Temporary car park to be retained at Longridge High School as pupil numbers rise

The car park sits at the south side of the school in Preston Road, Longridge. Pic: Blog Preston.

A temporary car park which was constructed while new classrooms were built at Longridge High School is set to be retained.

The 35 space car park sits at the south side of the school in Preston Road, Longridge.

And it will now be retained as pupil numbers at the school are set to rise from 825 to 1,050 in the coming years.

In the design and access statement provided by the school’s agent, Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors, it said the new car park had made a positive impact on parking issues around the site.

It added: “The temporary car park has been formed to accommodate staff parking at the school whilst work has been ongoing on the construction of a new two storey teaching block which is increasing the number of students accommodated at the school from 825 to 1050.

“At the time of the planning application ref. LCC/2023/0023, the main complaints related to lack of parking and increased traffic volume. The temporary car park has been a huge success in reducing on-road parking and the associated congestion at peak times.”

Longridge High School also has a popular sports centre and astroturf football pitch, which are well used out of school hours. The car park has, due to the construction work on the new classrooms, been heavily used during these times as the existing car parks could not be accessed.

The Lancashire County Council application received no objections from highways experts or Ribble Valley Council, although the latter did suggest that some landscaping could be done in time to soften the aesthetic impact of the car park on a more permanent basis.

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