FEARS of upsetting the Christmas trade have delayed the opening of Lancaster's new city centre bus station.

Contractors Piningtons asked the council to close New Road and Damside Street for two weeks so that they could carry out vital work to enable the bus station to open on schedule on December 22.

But following consultation with the Chamber of Commerce, the council has decided to close off the streets after Christmas so as not to affect holiday shopping.

This move has angered the Greens who are worried the delay could cost the taxpayers' money if the contractors make a claim against the council. Green transport representative, Emily Heath, said: "This is outrageous. We have the chance to give public transport users an early Christmas present and yet the Tories and Independents are playing Scrooge.

New Road and Damside Street are small roads and disruption to traffic would be minimal. I don't know why the council is paying so much attention to the Chamber of Commerce, who don't even represent many shopkeepers, yet they are totally ignoring public transport users."

A letter from council officers told members that "the loss in trade to city retailers would be greater than any contractual claims to the City Council" but environment spokeswoman, Gina Dowding, said: "This is a very debatable point.

"A new bus station will give a big boost to businesses in the North of the city centre in the last few shopping days before Christmas and also the January sales.

"We already have a severe cash crisis - the last thing we need is yet more money being wasted on compensation payments."