BOLLARDS installed to prevent vehicles illegally parking on Darwen's new town square have been slammed by the mayor.

The bollards were installed on Monday by Blackburn with Darwen Council which said they will prevent vehicles driving onto the space.

But Darwen mayor Roy Davies said the bollards, which the council says are temporary, will hinder events by not allowing stallholders proper access to the site.

This comes following the success of the food festival last weekend which saw thousands of people congregate on the former three-day market site.

Cllr Davies said: “It’s ridiculous.

"One of the reasons the food festival was so successful was because of the space they had available. It’s ruining the space for future events.

“The town partnership board said they want to hold pop-up events, but it’s just not doable with the bollards there.

“If they have any events, stallholders won’t have any way of getting on to the site."

A council spokesman said: “The bollards are being installed to prevent vehicles driving onto the space from the Croft Street and bus station side of the square.

“They will be there only until the public realm is installed so they are not permanent.

“The bollards will be spaced out and pedestrians will still easily gain access to the site from this side.”

Cllr Davies said: “I understand they need to make sure people aren’t parking on the site but this isn’t the way to do it.

“It would be better if they installed removable bollards, so they could come down to open up the space for events.

“We now have to wait for work to begin on the site, which means they could be there for years.”

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “We have had a number of incidents where unwanted vehicles have turned up on council land.

“It’s imperative that we protect this important piece of land from such incursions.”