Council earmarks two sites for parks and cemeteries team

Rossendale Council have identified two sites to locate the parks and cemeteries team.

The team needed to find a new depot to operate from as they are due to be displaced by works to improve the Whitaker.

The Council has identified a current depot at Tup Bridge and to establish a small scale operating centre at Marl Pits.

Tup Bridge has been used to store vehicles for a number of years.

Small scale works will take place to upgrade the Tup Bridge depot such as installing a fence so its suitable for staff to use as a base. But it will also mean the loss of four parking spaces for Rawtenstall Market.

The Council will be advertising its plan in the local media before applying to the traffic commissioner for new vehicle operating licences.

Councillor Adrian Lythgoe, Portfolio Holder for Operations, said:

“We said we would keep people up to date with plans for the move given the strength of feeling about the first plan.

“While splitting the team over two sites is not perfect, it is the only viable solution we have.

“We believe there will be minimal impact on people and businesses but we will be talking to market traders and others to reassure them.

“Finally, just to reiterate, the vehicles being stored over these two sites are not bin wagons, they are much smaller vehicles that are used to support the work the parks and cemeteries team do.”