A REVIEW has been ordered into the operation of Burnley's multi-million-pound bus station after complaints from councillors and passengers.

People have reported being left stranded at bus stops, asked to get off buses before the end of journeys and buses failing to appear.

The issue has been discussed by members of Burnley Council's executive, who are now monitoring services and the management of the bus station, off Centenary Way.

Coun Roger Frost, executive member for planning, environment and transport, has now been asked to look at the issue.

Coun Frost added that there would be a meeting between the borough and county councils and bus company Burnley and Pendle Travel, which operates the vast majority of services, this month.

But although the bus company admitted there have been some problems, it said there had been a huge improvement in passenger numbers and reliability since the station opened in August.

The problem of bay blocking at the station is due to be discussed at the meeting after it was highlighted as a reason why passengers were let off buses early.

The possibility of having 24-hour security patrols at the station will also be discussed.

Coun Frost, who represents Briercliffe ward, said: "There is no denying that the new facilities provided in the new bus station are a considerable improvement.

"But I do know that there have been problems with some routes, including the one to Worsthorne and the service to

Harle Syke. "And I am aware that there are problems and the bus companies do admit that. They say that they are a number of drivers short.

"These problems need to be put right because we cannot have people waiting for buses. This is a very serious matter and the public of Burnley deserve better and we will do all we can to put it right."

The bus station was jointly developed by Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council and has been praised for its ultra-modern appearance.

But bosses were left red faced when errors were pointed out on timetables, including Hampton for Hapton, Pandleside instead of Pendleside and Worsthore rather than Worsthorne.

The leader of Burnley Council, Coun Stuart Caddy said: "I am now being led to believe that members of the public are being told to get off before the end of their journeys and are being told to walk the rest of the way. This is a serious problem in the town.

"I have written to the bus company and invited Lancashire County Council along to any meetings to try to resolve the problems we have got."

Operations manager at Burnley and Pendle Travel Russell Revill said: "Sometimes if a bus comes in early then we may have to drop passengers off outside the bus station to avoid blocking the stands at the station.

"We regularly monitor our services and have seen a huge improvement in passenger numbers and reliability since the bus station opened."

A county council spokesman said: "The service is a commercial service. There has been some changes to the service in Burnley which have altered the service for public transport users. The county council will step in if there is a particular need for us to do so.

"Anybody who has got concerns about the bus service including Coun Caddy and Frost then we will be happy to speak to them.

"If there has been a case where people have been dropped off before their bus stop and told to walk then we will look at that and that needs to be brought to the bus owners attention."