BURNLEY'S shabby railway stations are set to be replaced with a new building as part of a drive to improve the borough's transport links.

An expert firm has been approached by Burnley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council to draw up plans for the future of the town's stations.

And the man responsible for Burnley's transport facilities, County Coun Tony Martin, said he expected the Liverpool-based developers to come back with a scheme which will signal the end of the town's four stations and see a new one built in their place.

Coun Martin, member for Burnley Central West, said at least £1million would have to be found to build the station which could be located where the town's two lines meet by Cavalry Way.

He said: "What I want is one station to serve the two lines, which means it will verge at Rosegrove or move closer to the centre.

"Burnley Manchester Road does not have many facilities and Burnley Central is the train to nowhere on a single line.

"The idea is to have a station where people feel safe, can wait in proper facilities rather than the bus shelters we have, have vending machines and maybe even a newsagents.

"My understanding is the architects are looking from the point of view of bringing the stations together rather than tarting the two up, which I don't want to see happen.

"Burnley's new bus station cost £3.5million, I don't want anything as grand as that but my view is we need to spend at least £1million to provide the train services."

The initial scheme cost £8,000 and Brock Carmichael Architects is due to come back in the coming weeks with its preferred options.

More detailed plans are then expected to be drawn up.

Network Rail is responsible for the upkeep of stations and would have a say on any proposals, but it is expected the cash would have to be found by the two authorities.

Regeneration experts Building Design Partnership included a replacement for Burnley Central earlier this year in its initial plans on how Burnley could be transformed in the next 15 years.

However, it is not the first time ambitious schemes to overhaul Burnley's rail links have been raised.

Last year plans for a futuristic revamp of Burnley Central hit the buffers after the project spiralled from £500,000 to £1million.

Coun Martin said the new station and the possible re-opening of the Todmorden Curve would allow direct services to Manchester.

He added: "Dr Beeching took away the line to Manchester in 1963 and we have been waiting since for anything to be done.

"It is one of the ways to regenerate Burnley, a station with direct services to Manchester."

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