A CENTRAL car park or new two-way system are being considered alongside plans for Accrington’s new bus station.

The semi-pedestrianised area outside Accrington Town Hall currently only allows bus access, but could be opened to traffic to boost trade.

The new plans were revealed as Hyndburn Council and Lancashire County Council plan to submit a funding bid to the Government for the new station.

If the bid is approved, the new station would move to the former Kwik Save car park on Crawshaw Street and the old station would be turned into a short-stay car park.A decision could be made as soon as December and, if successful, the bus station could be completed by 2015.

Council leader Coun Miles Parkinson said it was important to find out what shoppers and traders wanted to see the space occupied by the old bus station, and the semi-pedestrianised area, used for.

He said: “It’s important to get their views. There is a gut instinct when you look at the semi-pedestianised section that it splits up the town. It seems to have had an effect on trading in Abbey Street.

“If the funding bid is successful, there will be money to change the old bus station into a car park. So we need to find out how people feel about that.”

Coun Parkinson said the decision to site the bus station at Crawshaw Street would reduce bus traffic entering the town by Blackburn Road. Buses would instead approach via the viaduct.

Other aspects of the proposals would see traffic signals upgraded to provide bus priority.