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£14m bus station plan
From the archive, first published Thursday 9th Mar 2006.
TWO new town centre bus stations are at the heart of a £14million plan aimed at keeping a borough moving for the next decade.
Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed a scheme to replace the shelters on The Boulevard, Blackburn, and The Circus, Darwen, with purpose-built bus stations by 2009.
Several miles of new bus lanes will also be created along the A666 to speed up journey times along the route of Blackburn Transport's flagship Track One service between the two towns.
Authority chiefs have ditched plans for smaller bus stations around Blackburn including opposite the market and the college after announcing a scheme to move the market into a revamped shopping centre.
The new stations, part of a £57million transport scheme, will be similar to Burnley bus station, which opened two years ago.
Around £20million of the cash for the scheme has come from a special government grant to improve bus links between Darwen, Blackburn and Accrington and bus lanes may be extended to routes between Blackburn and Hyndburn.
Other large-scale projects will include: l £9million for the new Freckleton Street bridge; l £2million for traffic lights on Whitebirk roundabout l Several million to sort out the Blackamoor Road/Roman Road junction l Up to £5million to create a new link road between the Freckleton Street bridge and Montague Street to complete the Blackburn orbital route.
Another £19million in the form of yearly grants is expected from Govern-ment to help fund projects, along with £12million from developers moving into the borough.
Elevate, the housing renewal company, will put around £1million into schemes too.
When Blackburn with Darwen Council unveiled its 'Masterplan' for the town centre in December 2004, they planned to turn the Boulevard into a 'town square' with the River Blakewater possibly opened up through it.
No decision has been taken about whether to open the Blakewater, but the latest project means that it will only be along Ainsworth Street only.
Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration said: "The new station is to be built on the existing Boulevard site. The need to retain the advantages of the existing interchange has come through very strongly in consultation with citizens and users.
"The new building will provide fully-enclosed facilities for passengers in a safe and welcoming environment, with up to date information a priority."
Tory leader Coun Colin Rigby said: "The council also needs to invest in bus services and make it easier for people to use the bus and train, so that you can just buy one ticket at the start of the journey."
Coun Paul Browne, Lib Dem leader, said: "Work is long overdue and needs to happen as quickly as possible."
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