TOWN chiefs want to ease fears over the future of Darwen bus station and market.

It follows concerns raised by residents about possible relocation of the sites to make way for open space and water features.

Many people expressed their fears on questionnaires during consultation over the regeneration of Darwen centre in September, which allowed residents and shoppers the chance to look at plans and comment on them.

Darwen Town Centre Partnership met earlier this month to look at possible options and considered the responses from the local community and the alternatives put forward.

As a result, Blackburn with Darwen Council is now returning to the drawing board and will present its new ideas to the Partnership at its next meeting on December 1.

And members say local people will again have chance to comment on the plans before any decisions are taken.

Consultation with the local community on revised plans will take place when the partnership has a draft proposal for the future of the town centre which it is happy to support.

This is likely to be early in the New Year.

Coun Andy Kay, chairman of Darwen Partnership and the council's executive member for regeneration, said: "We have a strong partnership working for Darwen that reflects the make up of the local community very well.

"The council will continue to give the support the partnership needs to ensure that it has the capacity to lead the regeneration of Darwen Town Centre with the endorsement of local people."

Darwen Town Centre Partnership represents the people and organisations of Darwen and is committed to ensuring Darwen has a strong and vibrant town centre which provides the right conditions and environment to secure its economic prosperity for all stakeholders.