THERE will be traffic chaos in Nelson if a main road is closed to make way for a new bus and rail interchange, councillors have warned.

Transport bosses at Lancashire County Council want to shut Railway Street as part of the flagship £5million project to create a safe route between the railway station and the bus terminus. But Nelson councillors claim the move would force traffic on to side streets and could affect plans to revamp Nelson town centre.

Chairman of Nelson Committee Coun David Foster said: "If you close Railway Street it will force all the traffic on to Lomeshaye Road on the east side of the railway.

"Lomeshaye Road has a weak bridge and it houses a primary school. Hibson Road houses a primary school. There are a lot of children in the area where they are going to shunt this traffic through.

"We need a proper full-blown traffic study on Lomeshaye Road, Netherfield Road, Hibson Road, and Railway Street, to see how much traffic is on there."

Councillors said negotiations had to take place with the county council before the scheme could go ahead.

Council leader Coun Alan Davies said: "We need to make it clear we do see the new transport interchange as part of the regeneration of Nelson. We are paying a third of the cost of this interchange. It is right and proper if we are putting in that amount we have a say on how it is designed, and implemented."

A spokesman for the county council said if concerns about the closure were borne out, Railway Street could be re-opened, and bollards would open to provide access for the emergency services.