Down in Bluebell Way, east of Preston in Lancashire lies a secret Park and Ride. No-one knew why it was there or what it was for. It seems someone had a good idea and then there it was. If only other plans around Preston could be executed so well.
To build a park and ride with no-one wanting to park there and bus services to no-where in particular isn’t the best example of planning. Now Lancashire County Council are looking to sell it and are looking for ideas of where to build another one.
Is Preston congested? Probably at rush hour it is, but the rest of the time there is no problem at all. If Tithebarn is built will this create more traffic? Yes, but most people travelling to the type of stores being proposed aren’t going to be keen to take a long bus ride, if they want to take one at all.
Park and Ride doesn’t appeal unless its very efficient, secure, not too crowded and if the city is unfamiliar. That means the Preston Park and Ride to serve the north, east and more distant south, if it’s necessary, should be on Moor Park as it has easy motorway access and isn’t too far out of the centre. It could also serve Deepdale Retail Centre and be used for the football. Using Moor Park might be controversial but it depends on how big the car park is and whether the council can sweeten this by smartening up the park and providing facilities that might appeal to people who are using the car park.