BLACKBURN’S new £5 million bus station has fallen further behind schedule and will not not open until early summer.

The futuristic glass-fronted structure was originally due to open over the New Year period and then scheduled to start welcoming passengers in March.

Yesterday, Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Maureen Bateson admitted that following a series of problems it would not be operational until late spring or early summer.

The main steelwork for the bus station on the Old Market site in Ainsworth Street went up last year and the hardstanding for vehicles was rolled out in December.

Now all the special glass cladding and other main components for completing the main building are on site and the services for bus station are in place.

The outside of the bus station will start to be put on the steel skeleton next week.

The building is a key part of the the £40 million Pennine Reach scheme to speed buses between Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen.

Cllr Bateson said: “The new bus station has been subject to the problems and delays you would expect with such a big project.

“We now expect it to open in late Spring or early Summer.

“We had problems with finding a fast-flowing drain and other voids under the brownfield site and with diverting services.

“The contractors, Thomas Barnes for Bury, also had to convert the computer-generated drawings into the steel structure.

“We could not order the glass cladding until we had precise measurements for the panels but they are now on site.

“The contractor swill start fitting them on the structure in the coming week.”

She confirmed that plans for London Transport “Oystercard-style” pre-paid ticketing with arrangements for through ticketing between bus companies were on track.

This will simplify and and speed up travels, boarding and changing buses for passengers, The building will include a cafe, a staffed travel information office, cafe, cash machines and public toilets with a disabled access WC and baby change facilities.

It will have a single central concourse with direct access to 14 bus boarding and alighting bays.

Only bus companies, which sign up to strict quality, reliability and punctuality standards will be able to use the bus station, its proposed new Accrington counterpart and the new Pennine Reach routes.