MANY town centres throughout the country are suffering because shoppers are turning away from them in droves.

There are many reasons for this but one constant is the convenience of out-of-town shopping centres with ample free parking and easy access to light, airy supermarkets and discount stores via wide, newly built roads.

In Burnley the council has done well in managing to keep major supermarket chains like Sainsburys and Tesco close to the centre of the town, so reducing the risk of a major exodus.

But members of the Chamber of Trade are worried that poor traffic management could negate the good development work by deterring customers because of road congestion.

Lancashire County Council engineers are to meet Burnley Council to discuss traffic problems highlighted by the Chamber surrounding the town's ring road and trouble spots including Curzon Street, Manchester Road and Active Way.

As secretary Rita Walsh points out: "The danger is this problem solves itself when people stop coming into Burnley. We need to take some action to modify and improve things."

She fears that a new Tesco store and the bus station development could make an already bad situation worse without urgent attention.

Common sense dictates that when regular destinations for shoppers change, and new stores are built, the road and public transport systems surrounding them must be adjusted to cope with new flows and pressure points.

And Burnley Council must ensure that the county council acts to minimise delays and keep traffic moving smoothly and efficiently.

To do any less would be pure folly and wipe out all the good work done in striving to keep Burnley ahead of surrounding competition as a shopping centre that is a pleasure to use.