THE proposed timetable provided for the new £6.4million Accrington bus station has been branded as a “fiasco”.

Senior Hyndburn councillor Peter Britcliffe has criticised Lancashire County Council over timetable clashes that would leave “three or four buses” allocated to the same bay at the same time.

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His concerns have been echoed by operator M&M Coaches and Pilkington Buses which has also highlighted a “lack of space” for buses to turn around in the station.

Cllr Britcliffe said: “It is a complete fiasco.

“The whole scheme, from beginning to end, has been plagued with errors.”

M&M’s transport manager Bob Tuffnell said: “There is not going to be enough room if everybody uses it.

“Looking atPlans show there are problems with the stand allocations.

“For a start, at certain times of the day they have got three or four buses allocated to the same bay at the same time.

“The number one bus to Oswaldtwistle would clash with the 46 going to Blackburn.

“Looking at the stand allocations, I don’t think the bus station is going to work out very well.

“All this has got to be ironed out.”

Under plans set out by Lancashire County Council, buses using Accrington’s new bus station would need to meet emissions targets.

Double-decker buses, according to Pennine Reach plans, would need to meet Euro Three standards with immediate effect and Euro Four standards by Sunday, May 28, 2017.

But these requirements under the Statutory Quality Bus Partnership (SQPB) could lead to coaches being exempt, Mr Tuffnell said.

He added: “If they insist on introducing the SQBP, we would not be able to use the bus station.”

Complaints have been made about the turning circle within the bus station being too tight for buses to manoeuvre.

A Pilkington Buses spokesman said: “Some people have made complaints about it being too small.”

However, measures taken are to ensure a “quality bus partnership” with “high standards”, the council said.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “To ensure we’re doing all we can to meet the aims of Pennine Reach in providing high quality services which attract people to use the buses, we’re working with all partners to introduce a quality bus partnership to ensure high standards of service are maintained.

“We have held a formal consultation and are continuing to talk to operators about the issues raised before the scheme is confirmed.

“We’re also liaising with operators regarding their timetables for using the new Accrington bus station to ensure any adjustments needed can be accommodated before the station opens.”