A NEW parking scheme next to Ramsbottom leisure centre could transform the town centre, claim local councillors.

Councillors have been surveying businesses to see what they thought about the lack of parking in the area and results show that business owners believe that the lack of parking is forcing residents and visitors to seek alternative locations for shopping and leisure.

Cllr Rob Hodkinson said Ramsbottom has become a “victim of its own success” and that the town now “desperately needs” extra parking.

He said: “It is really beginning to affect local trade with visitors being put off by the lack of parking.”

Cllr Ian Bevan said: “As local councillors we have had high level meetings with Bury Council officers to determine what can be done.

“Plans have now been formulated for a possible new parking scheme in the town centre, including the provision of a new long stay car park with 200 spaces.”

Cllr Ian Schofield said: “Obviously this is subject to finding the capital funding for the groundwork, tarmacadam and line painting but we are urging the council to use a small proportion of its reserves or seek some capital.”

Businesses are being canvassed on whether they could fund ongoing maintenance for the proposed long stay car park if capital funding can be provided by Bury Council to create it.

Cllr Bevan added: “We will obviously work closely with local residents and businesses if we can get this project off the ground.

“Bury Council understands that a new long stay car park is crucial to the future success of Ramsbottom town

centre.”

Cllr Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for strategic housing and support services, said: “I asked council officers last summer to carry out a wide-ranging review of car parking in Ramsbottom, following concerns that the existing parking provision was not meeting people’s needs.

“The main problem was that some people were parking all day long in the available car parks, leaving no spaces for people who wanted to visit the town centre for a shorter period, such as for shopping or lunch.

“We’ve now completed this review, and the Ramsbottom councillors have been briefed on our findings.

“One possibility is building a new long-stay car park in Ramsbottom. This would depend, though, on identifying a suitable site – and on land which the council owns – and on finding the money to build it. This will be hard, given that a new car park would be very expensive.”

“No decisions have been taken yet, and we will be examining all feasible options to bring about the best solution.”