TWENTY new car parking spaces are to be created in Burnley after councillors approved the £30,000 scheme.

As well as the extra spaces at the Town Hall Car Park, work will also include new drainage, improved disabled access, a new footpath, cutting back vegetation and a new barrier.

Bosses said that they needed to ensure car parks were kept in a "reasonable condition" or they would discourage shoppers from visiting the town.

Burnley Council's executive board this week also discussed plans to spend £50,000 to make the car parks safer.

But before the executive board committed to spending the money, councillors wanted an investigation to ensure the cost was in line with the work that needed to be done.

So, the meeting was told, during the next week the council's Streetscene department would carry out risk assessments of parking.

Councillors hope the safety work would cut the bill for compensation from people who have slipped or tripped on car parks.

During the past 15 years, the council has paid out £40,000 in compensation for injuries sustained on its car parks.

If approval is granted at next week's executive council meeting, the King Street car park will have £30,000 spent on safety measures and Finsley gate £20,000, with more money planned to be spent an other work on town centre parking.

Winston Robinson, of Burnley Council's Streetscene department, said: "Many of the car parks in the borough, in particular the town centre, are in need of improvement.

"Failure to maintain the car parks in reasonable condition will discourage people from shopping in town. This will result in less income."