A COUNCIL row over the future of a Cleveleys tram shelter looks set to leave passengers out in the cold for the third winter running.

The shelter -- at Victoria Square in the town -- was demolished in 2001 after Blackpool Borough Council officials ruled the original cast iron structure was unsafe.

A replacement has yet to be built despite many complaints from tram users, including pensioners Adelaide Cowie, 75, and neighbour Harry Cook, 89, of Waterhead Crescent, Norbreck.

Both rely heavily on the Blackpool Transport tram system but are reluctant to travel after current site owners, Blackpool Borough Council, and local authority, Wyre Borough Council, decided the provision of a new shelter is not their responsibility.

A Blackpool Borough Council spokeswoman said: "Across the country public transport shelters are provided by the council for that area who provide shelters for bus services.

"We see no distinction between that and tram shelter provision."

Similarly a Wyre Borough Council spokesman said: " We would like to see some replacement shelters at Victoria Square and we are still in discussion with Blackpool to try and achieve that.

"But the responsibility for this remains with Blackpool as they demolished the old shelters."

Current Blackpool Masterplan proposals include an overhaul of the tram network, from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, as part of the introduction of a new light rail system.

But Harry -- a retired Chemical Engineer at BNFL -- said: "It's ridiculous that it's taken so long to get something done about this.

"And we can't wait for the new light rail system to be put in place, we need a shelter now.

"If I was a few years younger I'd go out and do the job myself."

A recent solution came from Blackpool Transport who offered to build a shelter in return for advertising privileges to cover their expenses.

But this was vetoed by Wyre engineering officials who were unhappy about potential safety risks posed by obscured vision to tram drivers on the route.

Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, Steve Bird said: "The problem we face is that if we put up one shelter at our own expense then we are giving certain councils the excuse to abdicate their responsibilities to provide this facility."

Now Anchorsholme Cllr Jonathon Bamborough and Norbreck Cllr Peter Callow have pledged to lend their support to negotiations in a bid to settle the dispute as soon as possible.

Cllr Bamborough -- a director of Blackpool Transport -- said: "It has been suggested that Wyre are being slightly dogmatic about the provision of a new shelter at Victoria Square.

"But we all want to see a solution to the problem as soon as possible."

Blackpool Conservative leader, Cllr Callow said: "I will be contacting Cllr Alan Vincent, shortly to try and find an end to this on-going saga. There has to be some sort of satisfactory conclusion for all parties concerned."