THE number of people paying to use Bournemouth Council’s central car parks is slowly declining during the recession.

The number of tickets purchased has fallen from 2,018,293 to 1,970,168, over the last five financial years. There were drops in four of those years.

The Daily Echo asked for the figures using the Freedom of Information Act and they cover 24 car parks in the town centre and on its edge.

Last year Bournemouth froze most car parking prices and brought in special shopping offers like £1 for two hours at 18 car parks.

It is also planning free parking before Christmas on Thursday evenings and on Sundays and has introduced the Ringo payment-by-phone system.

Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade, said: “Parking is going down everywhere.

“But there’s no other town doing what we are doing. I am adamant we are going in the right direction.”

He said many shoppers might not know how “reasonably priced” Bournemouth’s car parks are.

Deputy leader Cllr John Beesley said the council had brought in special offers and was looking at signposting. He also said the number of company car parking permits had been hit by the recession.

Elaine Smith, the deputy parking services manager, wrote in her reply to the request for information: “These are difficult financial times for high streets with the recession, high fuel prices, public transport accessibility and changing shopping habits.

“There is no evidence that parking charges alone influence peoples shopping choice.”

She pointed out that four hours parking in Bournemouth costs £3.50. However Brighton costs £6.25, Portsmouth costs £4.46, Southampton costs £4.20, and Poole costs £3.60, she said.