BUSINESSMEN are celebrating a victory over council plans to ban street parking in a busy central area of Burnley.

Shops and solicitors' offices protested over the planned shake-up of traffic systems around Hargreaves Street and Hammerton Street, currently at the centre of a major improvement programme.

They enlisted the aid of Burnley and District Chamber of Trade, which lobbied the council to re-think the plan they said would turn the lively streets into a ghost area.

Now the Chamber is celebrating victory after the town hall announced a halt to the proposal.

"Businessmen were seriously considering leaving the area if the plans had gone through," said Chamber secretary Rita Walsh. "We are delighted the council has shown the flexibility and common sense to adjust their thinking."

"The streets around Hargreaves Street are very busy short-term parking zones with a very high turnover, which stimulates business.

"We thought it would have been a disaster to force through traffic changes which would, in effect, have barred parking and made the area inaccessible to many. If they had barred parking the area would have died.

"The change of heart is very good news which will be widely welcomed." Instead of the traffic shake-up, the council has agreed to carry out environmental improvements to link in with the major face-lift now taking place in Hammerton Street.

Council officer in charge of the central area projects Mike Sidebottom, said: "We listened and took note of what the Chamber and businesses were telling us and decided that, for the moment, there will be no further changes in traffic movement.

"We may re-visit the issue in the future, but if we do, the interests of local traders will be taken fully into account."

Mr Sidebottom said major improvements in Hammerton Street, costing £300,000 would be completed by the end of August and a £250,000 scheme to improve adjoining Lower St James' Street was also nearing completion.

More money would soon be spent on the nearby Lodge Square area and on block improvements in Hammerton Street, he added.