TWO bus stations in East Lancashire are helping transport bosses point the way to a 'greener' future.

A special report by a county council committee has looked into the way public transport works in Lancashire, using bus stations in Chorley and Burnley as examples.

Members of the county's transport working group visited the two modern transport interchanges and came up with a list of recommendations for the future.

One of the proposals is to fit solar panels into all new facilities, an idea which has been praised by environmental lobby groups.

Working group chairman County Coun Colin Waite, of Nelson, said: "We have been working in partnership with Chorley and Burnley councils in the hope of improving public transport and getting more people out of their cars and into trains and buses.

"As bus and train stations often have a great deal of glass in them, it makes sense to make use of the light coming in.

"We would like to see all new developments making use of renewable energy."

The working group, made up of seven county councillors, visited the sites in September, travelling by public transport. Once in Chorley and Burnley the group met members of the public, to see how successful the multi-million pound developments have been.

Chorley Interchange was finished earlier this year, and cost about £2.5million. Burnley bus station was finished last year at a cost of £3million.

From looking at the two sites a list was drawn up of ways the future of public transport could be developed.

Criticisms of the two sites have been worked into the proposals, which say that doors fitted for bus access to future developments should remain closed unless a bus is collecting or dropping off passengers, to keep in heat.

The group also suggests that negotiations for letting units inside transport interchanges should start earlier, after problems renting out the cafe area at Chorley bus station.

The group was also critical of signs directing people to the two bus stations, and said in the future they should be considered at the planning stage.

A spokesman for Friends of the Earth said: "We support the integration of renewable energy in all developments, and using solar energy in transport infrastructure makes a lot of sense.

"Not only is it better for the environment but it can also be a great deal cheaper in the long run."