EFFORTS are being made all over the country to stop cars clogging up town and city centres.

And with good reason, since too many busy streets become gridlocked at peak times each day.

But the problems facing councils and planners alike is how to get rid of the jams without discouraging shoppers, who are the lifeblood of all town centres, and driving them to out-of-town retail parks.

Some town centres are fortunate enough to be have developed, or been carefully planned over decades, in such a way that traffic is smoothly directed straight into huge car parks within walking distance of all the shops.

In Blackburn, however, rather than a long-term masterplan we have had a whole series of piecemeal alterations over many, many years.

This has resulted, to quote the Chamber of Trade, in a "tortuous" traffic system. It is so complex, and ever changing, that you frequently see confused drivers turning the wrong way into one-way streets. And woe betide any stranger trying to navigate their way to a central location.

We need some clarity so that people can drive to town, park and shop without risking a nervous breakdown.

The future of Blackburn centre depends on it.