CONTROVERSIAL plans to shut travel information centres at the Clitheroe and Nelson transport interchanges have been shelved.

The county council’s cabinet approved an officers’ recommendation to suspend the closures while they explore approaches from third parties interested in taking them over.

The authority proposed to close the two centres, and their equivalents on Preston Bus Station and Carnforth Railway Station, to save £156,000 a year as it tried to avoid a forecast financial deficit.

Included in 877 responses to a consultation on the proposals, the county council received several proposals to take over management of the offices.

The senior councillors agreed on Thursday to keep the centres open to give officers time to investigate the suggested alternative service models for one or more of the information centres, and explore the expressions of interest in more detail.

Cllr Keith Iddon, cabinet member for transport, said: “I’m grateful that so many people have let us know how they would be affected if the transport information centres were closed. "