Bus lane approved by Blackburn with Darwen council

As many people feared councillors have ignored the strong protests against the controversial bus lane and have instead given the go ahead for the £50 million development.

The one way bus lane will link Darwen and Accrington via Blackburn but despite strong opposition from residents and businesses in Darwen and Ewood the council instead used statistics from an opinion poll they carried out on 1500 people which apparently came out in favour.

Yet you only have to look round town to see many shops and houses displaying the NO BUS LANE posters and our own online poll in which 93% voted AGAINST the bus lane to see a very different story. Many people now feel their opinions were ignored by the council who seemed determined to proceed with the lane.

Although it has been approved by the local council, Lancashire County Council will have the final say in a meeting scheduled for next month.

Some Darreners question the findings of the opinion poll and suspect statistics have been twisted. A simple poll asking "Do you want a bus lane?" would likely have shown a majority of people are against the idea, especially in Darwen.

Business owners like Miss Sunter, a hairdresser, have lost faith in the council saying "Our opinions appear to have been ignored time and time again. The bus lane will have a damaging effect on businesses in Darwen but nobody seems to care about that. If the council wants something they will get it with or without consent from local people. The new Academy and road layout in the town centre were the same."

Another business owner, David S, removed the NO BUS LANE poster earlier in the week saying "I have taken our poster down. I feel a sense of shame that there will be a bus lane whether I (or the majority) want one or not. It will be decided for us."

These comments were made on our Darwen Forum before the decision was made by the council.

The new bus lane will mean some side streets in Darwen will be cut off from the main road to provide additional "off-road" parking.

Were you in favour of the bus lane?