DOZENS of car parking spaces will be opened up on Chorley’s Flat Iron ahead of work to construct an extra level on the Friday Street car park.

The perimeter fencing, which has cordoned off the construction site ahead of the Market Walk extension being built, will be moved back creating up to 100 spaces.

Bosses at Chorley Council committed to getting extra parking in place before work starts on building the extension later this year so the development is on hold while the extra 160 spaces are created by building an upper deck on Friday Street car park.

Gary Hall, chief executive at Chorley Council, said: “We took a decision earlier this year to create additional car parking spaces before starting work on the extension so rather than leave the construction site standing empty we have been preparing the ground to re-open it for parking.

“The hoarding will remain along the side facing the by-pass but the majority of the Flat Iron will be open again for parking. It will help alleviate the pressure on other car parks while Friday Street car park is closed for the construction of the extra level and we’ll also be making Portland Street long stay to offset the loss of long stay spaces during the work.”

“We’ve been keeping businesses updated on progress and we’re acting on their feedback to provide as many parking spaces as we can.

“We’ll keep people updated with any changes and the upper level on Friday Street will need planning permission for the final design before work can start. Negotiations are continuing with potential new tenants for the shopping centre extension and work will start on that once the car parking is in place.”