BUSINESSES next to Burnley's new-look £3.2million bus station are concerned new traffic restrictions are going to seriously affect their trade.

The town's futuristic station finally opens for use on Sunday -- seven weeks behind schedule.

But although the buses will be moved off the town's roads on to the new site off Centenary Way, part of Croft Street will become one-way and restricted to buses and Hackney cabs between the entrances to car parks at the rear of the shops.

Businesses welcomed the new-look bus station but voiced serious reservations about the new traffic restrictions because they would no longer benefit from passing trade. They also expressed concern that motorists would be confused by the new system.

Manager of Planet Pizza Abdul Qureshi said even though access to the car park will be maintained, the restrictions on Croft Street will seriously hamper his deliveries.

He said: "We will be writing to complain about the affect it will have on business. When you run a food delivery business you need to get food out within 30 minutes.

"We are pleased with the development of the bus station site, but we do not feel they have considered us in their plans."

Karen Farrow, manageress of Sun Centre, said: "Even though we can get to the car park it will still affect business because people can't get access on the road. Since the work started we have lost a lot of business."

Carol Cunningham, of Busy Bees frozen food, said: "It will have an affect until customers get used to the new road layout. We will have to wait and see if it settles down, the more difficult they make it the worse trade gets."

The bus station has been jointly developed by Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council since October 8 last year.

The original works were expected to take 40 weeks, which would have meant completion in the first week of July -- but then the delays came.

Today, principal architect at Burnley Council Andrew Rolfe, admitted the 40-week timescale was a bit ambitious for such a major project.

He said the work no sooner began when howling gales delayed the erection of the steel structures which, in turn, delayed the whole process as contractors had also agreed to carry out works on other sites.

From Tuesday, cars will be directed to use the new 'Tesco' traffic light junction on Centenary Way and Red Lion Street will return to two-way traffic.

Mr Rolfe said: "There is a new Hackney cab rank on Gunsmith Place at the bottom of Croft Street and the last phase will be able to start once the buses have moved on to the site.

"This will be when the Porta Kabins are moved off site and the newsagent and cafe are relocated into the concourse.

"There are also plans for a large retail outlet or four smaller retail shops to be developed next to the bus station, but it is likely this will be carried out next year.

"We hope the new bus station will give confidence to the traders in Croft Street and increase the foot flow of shoppers through this section of town."

Burnley and Pendle Travel's operations director Russell Revill said: "The great news for the public is that from Sunday all Burnley and Pendle buses will come off the streets and will begin using the new state of the art bus station.

"May I say how much Burnley and Pendle has appreciated the patience and loyalty of our regular customers who have stood waiting for buses in sub-standard conditions for the last ten months."