A BUSINESSMAN has launched a campaign in favour of a controversial bus lane.

Alex Martindale, who is a manager of a Darwen IT company, has set up a pro-bus lane group on the social networking site, Facebook, to show his support of the £50million scheme.

The 28-year-old, who commutes from Blackburn to Darwen to work, is urging anyone in favour of the scheme to boycott all 22 shops who are displaying Darwen Rotary Club’s No Bus Lane posters.

His Facebook site also urges the members of The Rotary Club and businesses opposed to the scheme to “read the proposals thoroughly, abandon their blanket opposition to the scheme, and enter into discussion with Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Transport for Lancashire to address their specific concerns.”

On the site Mr Martindale says: “This group believes that the PennineReach proposals would be good for businesses, residents, public transport users and drivers.”

The group currently has 32 members since it was launched earlier this month.

The 24-7 lane, which would run between Darwen and Accrington via Blackburn, would be used by a high-tech fleet of buses which would be given priority at traffic lights.

Mr Martindale said: “The Rotary Club are supposed to be a non-political charitable organisation and I don’t understand why they are involved in the campaign.

“I feel strongly about this issue and that is why I am urging people to boycott the shops.

“Our business is located in Darwen and our staff commute from Bolton and Blackburn.

"Darwen is a good location but in 10 to 20 years it won’t be feasible to drive to the town because of congestion and the rise in car ownership.

“It is a shame more people aren’t in favour of it.

"I can understand why on the face of it but it would improve transport coming to the area.

“This scheme would save 160,000 of CO2 emissions per year.”

Tom Marsden, from Darwen Rotary Club, who helped launch the No Bus Lane, said: ”The Rotary Club is divided into three areas - charitable, international and community.

“Anything that effects the community and is bad for Darwen which people are opposed to it, we will help.

“When we launched the campaign people didn’t have any idea what it was about and I have not met a single person in favour of it.”

Earlier this month Darwen MP Janet Anderson set up a page on social networking website Facebook to protest against the PennineReach scheme.

More than 400 people have joined the Facebook group Mrs Anderson set up called ‘Say No to the Bus Lane on the A666 in Darwen’.

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