A DELIVERY firm boss has hit back over claims that "vehicle vandalism" is ruining Churchgate's new flagstones.

A GF Pennington Office Equipment lorry was pictured parked on the pavement in The Bolton News last week.

Cllr John Byrne, Bolton Council's executive member for the environment, said firms whose lorries were loading and unloading on the flagstones in Bolton town centre were subjecting them to "vehicle vandalism".

But Stephen Elster, director of GF Pennington, which is based in Fletcher Street, Deane, claims his drivers cannot park on the cobblestones because they have been threatened with tickets by NCP traffic wardens contracted by the council.

He said that a council delay had meant that a permanent traffic order had still not not come through from the Department for Transport to prohibit loading and unloading on the flags. Mr Elster said: "If they had done their job properly the council would have applied for the order in time for it to be in place for the opening of Churchgate. It's not rocket science.

"I do not know whether my vehicles have caused any damage but I would imagine the flags have to be up to standards where they could at least take a fire engine."

In an email to Cllr Byrne, he says: "With only a temporary order in place we have taken advice and that is we can park anywhere.

"We do not wish to cause any damage to these flags because as rate-payers we have contributed to them, so as you can see we have acted with complete good faith."

Cllr Byrne passed the email on to the council's director of legal and democratic services, Alan Eastwood, who has now replied to Mr Elster.

Mr Eastwood said that from inquiries within the parking services department it appeared that traffic wardens had no knowledge of telling drivers that they would be issued with a ticket if they parked on cobbles.

He added that an application for a permanent order had been submitted on November 15 and that the council was still waiting for it to be approved by the Department for Transport.

Once the order is in place lay-bys will be provided for loading and unloading and the council will be able to fine drivers who park on the flagstones.

In the meantime, a temporary traffic order allows vehicles to load and unload in the road and the council is asking businesses to urge delivery firms to avoid parking on the flags.

Churchgate was revamped and part-pedestianised in a £900,000 scheme completed in December.