FEARS that Burnley's new bus station could sink into underground mineworkings, have little foundation say councillors.

They have decided against a £170,000 scheme to pump tonnes of grouting into the old mine workings which burrow below Croft Street, to fully secure the foundations of the station site before reconstruction work starts later this year.

Instead, they will "stand the risk" of settlement and regularly monitor for movement to ensure there is no danger to the public.

Council regeneration chiefs, spearheading the £2million new bus station scheme heard high costs could undermine the project and decided to look again at recent expert advice that grouting work should be carried out on safety grounds.

A report to councillors says the existing bus station, with a roof made of reinforced concrete had stood on the same ground for 40 years without movement.

The nearby Thompson recreation centre and the five-storey Safeway House, which were both much heavier and substantial than the bus station had also withstood the test of time. The report to the regeneration committee added that the new station would have a lightweight steel structure and safer foundations.

Now Lancashire county engineers have agreed it would be reasonable not to grout for the new station.

And councillors have decided to press ahead with the scheme without filling in the mine workings.

Said regeneration committee chairman Steve Wolski: "We wanted to be absolutely certain there was very little risk of any danger." to ensure there was no danger. and if there was any sign of settlement, remedial action would be taken.