HISTORIC tram shelters in Darwen town centre will be renovated, if plans are given the green light.

Blackburn with Darwen Council intends to restore the neglected Grade Two-listed buildings in Belgrave Square, and fit a toilet into the north shelter for the use of the tenant.

The work will involve repairing cast iron railings, repainting wooden windows and doors, replacing rainwater pipes and roof features to the original patterns and materials, and repair of stonework.

The shelters were built in 1902 with public toilets beneath, but became redundant in the 1930s, when the Darwen trams stopped.

They are now used as small self-contained retail units but without toilet facilities are not compliant with current legislation and the council has difficulty letting them.

The south shelter has been vacant for several years.

A bid for cash for the scheme will be put into the Darwen Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which is a £2 million ‘repairs fund’ from the Heritage Lottery fund and the borough council to restore old buildings.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment, said: “The Darwen THI scheme seeks to reinvigorate historic buildings in Darwen that are run down and losing their original character through the removal of architectural detail and alterations."

Marilyn Bysh of Darwen Civic Society said: “It’s a great idea. They (the shelters) have been rather let go in the recent past.

“The Civic Society would encourage any work that maintains the historic buildings of the town.”

Bob Waters, chairman of Darwen Local History Society, said: “They’ve been used as shops on and off for a while with varying degrees of success.

“But I think this is a great idea to do this work. It’s a spot where a lot of people go to take pictures and paint. It’s also important to maintain the heritage of the town.”

THI has funded a range of projects so far, including work on the Town Hall, Holker House, 25 Bolton Road and 15 Bridge Street.