A BOROUGH’S transport boss has expressed disappointment at Chancellor Rishi Sunak ignoring Lancashire in his weekend £6.9billion bus, tram, rail and cycling investment package.

The government Treasury boss allocated £1.07billion to Greater Manchester and £710m for the Liverpool City Region but nothing for the county.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Cllr Phil Riley, who signed off a £17.9m Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for the borough on Friday, said the lack of new cash for Lancashire in Mr Sunak’s package was ‘disappointing’.

His concern was echoed by his Conservative group shadow Cllr Paul Marrow.

Cllr Riley approved his borough’s bus plan for £17.9m of investment over the next five years to deliver bus improvements as Mr Sunak revealed his transport investment package for seven city areas which will be confirmed in his Autumn Statement tomorrow.

The Blackburn with Darwen blueprint will be submitted to the government at the end of the month for approval and a cash grant.

It aims to make buses more frequent; faster and more reliable; cheaper; more comprehensive; easier to understand and use; greener; more accessible; and safer.

It links to a similar plan being prepared by Lancashire County Council and requires a legal agreement with Transdev and other bus companies which aims to bring in cross-operator tickets.

Cllr Riley said: “It is disappointing that the government continues to concentrate on the major cities in the North West and does not appear to recognise the needs of Lancashire.

“This continues to happen across a whole range of transport projects and does not help with the government’s own ‘Levelling Up agenda.

“While we recognise the need to upgrade transport in Greater Manchester and Merseyside, the 1.5million people who live in Lancashire have similar needs that must be catered for.”

Cllr Marrow said: “We Conservatives share Cllr Riley’s disappointment that Lancashire was not included in the Chancellor’s announcement.

“I will be pressing for the government to come up with a separate pot of money for transport investment in Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire. Improving transport across the whole county is important for connectivity and the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda."

The Blackburn with Darwen plan says: “Our ask is for £17.9m of investment over the next five years to deliver improvements within the borough

“The BSIP will be key to delivering on bus priority and improvement measures that will, over time, make public transport the mode of choice in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.”