THE £175,000 revamp of Great Harwood’s town square has moved one step closer, with work due to get under way next year.

The cobbles will remain but a new bus stop, cause of much controversy, will also be installed, new plans revealed.

Under the scheme the cobbles will be lifted, cleaned, replaced where necessary and relaid, but a previous plan to get rid of them completely has been scrapped.

The open area around the clock tower will be regenerated to ‘provide a fresh, inviting environment to complement the new bus layby and stop’, an application lodged by Lancashire County Council said.

Rossendale slabs will be laid around the clock tower, and new street lighting will be installed. Electricity points will also be fixed in the ground to make it easier for market traders to access power.

The scheme is being funded by section 106 money – cash paid by Tesco to reduce the impact of its development and money from Pennine Reach, the rapid bus transport scheme which is aimed at improving public transport.

Lancashire County councillor for Great Harwood, and Overton councillor for Hyndburn Council, Gareth Molineux, said removing the bus stop from the plans would have resulted in the loss of some of the funding.

He said: “The figure would not have been as significant as what we are spending. Some people say the bus stop is not going to work and it will cause congestion, but the research shows that’s not the case.

“Great Harwood will see millions invested over the next couple of years, on the new health centre, the town square regeneraton, and the Mercer Clock regeneration.”