THE site of Accrington bus station could be turned into a car park when the transport facility moves to a new site, it has been revealed.

And in a further parking boost for the borough, the controversial £50million bus lane may not see the loss of any parking as had been feared.

A new £4.5million bus station is set to be built in Crawshaw Street in the coming years, if funding can be found. This will vacate the current site in Peel Street.

Council Leader Peter Britcliffe said talks were underway to turn this into a car park.

He believes the new car park would keep footfall through the market following the town centre changes and replace parking lost for the new bus station.

Coun Britcliffe put the case for a car park at a meeting with council bosses.

He said: “I made it clear that I expect the area of the old bus station at Peel Street to be converted into a new town centre car park, which would be a tremendous benefit for the new market hall and that I would like to see the roads in front of the town hall reopened to improve traffic flow around the town.”

Coun Britcliffe met with Public Private Partnerships Procurement which had been appointed by the Government to review the controversial bus lane scheme.

‘Pennine Reach’ would link Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen with a bus lane to ease congestion.

There had been fears in Hyndburn that this would result in the loss of parking in the borough and particularly Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

But Coun Britcliffe said the Government body told him there was a new proposal that would allow existing spaces to be used all day, instead of facing new restrictions.