DOG walkers and families say they are often unable to find a space for their cars when they visit one of the town’s parks.

They suspect that the Queens Park’s car park off Chorley New Road is being used by people who work nearby and leave their vehicles there but do not use the park for recreation.

The car park does not have the time restrictions as the park’s other, larger car park, off Spa Road.

One dog walker, who asked not to be named ,said the situation had become ‘beyond a joke’.

She said: “I’ve been using the park daily for over two years and each and every day it is a battle to find somewhere to park because the spaces are claimed by people who work in the area.”

“I believe it’s office staff in general. I came back today and there was not one space available. You only have to go up to Chorley New Road and look at the parking situation.

The dog walker, from Great Lever, says she contacted the council about the issue, but was not impressed by their response.

“The council just don’t seem interested,” she said. “ It’s an absolute joke. People are parking on the grass verges and on the ramp into the park.

“We’ve been told we can use the Spa Road car park, but most dog walkers tend to use the one at the top because it’s not near the play park.

“I have started going to different parks because it’s getting so annoying, which is a shame because it’s a lovely park.

Another park-user, who often brings his grandchildren to the park, was also unhappy about the situation.

He said: “It’s not fair when you want to bring the kids in the week, it’s full most of the time, it’s become a regular thing. I think it’s the people working in Chorley New Road, in the offices.”

And another dog walker added: “It’s packed full of people not even on the park, there’s literally nowhere to park. You end up going all they way down to the bottom car park.

And Stephen Greenhalgh, who is disabled and brings his assistance dog to the park, said: “It’s always full, I don’t have a problem because I have a disabled space. There was a time it used to be empty, I think it’s since they did work on the hospice, people have cottoned on that there’s a car park here.

Park users are calling on Bolton Council to implement the same time restrictions and enforcement measures as are in force at the Spa Road car park.

John Harding, of the Friends of Queens Park, said the group was liaising with Bolton Council about the complaints.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the issue and looking into the concerns raised by the group.”