BURY North MP James Frith has called for the former Mondi Paper Mill site to be used to help retain flourishing businesses in Ramsbottom.

Mr Frith hosted the owner of the Bridge Street site in parliament back in June, and says he hopes it can eventually be transformed into a multi-use site, including both retail and parking.

The MP has made the call after meeting with a number of Ramsbottom-based business owners, who have expressed concern that they may have to leave the town in order to grow.

He said: “I will do absolutely everything I can to keep these fast-growing companies in our town.

“Ramsbottom has a unique offer, it has got that old with new heritage, but the challenge is that it is harder to get to than Bury.

“The businesses want to stay in Ramsbottom, but if the MP, the town, and the local authority don’t respond to that then we will have missed our chance to keep these really exciting companies in Ramsbottom.

“I hope the Mondi site can be the answer, but there is a very real economic issue here of a developer that will not indulge poetic ideas.

“They want it to be sustainable and have value. Some of the buildings are so old that they need looking after or deconstructing.”

Prior to his meeting with the site owner, Mr Frith took to Facebook to ask Ramsbottom residents what they wanted to see the site turned into, and received more than 200 responses He said: “There is a real appetite to see quite a mixed, blended site. Yes to housing, yes to retail space, yes to leisure activity, but absolutely above all else, yes to development of it. I have made it very clear there is no appetite for it simply being for one thing only, or for it to be kept as it is.

“At the moment, it is an eyesore and a hazard. In the very first instance, it should provide us with some car parking relief in Ramsbottom.” The sprawling paper mill site has been a permanent fixture in the town since 1857, but closed in 2008 with the loss of 90 jobs.

In 2015, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive issued a prohibition notice for the site amid fears that its 30-metre high mill chimney, dating back to the 19th century, may topple.

At one stage, Sainsbury’s announced it had taken up an option on the site, but traders and residents expressed unease, with the town already home to Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi stores.

And after it was confirmed that Sainsbury’s had officially withdrawn their interest in May 2013, there was speculation that the discount chain Netto may be considering a move into the area.

A spokesman for the Isle of Man based owners said they were hoping to meet with planners about plans for the site.