CONTROVERSIAL bus lane plans cannot be altered, council bosses have said.

And county council chiefs said that without the £50m Government cash for the lane it would be impossible to deliver a new bus station for Accrington before 2012.

Protesters in Hyndburn have continued to campaign against the proposal to link Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen with a dedicated bus lane.

Hazel Harding, leader of Lancashire County Council, has said the council had already ‘amended’ the plans to ‘attempt to resolve issues and to mitigate concerns’.

She said: “The county council is aware of the importance of parking to local businesses and every effort has been made to minimise the changes associated with Pennine Reach and to alleviate concerns.

"We believe that we have considered all practical alternatives for parking provision.

“Our officers have reviewed the suggestions and com-ments received during the public consultation period and, where possible, have amended and refined the plans in an attempt to resolve local issues and to mitigate concerns.

“The Pennine Reach plans have now been developed to a stage where it would be very difficult to dilute the proposals any further, without significant detriment to the benefits of the project as a whole and to its viability as a Major Scheme Bid to the Department for Transport.”

Coun Harding said the bus station would become reality more quickly thanks to the bus lane.

In a letter to Hyndburn Council she said: “On the question of the bus station, we see incorporating the proposals within Pennine Reach as a way of bringing forward the project much earlier than would otherwise be the case.

“Clearly, it would be nonsense for Hyndburn's hoped-for modern public transport to be operating out of your old bus station.

“Without Pennine Reach funding it is unlikely that we can deliver your new bus station until around 2012.

"With Pennine Reach this can be brought forward.

"I know that you are very keen for a new bus station and for the Pennine Square project that this will allow you to undertake in Peel Street.”