SHOPPERS and library users who rely on a crumbling town centre walkway have won help from Congleton Borough Council.

The sloping ramp links Congleton Bus Station and the Capitol Walk shopping mall with the library and mall's upper floor.

The walkway is owned by mall owner Clowes Developments, and has been slowly deteriorating.

However in recent months its condition has caused growing concern, with brickwork on the walls falling away.

The paving slabs are also uneven, and the council stepped in when a section of wall collapsed.

The council considered the ramp unsafe, and closed it off while it repaired the walkway, work which took two weeks.

At the same time the council cleared the overgrown patch of land alongside the walkway, which is to be replanted tomorrow.

Work is still continuing at the top of the ramp, but because it is beyond the public thoroughfare the walkway has been reopened.

The council will be sending the bill for the repairs, estimated at £5,000, to Clowes, which agreed to the work being carried out.

The council will also be pressing Clowes to provide a disabled ramp at the bus station entrance to the mall, for which the company has planning approval.

If the company fails to carry out the work the council is willing to help out again, but not until November, the earliest the works department can tackle the job.

The council is to continue its negotiations with Clowes to take over the ramp.