Major blow to East Lancs bus lane scheme

6:50am Friday 18th July 2008

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By David Watkinson »

PLANS for a bus lane linking Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington have been hit by a major blow after a council rejected the scheme.

Hyndburn Council said it had “disassociated” itself from the multi-million pound Pennine Reach scheme and called current consultations a “total sham”.

But Lancashire County and Blackburn with Darwen councils - which are jointly leading the scheme - said the project could go ahead without Hyndburn’s consent.

A “second draft” of the scheme was presented to business owners in Darwen on Wednesday which will salvage parking spaces and avoid some of the controversial road closures included in the original plans around the A666.

But Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said the project would still be a huge inconvenience to residents.

He said: “Any advantage to be gained in bus timetables would be more than offset by inconvenience to residents wishing to park their cars, loss of trade to local businesses resulting in more shops closing and creating dangerous main roads with fast moving traffic.

“The consultation process to date has been a total sham and I can only hope that residents will not be ignored when Lancashire County Council makes the final decisions.”

But bosses at the county council said the current consultation was “wide-ranging” and residents’ concerns would be listened to.

County Council transport boss Coun Matthew Tomlinson said: “These proposals, if given the go-ahead, would bring a lot of outward investment into the area.

“Our research shows us that people are quite happy to use public transport but one issue is the speed that the buses can move between towns in the busy traffic.

“The consultation will be comprehensive and it is a shame if Hyndburn Council does not wish to air its views.”

Businesses in Darwen had previously been among the most vocal critics of the scheme so far and members of Darwen Rotary Club presented a 2,445-signature petition protesting against the bus lane to Blackburn with Darwen Council director of regeneration Adam Scott.

The original plans for the bus lane would have seen it run between Darwen and Blackburn on the A666 up to Whitebirk, before passing through Rishton, Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors and into Accrington.

It was to return to Blackburn in a loop along the Blackburn Road through Church and Oswaldtwistle.

A final decision on the scheme will be made by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council.