A KEY Blackpool street is set for yet more disruption - and traders have declared 'it's a load of cobblers.'

Abingdon Street, which faced nine months of disruption as town centre regeneration work closed roads and pavements earlier this year, is to be torn up again in January so cobbles can be put down.

The work was supposed to be part of this summer's renovations but was postponed because a delay over cobbles intended to emphasise the fact that the streets are 'pedestrian priority.'

Peter Tagg, manager of Greenwood's Menswear, said: "I'm not angry, I just wish they had got it right first time. At least they are doing it at the right time of the year bu the whole thing has been a fiasco from start to finish. It begs questions over the competence of council officials.

"Traders and residents just can't understand the council's mentality. The work seems to go ahead without much control."

The council's Conservative group leader, Cllr Peter Callow, slammed the decision. He said: "If this is the way they are talking about regeneration they have let the town down. Do they think anything through?

"I have asked numerous questions about the cost, penalty clauses and compensation for the traders but haven't had a straight answer to any.

"The traders have had major disruption all through the summer. It has ruined some town centre businesses."

The council's deputy leader, Cllr Eddie Collett, said: "We are very sympathetic to traders and visitors who have endured enough disruption. When we introduce the new road sets in the New Year, it will be installed in small chunks to avoid widespread disruption. It will start with work outside St John's Church, which is the second phase of the improvement project and the 'cobbling' will be phased in with this development." The first phase of work was supposed to be completed in early June, but continued until November. New contractors are now on site to attempt to sort out damage caused during the first phase.

The state of the first phase improvement work has also come under fire. Mr Tagg added: "We're very disappointed. Our chairman has written to the council expressing concern about the grubby, dirty state of the paving already. The light colour looks nice as a sample, but it isn't so nice when it's down."

Cllr Collett added: "The exciting Masterplan is a rolling 15 year programme of works. It's all very well supporting regeneration but you've got to will the means by which it's done. It would be foolish to think that we can successfully reinvent the town without an element of muck, dust and noise!"

PRIVATE hire vehicles are to be allowed into the semi-pedestrianised areas of Abingdon St and Church St following a change of heart by the council's executive. At present only Hackney carriages, buses and cycles are allowed in the pedestrian priority area but orders are to be amended to make the change.

Urban environment portfolio holder, Cllr Fred Jackson, said: "We are a listening council and we recognised that there were issues we needed to address. Sympathetic to the cause of the private hire companies, we agreed to act on their concerns."