Barnoldswick’s largest public car park will not be regulated by short-stay disc parking.

Earlier this year, members of the West Craven Area Committee asked that a consultation exercise be carried out with users of the Wellhouse Road car park.

The study was requested because councillors were considering whether or not to reintroduce disc parking on the 91-space car park in the town centre.

The survey was carried out on various working days in March and April and visits were made to the car park in the morning, at lunchtime and at the end of the working day.

Results of the survey revealed that a small number of users - mainly town centre workers - parked for the whole day.

However, it was determined that they were not taking away parking spaces to the detriment of town centre shoppers and other visitors to the town.

The usage study concluded that due to a high turnover of traffic and general satisfaction with the current arrangements, short-stay disc parking should not be introduced.

Councillors of the West Craven Area committee agreed with the recommendation.

“We don’t need to regulate short-stay car parking,” said committee chairman, Coun David Whipp. “We had a look at it and the evidence is that there are spaces people can, generally, use all the time.

“We should celebrate the fact that we have free short- and long-stay parking for visitors to Barnoldswick.”

He also said that Walmsgate car park would be bringing further car parking spaces into the town centre.

“It was previously not advertised as a town centre car park, but directional signs will be put up to lead people to it,” said Coun Whipp. “We’ve been fighting a battle to bring it up to the same standard as other car parks in the town centre.”

That “battle” included securing approximately £9,000 in funding from Pendle Council to resurface, line and install lighting in the car park.

The West Craven Area Committee invested another £1,500 from its capital programme for directional signage to the car park.