A TEMPORARY road scheme designed to help ease parking at Warrington Police Station could be made permanent - after it was found to relieve traffic problems.

Cars belonging to police officers and staff at the headquarters have been parking on Museum Street since last summer whilst work was carried out around the building. The street was blocked off at its junction opposite Bank Quay Railway Station as a result.

The building work has nearly finished but the council is considering that rather than reopen the junction, it may keep Museum Street a cul-de-sac and allow residents to park there.

Traffic Management and Safety Manager at the borough council Howard Claxton said: "There is what we term a temporary closure order on that part of Museum Street while the refurbishment of the Police Station is going ahead.

"While that temporary order has been in place, there has been improvements to the traffic flow in the area. Because of this members have requested officers to look into the possibility of making it permanent.

"A report will be presented to committee - possibly some time in March, depending on the work load."

He added that the council was looking at adding the stretch of road by the police station to the nearby residents' parking scheme, to allow drivers to park there when the police were able to use their own car park again.

But some drivers have complained about the road being shut off. Desmond Fitzpatrick of Locking Stumps said: "It appears to me that the public in Warrington have been put to great inconvenience, just so individuals can park their private cars there."

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