TRADERS today slammed new interactive parking signs for Burnley town centre as a complete waste of time.' Lancashire County Council's £360,000 Intelligent Transport System was supposed to come on-line a year ago.

But now they have confirmed they are working towards a deadline next month to get the system switched on.

The aim is to reduce traffic congestion, improve access to parking and boost road safety.

The system will give motorists messages about car parking availability, road safety and even shop opening times with future events to be broadcast across town.

The electronic signs are being positioned on all major roads leading into Burnley including Colne Road, Princess Way, West Way, Manchester Road and Yorkshire Street.

On other electronic signs the number of available parking spaces will be displayed for Charter Walk, Millennium, Centenary Way and King Street car parks.

However, none of the signs will not show spaces for the 400-space Pioneer car park, which is temporary while the Oval shopping centre is developed, or the planned car park on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Thompson Centre.

Both are temporary car parks while building work goes on around the town centre it means that more than 600 spaces won't be included on the signs.

Kay Donohoe, owner of Waterlife and Pets in Curzon Street, said: "I think it's been a total waste of money.

"It was supposed to be completed months ago and it's still not finished. We only have a few car parks in Burnley and the problem isn't with people finding the car parks it's the lack of car parking and that's the problem and is something that doesn't seem to have been addressed."

Rob Teague, of the Car Shop, St James' Street, said: "It's good to hear that they are trying to encourage people into the town, but drivers need to be aware of the spaces that are available and if the signs don't tell them how will they know."

Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "I remember this being discussed years ago, but the county council have moved at their normal pedestrian pace. It is their lack of actvivity which leaves the people of Burnley suffering.

"The county council seem to look upon this area as some sort of backwater and second-class."

Martin Porter, project manager at Lancashire County Council, said: "Our original intention was to have the scheme up and running much earlier than this, but we have had some technical difficulties in terms of where we could put the signs and also some staffing issues. We are now working hard to get as much of the scheme as we can fully operational before April.

"We are very sorry that the scheme has been delayed for as long as it has been and we are doing out utmost to complete work on the project."

He said the cost of the scheme had not been affected by the delay, which they put down to technical snags and staffing problems.

Town centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "This has been a long time coming, but hopefully it will soon be up and running."

A similar scheme has been operating in Preston for the last three years.