THE car park stalemate in Whalley could end within a month.

Ribble Valley Council is considering turning Vale Gardens and Whalley Bus Station into a 47-space car park, but the site has yet to be agreed by Whalley Parish Council.

The latest meeting between councillors, parish council representatives and Whalley Chamber of Trade could not agree on a site.

In a report to the borough's planning and development committee, to be presented tonight, the parish council cites Queen Elizabeth II playing fields in Mitton Road as its preferred option.

Further meetings are to take place, and a detailed recommendation will be put together for the next planning meeting on July 20.

In April an emergency meeting was called after brewery bosses issued an ultimatum to the borough council: "Open a new public car park or we will ban people from ours." Whitbread bosses are looking at making it customers only or staff only.

The plans to use Vale Gardens and Whalley Bus Station were rejected by the parish council.

After the council's 10-year lease on the Whalley Arms car park ran out, Whitbread introduced a pay-and-display scheme. Shoppers and visitors to the doctor, dentist and adult education centre used it but the brewery claimed that people were parking all day.