Car parking costs more in Bolton town centre than almost anywhere else in Greater Manchester, town hall has heard.

Bolton Council’s place scrutiny committee meeting heard about the prices as part of a discussion on parking provision and the authority’s contract with NCP.

The committee members heard how parking could be key to encouraging shoppers to come to the town.

Cllr John McHugh, of Westhoughton South, said: “Obviously Bolton faces competition from Bury and also from the Trafford Centre were its free parking and also from the old Reebok.

“So, I think it vital to keep parking charges as low as possible.”

Car parking charges were discussed at a recent council meetingCar parking charges were discussed at a recent council meeting (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr McHugh said he had researched car parking prices at NCP car parks in Bolton town centre which varied from £4.50 to £4.95 for between two- and four-hours slots.

He said this contrasted with council owned car parks in Bury which charged £3, while NPC car parks excluding the centre of Manchester and Salford cost £3.95 for up to 24 hours.

Cllr McHugh said he found that car parking in Stockport town centre cost £3.60 for a four-hour period, while Piccadilly cost £4.45 and Aston-under-Lyne cost £3.45.

He said that the “shopping experience” was key for Bolton town centre and questioned how this could be maintained with parking charges higher than elsewhere.

Cllr McHugh said: “For Bolton it seems to be not significantly higher but when you’re competing with areas that have no parking charges whatsoever it will adversely affect footfall.”

NCP commercial and business director Tristian Arnold had appeared before the meeting and in response said that his team had visited sites and was aware of the disparity in prices.

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He said: “That’s something myself that I will take away and certainly review, especially after this particular meeting.

“And we will change prices so that there is a perceived price perception so obviously there is value for money, which is what we want to try to add.”

Mr Arnold said that at certain sites NCP had reduced tariffs and had seen an increase in volume and revenue.

He said that the company hoped to align this to be “in keeping with Bolton.”