A COUNCIL leader could be set to snub a meeting to discuss controversial bus lane plans after claiming: “It feels like we are being blackmailed”.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, of Hyndburn Council, said that he was angry people’s concerns over the Pennine Reach scheme were ‘not being listened to’.

The meeting will take place at The Globe Centre in Accrington on Friday where representatives from the county council will discuss the plans with local “stakeholders” such as Hyndburn Council.

The proposals is to link Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen with a dedicated bus lane.

Coun Britcliffe said: “We have not yet decided whether to pull out of the meeting but there will be a protest outside.

“We have been told that projects in Hyndburn, including the new Accrington bus station and the development at the Church and Oswaldtwistle traffic lights junction in Blackburn Road, may not go ahead without Pennine Reach.

“It feels like we are being blackmailed. The county council is just patronising everyone.

"We are talking about people not being able to park in front of their own homes.

But a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said there were no plans to create an actual bus lane through Oswaldtwistle.

The spokesman said they wanted to ‘ease the flow’ of rush-hour traffic in Union Road by restricting parking between 8am-9.30am and 4.30pm-6.30pm Monday to Friday.

County bosses said no parking spaces would be removed.