AN EAST Lancashire tourist attraction looks set to solve a neighbourhood parking problem if planners give the go-ahead for a new coach park.

Oswaldtwistle Mills applied to planners at Hyndburn Council to convert a piece of vacant land off Spring Hill Road, Accrington, regularly used for fly tipping, into a park for 15 coaches.

Coaches for the popular shopping spot are currently parked in a variety of locations in the area, causing traffic problems for residents.

The proposals also include the creation of a drop-off point for visitors, in nearby Moscow Mill Street. Mill chiefs say there has been a 60 per cent increase in visitor numbers since the opening of an extension last year.

They said they often ran out of parking spaces at the weekend, and complaints from local residents had led to the provision of "no entry, access only" signs on Frederick Street, Badge Brow, Wesley Street and George Street.

In addition, five car park attendants have been employed at weekends to try to manage the car parks and to minimise the effects on nearby residents.

The plans have been welcomed by relieved residents, with a 50-name petition supporting the application from the Spring Hill Network Group, and 23 letters of support from householders.

They say the park should improve the parking situation in the area, which becomes congested because of coaches turning around in nearby streets.

Coaches are currently parked on car parks in Artillery Street, Queen Street, Collier Street, and Moscow Mill Street.

One resident said: "The mill has major traffic problems, especially at the weekend, and the proposed coach park would ease their problems besides tidying up the land for local residents."

Another said: "We can see no reason why the land for the proposed coach park cannot be developed because at the moment it is wasteland which is only used by people to walk their dogs." Members of the planning committee will meet tomorrow and are recommended to give approval with conditions including a stipulation the coach park is only used in conjunction with traffic visiting the mills, and that no coaches or cars will be parked overnight.