CALLS have been made to restore free parking at a railway station.

Clinical researcher Tanviha Akhtar travels every day from Darwen to her job for Manchester University NHS Trust.

The train line is already an issue for the mum of one, but Mrs Akhtar says the lack of free parking at Darwen station makes it worse.

For a 12-hour stay to cover the commute and time at work the cost is £3 a day.

Mrs Akhtar said: “The car park opposite the station used to be free, and a lot of people would use it.

“Two years ago, that changed, and now it’s empty because people don’t want to pay for parking, when they already pay for trains on top.

“The council are not making any money from this car park and claim that they did put signs up if people had concerns, but they were so small.”

Mrs Akhtar already raised the issue with her local MP Jake Berry, who at the time advised commuters to use the long stay car park next to the Darwen Youth Centre.

But, Mrs Akhtar says this car park is accessed via an alleyway that people may not want to walk down as the evenings get darker.

She said: “It’s not a place that I want to walk after dark, as it’s usually quiet and down an alleyway.

“I think the parking should be free at the railway station car park or Atlas Street because it’s not fair that we have to wait around for trains that hardly show up, only to have to pay to park too.”

MP for Darwen, Jake Berry, said he agreed that the car parks should be free.

He said: “Free parking is vital for Darwen town centre which is why I was so disappointed that the Blackburn with Darwen Council imposed parking charges in our town.

“Despite warnings from local Conservative Councillors, businesses and residents, as well as myself, the Labour Council chiefs at Blackburn Town hall pressed ahead with introducing the charges.

“If it was up to me, all parking would have remained free in Darwen.”

Atlas car park in Darwen is also now pay and display since charges were introduced in 2017.