Latest Blackburn News

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  Exploring the Perks of Car Hire Services in Blackburn
  by preston@easihire.co.uk
  22 November 2023
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  Blackburn Activities
  by wigan@easihire.co.uk
  20 November 2023
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  Car rental options
  by wigan@easihire.co.uk
  17 November 2023

Blackburn News Archives

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Our Van Fleet

Which van is right for me? Check out our useful van guides!

About Blackburn

A city renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit, Blackburn was a centre of textile manufacturing in the UK.  In 2015, Blackburn was named as the best city to live in. The decision came down to key factors such as job market opportunities, wages and the cost of living. Culturally, Blackburn has a lot to offer such as a great nightlife and superb entertainment venues such as King George’s Hall and Blackburn Empire Theatre. Blackburn is also home to two colleges: St Mary’s College and Blackburn College. There is no University in the town but students can benefit from degree-level courses via the East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education.

Blackburn’s employment opportunities within manufacturing is very strong. Around 25% of all works are in the manufacturing sector.  Blackburn’s major employers are Blackburn College, BAE Systems, and the NHS Trust. Blackburn’s unemployment figures are much lower than in many other cities.

Blackburn offers great open public spaces; you will find some beautiful parks in Blackburn. The parks can be traced back to the Victorian era for those interested in history. Witton Country Park sits on 480 acres of mixed woodland and grassland. This park is perfect for family walks. If you would like to partake in bike riding, there is a dedicated cycle centre where you can hire bikes for all ages.

Parking in Blackburn

In and around central Blackburn you will find several van parking options (including multi-storey parking). Duke Street and Feilden Street are amongst the most convenient. If you need to park your van near Blackburn cathedral, choose between Blackburn Station or Fleming Square. Blackburn has additional parking in the city centre free of a weekend.

Traffic in Blackburn

Like all major towns, Blackburn’s roads can be congested during the morning and evening rush hours. Our Easi van hire team recommend that you plan your journeys around these times to avoid the heavy traffic. One of Blackburn’s busiest roads, the A666 connects to the A59 if you wish to go through Blackburn town centre.

Blackburn’s Roads and Motorways

The A666 connects Blackburn to Darwen, a nearby market town. The A666 is also known as Blackburn Road. This road will take you past Blackburn Rovers’ Football Stadium.  If you are heading towards Manchester, the M61 is the most convenient road you can take.

The Blackburn Van Hire Guide

At some point in our lives we’ll need to hire a van, whether it’s to move house or to transport large items. This guide has been created to give you what you need to know before you arrive at the Blackburn branch and get behind the wheel. Many road users would describe van drivers as a ‘stereotype’ but there is a lot more to driving a van than what you may think!

Will I be seen as another ‘white van driver’ around Blackburn?

According to research there are 4 million vans on the UK roads and vans cover almost 50 billion miles per year. Demand for new vans is at record levels. You certainly will be among a lot of fellow van users on the roads and there will be plenty of other road users hiring a van for the first time.

There is a certain stigma attached to van drivers. In the UK, certain road users would describe ‘white van drivers’ as being careless, inconsiderate and rude drivers. However, a road safety report conducted around 5 years ago concluded that van drivers were less likely to be involved in an RTA compared to drivers of other vehicle types.

Did you know the commercial van market contributes to around £11 billion per year to the economy? Vans are a vital part of modern life in Blackburn. You will see many different trades using vans such as plumbers, couriers, builders as well as electricians. When hiring a van in Blackburn we are sure you will be a courteous and peaceful van driver alongside other road users.

Choosing a van which is right for the job

Before you look for a local van hire firm such as EasiHire.co.uk, we think it’s important for you to know what to look for in a van before you book it. Here is four factors you should consider:

The right van will be decided by:

• How much will your goods weigh?
• How will you fit the goods into the van?
• How big is each object you wish to transport?
• How many items will you need to move around?

Your answers to the above will dictate the size of the van you need. Generally speaking the bigger the van, the daily rate increases slightly. All our van rates are very competitive!

Selecting the right size of van

Our fleet of vans vary in size: small vans like the Berlingo, regular vans like a Transit SWB, to a larger van like a Luton. If you underestimate the size of the van you need, you may end up doing more trips to transport all your items. If your items are too heavy to lift, then a Luton van would be a wise choice as the tail lift on the rare will make life a lot easier. Our friendly hire team at Blackburn will show you how to operate all of the controls!

Another consideration is your passengers. Some of our vans only have two seats whereas the larger vans have 3 front seats.

Important documents for hiring a van from Blackburn

Hiring a van from Blackburn is a very straight forward process but there are some important items of documentation/ ID that you’ll need to bring with you on the day of your hire.

• You will ALWAYS need to show us your valid driving licence
• You should bring proof of ID with you such as a recent utility bill
• You should bring a credit/ debit card with you as we DO NOT accept cash payments

You will sign a “rental agreement” at the Blackburn branch. The rental agreement also has terms and conditions that you should read, understand them, then sign. We’ll be clear of your responsibilities in the van and while it’s in your care. We’ll also be clear on what to do should in the unlikely event you have a breakdown in the van.

How does the van insurance work?

We provide CDW (collision damage waiver) insurance included in our rates. Our friendly rental team at Blackburn will discuss further insurance options to lower your excess. Contents inside the van is not covered by us. Ensuring the goods are well secured in the van is your responsibility.

Driving away on your hire van

Before you leave our Blackburn branch in the van you should confirm with our rental team:

• Which type of fuel you should use
• How to operate the fuel cap
• How to operate the lights and windscreen wipers

You should also agree a day and time to return the van. On weekends our business hours at Blackburn are much shorter compared to through the week.

Loading the van

We strongly recommend you stack your goods properly in the back of the van. During transportation, things can move around so stacking your items safely is paramount. Straps can be useful to prevent heavy items falling over. We recommend the heaviest items should be at the bottom of the pile. We also recommend you spread the load evenly across the base of the van. Take care not to overload the van.

Driving the van

First time van hirers may be surprised to learn how good the power steering is and how the dashboard is very similar to a car. Your seating position however is much higher than a car, and you’ll notice a lot more wider space inside. You will have to take great care when parking, and going under entrances or bridges due to the greater vehicle height. Many underground or public car parks have a two metre (6’6”) height restriction.

In terms of driving around corners in the van, we recommend you brake gently. Brakes on a van can be sharp as they are designed for a full load. Please also be sure to adjust the wing mirrors and your seat for best comfort and visibility.

Speed limits can vary for vans. Vans over 7.5 tonnes are restricted to 60mph on the motorway. Vans below this weight may drive to the national speed limits. You simply cannot beat checking your routes in advance and allowing yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.