COMPLAINTS have been made about parking on streets around the newly opened Horwich Leisure Centre.

The new £10million sports hub off Church Street,opened its doors on Monday, December 4.

But, with no permanent car park in place, neighbours claimed visitors to the centre have been parking outside properties on nearby streets, including Victoria Road.

Cllr Stephen Rock, mayor of Horwich, said: "A few residents have spoken to me about it and they are a bit concerned about people parking outside their houses.

"It is making it harder for the larger vehicles to get through. It is a problem that we raised originally with the planning application. The development has just been badly planned. It's ludicrous."

Bolton Council has recently submitted an application to amend a condition of the original planning permission for the leisure centre.

It required that permanent parking was to be in place before the centre's occupation.

But after the delay in demolishing the old leisure centre, where the health centre and car park will be built, the temporary car park will be built in Old Station Park.

Cllr Kevin McKeon, who represents Horwich North East on Bolton Council, said: "Obviously I am very sympathetic to residents who have been affected and I am always concerned about irresponsible parking.

"I would expect that motorists would be sensitive to the needs of residents who need to come and go from their houses.

"However, the delay with the building of the health centre has meant the council has needed to create a temporary car park.

"We hope that in the not to distant future, the plans for the health centre will be coming forward and, in time, the parking problems will be resolved."

He said that he and fellow councillors had met with health officials to see the plans for the new health centre.

It is hoped that the plans will be coming out for public consultation in the new year.