PLANS are being drawn up to create a new entrance to Blackburn Railway Station in a bid to end traffic congestion in the town centre.

Coun Ashley Whalley, the man charged with spearheading the regeneration of Blackburn made the announcement as the first shop to locate on a new multi-million shopping and leisure complex next to the station opened.

Matalan opened its doors earlier this week on the new £18 million Peel Holdings site.

Stationery firm Staples will follow soon, while discussions over what will occupy Phase Two of the site, aimed at a leisure firm, are continuing.

The whole project, on land running from Blackburn Railway Station to Audley, is expected to create 300 jobs.

The developer, which also owns Blackburn Ice Arena and the Trafford Centre in Manchester, and the council are hoping for a cinema, bowling alley or fitness centre to agree. And once that deal is done, preparations can be made to give Blackburn Railway Station a second vehicular access.

At a meeting of the council's executive board, concern was expressed by members of the public that a decision to make Railway Road, where the entrance to the station is, two-way had led to more traffic using it. The parking spaces at the railway station, which are all short stay, back directly on to Railway Road and cars using the spaces often cause congestion.

Railway Road was made two-way before the closure of Church Street last year to allow cars to travel across the town centre.

Coun Whalley, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "In the future, we think more and more people will use the orbital route.

"But we recognise that things could be improved around the railway station.

"One of the things we are talking about with Peel Holdings is providing a new entrance on their side of the railway station, with parking and vehicular access as well."

Work began on the Peel Holdings site last summer. It was a former gasworks site.

When the project was launched, it was described as an integral part of the Town Centre Action Plan, a multi-million pound scheme which will see Blackburn town centre transformed.

Blackburn Railway Station itself has been the subject of a multi-million pound refurbishment. New waiting areas, lifts and ticket offices have been included.

Lancashire Police also intend to open a police station within the railway station when base in Northgate relocates to Whitebirk.