PLANS for a residents only parking zone in Leigh town centre have been greeted with anger.

Wigan Council has launched a household survey to monitor reaction about the introduction of residents' permit parking areas on the streets within Leigh in three different zones: North of Railway Road, South of Railway Road and the Town Centre zone which takes in an area including Church Street, Henrietta Street, and Hope Street.

Since the same scheme was voted against five years ago Wigan Council have continued to receive complaints for and against the proposal so they have decided to consult with residents again.

The Council stress this is a preliminary consultation to gauge residents' views and say the charge for permits for use within residents' bays would cost around £20 each.

The new suggestion has met with mixed reaction.

Some residents fed-up with returning home to find they can't find a space near their terraced homes are in favour of the permit plan but reckon they won't be enough spaces to go round anyway.

But Railway Road sports shop owner Norman Pennington is livid about the idea.

Mr Pennington said: "We have just seen the plan although we haven't received a copy. They only show half the facts.

"They can't guarantee people will be able to park in front of their own homes.

"They do not say that people will have to pay for any visitors who come to their house and want to park.

"If they are parked in the street with their permit whose parking place will the visitors take as they have also paid for a permit to visit? Will they take next door's parking space?

"Wigan Metro think they can get away with another tax on people to raise money. They should tell the whole facts so people can make up their minds and not make it sound as though people are getting something they are not."