A BUSY town centre car park has been closed for the “foreseeable future” because of safety fears.

Drivers have been directed away from Bow Street car park since Friday following an assessment that showed a dangerous level of deterioration in the complex.

It opened in the 1960s and has 700 spaces.

Officers at Bolton Council — owners of the car park, which is run by the company NCP — say they do not yet know when it will be reopened.

Bernadette Ward, from Bromley Cross, regularly parks in the disabled bays at the Bow Street complex due to her mobility issues.

Ms Ward said: “People need to know it’s closed — it’s a nightmare driving up there at the moment with the roadworks and it would save on congestion.

“For now I can’t shop in Marks and Spencer while the car park is closed. It’s too far to negotiate.

“Disabled spaces are like gold dust in the town centre.

“I park in Bow Street because of the wider bays and if I have things in my car it’s easier.

“You would think the owners could have let people know it was going to close.”

A council spokesman said: “We have been monitoring the condition of this ageing car park for some while with a view to considering its future use.


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"The condition has now deteriorated such that we have taken the decision to close it as a precautionary safety measure and to avoid exacerbating repair costs.”

A spokesman for NCP said it closed the multi-storey car park after receiving instructions from Bolton Council.

It will keep it shut until asked to reopen it.

The spokesman added: “Our staff are on site constantly to keep drivers informed and direct them to other car parks, to try and lessen the inconvenience as much as possible.”