will be reconfigured and a new two way entrance and exit close to Booths will be created along with a new trolley bay.

Gary Hall, Chief Executive of Chorley Council, said: “We want the extension of Market Walk to cause as little disruption as possible to existing businesses and visitors so it is important that we reconfigure part of the Flat Iron car park first and introduce new parking tariffs to encourage people to make full-use of all town centre car parks.

“This next stage of the Market Walk preparation work will see some car park spaces on the Flat Iron realigned and a new entrance and exit created to maximise the area and ensure people can continue to access the car park with ease.

“The Tuesday market and surrounding businesses will continue to operate as normal although the market will move temporarily.  Therefore we are urging people to continue to visit and shop in the town centre like they usually do.” 

From 1 May, a two-hour maximum stay limit was introduced on the Flat Iron car park during the enforceable hours of 8am and 5pm for all motorists, including blue badge holders, to increase the turnover on the car park and encourage people to change their parking habits.

“We recognise these ground and building works will affect the number of spaces on the Flat Iron car park so we have changed the car park to a two hour maximum stay to try to free up as many spaces as possible,” added Mr Hall.

“For anyone who wishes to stay longer than two hours, there are plenty of alternative car parks close by and from 15 May we will be introducing more free and cheaper parking on all of our short and long stay car parks.”

People visiting Chorley town centre from Monday 15 May will be able to park on any short stay car park for free for up to one hour or park for up to three hours for just £1 with the exception of the Flat Iron car park. 

Or if visitors wish to stay longer, they can park on any long stay car park for free for up to three hours, for just £1 for up to four hours and all day for £3.50.  Whether people park for free or pay the tariff they will still need to display a ticket in their car.

Parking machines and tariff boards will be updated at all town centre car parks.  A full list of these car parks and more details can also be found at chorley.gov.uk/parking.