NEW parking bays in Prestwich could be for the chop in a bid to reduce traffic congestion through the village.

Motorists complaining about congestion along Bury New Road have demanded their removal to allow a two lane route for cars.

The bays, which provide limited parking at certain times of the day, have been blamed for bringing vehicles to a standstill on the main arterial route between Bury and Manchester.

The journey from Scholes Lane to Fairfax Road can take up to 20 minutes in rush-hour traffic for a distance of three-quarters of a mile.

The issue was a main agenda item at Prestwich area board on Monday evening, prompting a host of complaints and suggested solutions.

The creation of parking bays in Bury New Road as part of the Prestwich High Street project, came after a vigorous campaign by Prestwich Business Forum to regenerate the "village centre".

Together with additional puffin crossings, the bays were aimed at encouraging passers-by and pedestrians to stop and shop in the village, thus regenerating the flagging businesses on the "high street". As a result, many new businesses have opened, such as coffee shops, gift shops and a delicatessen.

However, residents who attended the area board strongly believed that the removal of the bays would have a positive effect on traffic flow.

One member of the audience said: "I said at the time that the parking bays would cause an obstruction but now it is dangerous. Parking on the east side of Bury New Road should be removed forthwith."

Margaret Dearden said that the situation in Prestwich Village was affecting all the roads around Bury New Road as well and June Brown added that Highfield Road was being used as a diversion to the main road.

She said the problem was exacerbated by Radius contractors, Carillion, parking their vehicles in Highfield Road and added: "We were promised this would never happen but it is an impossible situation. There is a school at the top of the road and people cannot get out of their own properties for cars."

Other complaints included a badly designed car park at Marks and Spencer, a lack of car parking for shoppers and the abuse of the Longfield and Fairfax Road car parks by Metrolink users.

Suggestions included building a car park on land near Tesco and creating a by-pass from Fairfax Road to the old Poppythorn Lane for vehicles travelling south.

Monsignor John Allen, of Our Lady of Grace Church, in Fairfax Road, said: "The only solution I can see for Bury New Road is to have no parking at all. The other problem is Fairfax Road. The problem is on the corner and I would suggest that you have a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on the Lloyds TSB Bank so you can widen the exit. This would provide two lanes onto Bury new Road."

Coun Wilf Davison, chairman of the development strategy working group for Prestwich, said that Metrolink had identified a location for a 60-space park and ride facility but would not go ahead until they had gauged the success of a similar scheme in Whitefield.

Any changes to Bury New Road will be decided on after the introduction of a new traffic signal control system, which will be reviewed next Spring.