BOLTON Council has signed a 35-year deal with National Car Parks Limited (NCP) that will see the company build and manage car parks in the town centre.

Under the contract, new customer service staff will patrol the car parks on bicycles, while looking after car parks and pay-and-display machines.

NCP is already building two new multi-storeys in Deane Road and Bath Street.

NCP will also work with the council to introduce electronic signs that will give information about parking spaces in the multi-storeys to help motorists find spaces.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive member for environmental services, said: “This deal secures significant investment needed to modernise our car parks.

“Safe and secure car spaces for shoppers will also bring more people into the town, which will boost the local economy. “ The enforcement of on-street parking will continue to be the responsibility of NCP Services, which is a separate company to National Car Parks Ltd.

Meanwhile, the council has set up temporary car parks while work is completed on the new multi-storeys.

The site of the new magistrates’ court in Blackhorse Street, opposite Morrisons, has been turned into an interim car park, and there is another car park at the junction of King Street and Deansgate, along with additional spaces at the Railway Triangle, near the train station.