HISTORIC Peel Monument is to be capped to keep out the wet weather... and the pigeons.

The monument to Sir Robert Peel proudly sits on Holcombe Moor looking out on to Ramsbottom and has been open to the public since 1985 following the restoration of the staircase.

Bury Metro cannot afford to staff the tower so it is manned by volunteers who raise funds by charging admission on occasional weekends and bank holidays.

The fabric of the National Trust building is deteriorating but work is in the process of being completed, funded by Bury Metro, to cap the tower to make it waterproof.

This will dry out the stonework and once complete it is hoped the monument can reopen to the public.

The long-term plan is to bid for serious funding from groups such as the Heritage Lottery Fund to finance a major restoration project.

Stonework needs repairing and repointing and there are plans to introduce seating and information panels, and possibly toilets and refreshment facilities.

The track from Holcombe Village suffers water erosion and the moor around the tower is in a poor condition, suffering from peat erosion.

There are plans to reconstruct the track and make improvements to the moor sympathetic with the location.

The scheme was outlined to members of Ramsbottom and Tottington Area Board.