PROTESTERS campaigning against the council's plan to shut off a town centre street handed in their letters of objection at the town hall.

More than 260 letters opposing to the closure of Church Street under plans to regenerate Blackburn's town centre were collected and protesters said there could have been more. Ron O' Keefe, vice-chairman of Chamber of Trade, said: "If we had had more time we could have got hundreds more letters, probably thousands."

The letters of objection were handed in on behalf of traders, customers and taxi drivers -- all who said closing Church Street would have a severe effect on Blackburn. Norman Forrest, a private-hire car owner and driver, said: "This is going to cripple the town and we will all feel the knock-on effects. Taxi drivers will have to do a two-mile round trip to get into the centre."

The protesters hoped to hand the letters into one of the council officers although they were instead handed in at the counter of the town hall.

A Blackburn with Darwen council spokesman said no one was available to receive the letters personally.

Mr O' Keefe said: "This speaks volumes about the way the council is treating this. It is supposed to be a con- sultation."

Picture: Bob Turner, Norman Forrest, Ron O' Keefe and Mark Littler arrive at the town hall with more than 260 letters of protest