PARKING is to be banned on roads surrounding Towneley Hall and Towneley Park.

Under proposals made by Lancashire County Council, cars will not be allowed to stop or wait at any time in Towneley Holmes Road from its junctions with Fairview Road and Todmorden Road.

Council bosses also want to introduce rules outlawing stopping at any time on the verges next to Towneley Holmes Road, all of Park Bridge Road, The Avenue and Deer Park Road, and in several nearby access roads.

Many visitors to the art gallery and museum, which is free to all Burnley residents, currently park on the roads, rather than at nearby car parks.

The nearest to the attraction, Hall Car Park, costs 50p per hour, while others, such as Riverside Car Park, cost 80p all day.

Council officers said the measures were part of the final phase of works to revamp Towneley Park.

It is thought the decision has also been made to ensure the safety of pupils attending the new Unity College building, which is set to open at the park in September.

Ray Bennett, principal engineer, said: “They will make it easier for people to walk safely in the surrounding area and improve flow of traffic, especially on Towneley Holmes Road which is quite narrow and becomes congested when people park along one side.

“Burnley Borough Council has done a lot of work to improve the park and these restrictions are intended to preserve the grass verges and open the area up.”

Brunshaw councillor John Jones, who has campaigned for more motorbike and bicycle parking at the hall, said he was in 'full agreement' with the plans and urged more people to walk or catch a bus.

He said: “The road is fairly narrow, it allows the passing of two cars at most places, but not all of them, and the grass soon gets chewed up with the climate we have got and the clay soil.

“There is ample parking usually and if there is a special event on they normally create extra parking on the triangle.”

The plans can be inspected during normal office hours at the Burnley Borough Council offices in Burnley Town Hall in Manchester Road and at the Lancashire County Council offices at Winckley House in Cross Street, Preston.

People wishing to object or support the plans must write to the environment directorate at Preston before June 2.