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Blackburn bus lane plan details revealed
2:44pm Thursday 22nd May 2008
By Tom Moseley »
A MULTI-MILLION pound bus lane is being put forward as the answer to East Lancashire's congestion problems.
The 24-7 lane, which would run between Darwen and Accrington via Blackburn, has ended plans for a 'light rail' network, which have now been shelved.
The lane would be used by a high-tech fleet of buses which would be given priority at traffic lights.
It will mean the loss of on-street parking for residents and businesses on the route, but bosses insist more off-street spaces will be provided to compensate.
The scheme, which has been put out to consultation, will cost up to £50millon of government money that was set aside as part of the East Lancashire Rapid Transit scheme.
Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said a tram network and a so-called 'ultra-light' railway, touted as an alternative for small towns, had not been deemed suitable for the area.
He said: "It's not the end for it, and it may come in the distant future.
"But this is a bus-based scheme."
Bosses say the project, called PennineReach, will reduce traffic jams and improve air quality, saving 468 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The road network will not cope with the anticipated increase in traffic, they claim.
It will run between Darwen and Blackburn on the A666 up to Whitebirk, before passing through Rishton, Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors and into Accrington.
It will return to Blackburn in a loop along the Blackburn Road through Church and Oswaldtwistle.
A similar scheme was put forward in September but was pulled after concerns it would run through people's front gardens.
The new version will not affect gardens but will mean the loss of some on-street parking.
Coun Cottam added: "Bus lanes have the downside of taking parking off the road so we will have to accommodate that.
"Obviously people jealously guard their car parking spaces in front of their houses. But the highway is essentially for moving traffic not static traffic, and we need to reclaim it."
More walking routes could also be added.
After the consultation, which ends in the summer, Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire councils will formally bid for funding.
Exhibitions are being held across Blackburn and Hyndburn to give more detail.
More information is available by calling (01254) 588130 for Blackburn and 0845 0530000 for Hyndburn.
Your Say YourTelegraph
paul, Blackburn says...
4:16pm Thu 22 May 08
Taz, Darwen says...
5:06pm Thu 22 May 08
The congestion will be as bad if not worse. Can anyone say how much faster it will be to travel between, say, Darwen and Clitheroe. A couple of minutes at best I imagine. £50 million pound could be far better spent. Just another load of crap we will be forced to swallow and pay for.
Joseph Yossarian, Accy says...
5:31pm Thu 22 May 08
We have jobs and work hard to afford enough to buy a home and look after our families. The council wants to destroy what we've worked for by forcing us to move our cars into the side streets to where they get vandalised.
Put a bus lane in place so the jobbos can throw rubbish from buses into our gardens.
People will no longer be able to stop outside the shops so the shops will shut down. The council wants to destroy what they've worked for.
The council comes along and does it's utmost to destroy livelihoods and family homes.
What about those with disables parking spaces outside their houses on the bus routes?
Meanwhile.....how many parking spaces are there at the council offices? How many councillors have nice driveways for their cars?
Net result: Lots of empty buses carrying fresh air around around east lancs. Lots of money spent for no return. Local economy irreparably damaged.
ps. If cllr cottam wants to reduce carbon emmissions why was he so in favour of building an incinerator?
Joseph Yossarian, Accy says...
5:40pm Thu 22 May 08
Bus stop is no-go
29/07/2007 Bungling transport bosses left passengers furious after bus shelters costing thousands were erected with NO exits.
The glass shelters have an entrance at the rear but no way out to get on the bus at the front. The exit has been blocked with a pane of glass - so passengers have to queue in the rain to board the bus.
Colin Gent, 65, said: "Once you are in, you have to come out again and enter the bus from the road. It's ridiculous."
Councillor Alan Cottam, in Darwen, Lancs, said: "Our instructions were not followed. We'll rectify the problem."
Mad mark, not here says...
5:45pm Thu 22 May 08
Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said: With the continued investment and exciting developments in the town centre, including the masterplan of the Blackburn College campus, it has become necessary to relocate some of the current long stay surface car parking.
Permits can be purchased by contacting parkingservices@blac
kburn.gov.uk or call 0845 608 5589.
Permits cost £100 for three months and £400 for a full year.
31st Jan 2008
Old Git, Darwen says...
6:02pm Thu 22 May 08
Scooby, Blackburn says...
6:08pm Thu 22 May 08
There's no need to increase the size of the roads, just provide better service on what we've already got and reduce the fares which are going up and up and up on the buses!
Observer, Blackburn says...
6:10pm Thu 22 May 08
Political Observer, Pendle says...
9:12pm Thu 22 May 08
Most folks consider travelling as 'dead time' and the quickest and 'cheapest' mode of transport is considered by the user to be the most 'efficient'.
Car travel scores highly because it is door-to-door and the marginal cost of using the road is zero at the point of use.
Railed transport is best for point-to-point bulk movement. The East Lancashire LRT plan was, in my view, complete fantasy.
For much of the twentieth century (1930-85) the British bus industry committed suicide. First by arguing for restricting supply (through road service licensing) and then by pleading for public subsidy (through which it completely lost touch with the market), and then by introducing widescale one-person-operation (lengthened journey times).
The way to improve the attractiveness of bus travel is to make it quicker. In doing so one can better justify the fares charged because consumers rate convenience and speed very highly and will pay accordingly.
You're our representatives, NOT our masters says...
9:21pm Thu 22 May 08
Bosses say the project, called PennineReach, will reduce traffic jams and improve air quality, saving 468 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Is that figure inclusive of never ending emissions from the construction materials?
Bus lanes create more congestion, so how will this be reversed in the PennineReach plans?
I somehow think you have had a visit to view the Leeds bus lane system. That works because there is ample room for it to work.
Coun Cottam added: "Bus lanes have the downside of taking parking off the road so we will have to accommodate that.
"Obviously people jealously guard their car parking spaces in front of their houses. But the highway is essentially for moving traffic not static traffic, and we need to reclaim it."
People generally guard their parking spaces due to having had their vehicles vandalised.
They also like to park as close to their door as possible for the purpose of unloading shopping. Incidentally, this is often purchased from the council approved supermarkets.
When this goes titsup, will you and all the other supporters pay all of the costs that this will accrue? I don't think you will. Perhaps the threat of a public hanging would be the best action to help you lot think a little deeper.
I strongly feel there are a fair few very very expensive lunches to be had out of this. Oooops, I was thinking like a councillor then. Apologies.
commuter, blackburn says...
10:47pm Thu 22 May 08
Stevo, Blackburn says...
11:00am Fri 23 May 08
Also good to see everybody's favourite concellor Cottam is in charge - will be a right c0ck up as per normal.
NEWRADKID, DARWEN says...
11:25am Fri 23 May 08
ALSO IN BOLTON ROAD IN FRONT OF THE NEW BUILDING OF HOUSES AT BELGRAVE WHICH IDIOT PUT A BUS LANE IN WITH A EXTRA SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS 150 YARDS FROM THE TOWN CENTRE WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO GET OFF/ON THERE
OUR COUNCILERS ARE A BRILLENT BUNCH OF PILLOCKS
vikingpower, blackburn says...
12:45pm Fri 23 May 08
UNBELIEVABLE, Rishton says...
12:52pm Fri 23 May 08
Why should people loose car parking places outside their house?...I bet the council will charge for the off street parking too.
BUILD MORE ROADS, DON'T REDUCE THE EXISTING ROADS CAPACITY WITH BUS LANES
Tim, Darwen says...
12:59pm Fri 23 May 08
The council can not even put the correct signs up re the terrible one way system or two way although signs do not show this! Bus lane will be hell!
Just a thought - why did trams disappear?
Darrener, Darwen says...
1:28pm Fri 23 May 08
out and about, trippin at a warehouse party this sunday says...
4:51pm Fri 23 May 08
pete, bburn says...
7:05pm Fri 23 May 08
pete, bburn says...
7:08pm Fri 23 May 08
asif khan, blackburn says...
8:14pm Fri 23 May 08
jj, blackburn says...
8:35pm Fri 23 May 08
gando, says...
1:19am Sat 24 May 08
jj wrote:Still a pittance considering...
To be fair you dont need a bus lane to get people on the buses. Diesel at £1.30 a litre is doing that. Ta very much. Anyway it will be short term pain for long term gain with the bus lane.
A) It's door to door.
B) You can lock the doors.
C) You can listen to what you like, not who others like.
D) The price of diesel forces bus fares up, and largely affects petrol consumers.
E) The temperature is what you wish.
F) Know smells, except the odd windy weather from down under.
G) You can smoke. It's not illegal.
H) At off-peak times it costs less in diesel than it does for a bus.
I) I'm sure I've missed something!!!!
All that will happen is more people choosing diesel power, rather than petrol power. This drives up the cost of every material object because of deliveries by diesel powered vehicles, including public transport.
Martha Volpero, blackburn says...
2:39pm Tue 27 May 08
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Adam, says...
2:55pm Thu 22 May 08
am i right in reading this as
'expect house prices on this route to drop'???