A PROJECT to build a new car park for Burnley’s busier Manchester Road railway station has hit the buffers.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed last month that extra work was being undertaken to improve facilities at both Manchester Road and Rose Grove stations in the coming months.

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And £750,000 has been set aside for a new car park at Manchester Road, to serve the increased passenger numbers being generated by the new faster service from East Lancashire to Manchester city centre.

The new city line is also expected to become even more in demand this summer as engineering works curtail the alternative route to Manchester from Clitheroe and Blackburn through Darwen.

But the site which appears to have been highest on the shopping list for the venture is currently occupied by Burnley Ambulance Station, in Dent Row.

And North West Ambulance Service is much cooler on the idea than Lancashire County Council and Burnley Council, which have led the redevelopment of the Manchester Road station.

Martin Galloway, interim project manager for Lancashire County Council, said: “We are working with Burnley Council to look into options to increase the car parking around Manchester Road railway station.

“This includes ongoing discussions with the ambulance service. However, no decisions have been made at this stage.”

County councillors had been told, as part of an update for the East Lancashire Transport Masterplan, that £450,000 had been set aside for land acquisition, and a further £300,000 for the construction phase.

And the only stumbling block appeared to be the chances of a new location for an ambulance station being found within the town centre.

But a NWAS spokesman said: “We are aware of the proposals being discussed by Lancashire County Council and Burnley Council. We can confirm that there are no plans to relocate Burnley Ambulance Station.”

Further proposals had also been drawn up for a mini bus interchange to serve Rose Grove station, as the platform serves as a hub for Padiham and Pendle travellers.