'Backtracking' row over East Lancashire bus lane (From Blackburn Citizen)

'Backtracking' row over East Lancashire bus lane

2:00pm Thursday 18th September 2008

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THE row over a proposed bus lane has escalated after a council leader branded Lancashire County Council “backtracking idiots”.

Hyndburn Borough Council leader Peter Britcliiffe hit back after the county’s deputy leader accused him of misleading people that parking in Oswaldtwistle’s Union Road would be axed.

County Councillor Doreen Pollitt, told Coun Britcliffe to “put up or shut up” after Coun Britcliffe accepted a 700 signature petition against the Pennine Reach bus lane scheme.

The scheme will see Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen connected by a bus lane.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said there were no plans to create an actual bus lane in Union Road.

But, to ease the flow of traffic at rush hour, the proposals is for parking to be restricted between 8am-9.30am and 4.30pm-6.30pm Monday to Friday.

County bosses said that no actual parking spaces would be physically removed.

Therefore Lancashire County Council wrote to Coun Britcliffe, saying there ”was no proposed bus lane or loss of parking” in Oswaldtwistle.

But at Hyndburn’s Cabinet meeting, Coun Britcliffe hit back and said: “There seems to be a little backtracking going on.

"These idiots are now saying it was never proposed at all.”

Producing the county council’s original leaflet on plans he read to members at the meeting: “It is proposed a number of on-site parking spaces will be removed and replaced with loading and unloading restrictions.”

He added: “How can they ask for feedback, then deny ever saying it?”

County Coun Doreen Pollitt maintained her stance.

She said: “Coun Britcliffe ought to know better. It is unbelievably cruel to worry people in this way.”

However the owner of the Union Road Washbowl launderette, Tony Duckworth, said peak parking restrictions were just as bad: “They might just as well have painted yellow lines.

"No parking at peak business times will have a huge effect on my business.”

Lancashire County Council and Capita will present updated plans shortly.

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Your Say YourCitizen

True Darwener, Darwen says...
4:44pm Thu 18 Sep 08

I thought Hyndburn council had said they were not having this silly idea of a "BUS LANE". I wish they would make up their minds. I do hope that everybody will get the final Plans for them to vote on etc and that we will not be having this stupid "BUS LANE" in Darwen, Blackburn and Hyndburn even if thier so-called poll says that the majority of people are for it, what planat do they come from as far as i'm a were there is no-one for this etc