PLANNING chiefs at Fylde Borough Council are claiming reports of a public apology for the delays to work in St Annes Square are wrong and stated the reason for the delay is a series of "complications and misunderstandings."

Chief development control officer Paul Drinnan said that he has not apologised for anything as he didn't feel his department was fully to blame. He said: "There has been much criticism about the work being beyond schedule but the main problem has been with the new street lighting."

Complications arose because the lighting needed approval from Lancashire County Council but plans were thrown into doubt when safety guidelines changed in the middle of the process. The council chose a specific set of lighting columns from a company called Sugg Lighting at the start of the year, who in turn were to approach the County Council for approval. But Mr Drinnan said: "We want to suspend lights and decorations from the columns but being near the coast they must meet certain criteria, such as resistance to wind." He said Suggs Lighting spoke to the County Council to discuss this but in March the criteria changed and they had to start all over again, hence the delay.

Complications also arose in digging the pits, as workmen discovered gas, electric and telephone cables which they weren't expecting.

In the meantime, work began this week on the next stage of the Square's regeneration to make two town centre roads one-way.

Work is taking place to make sections of Park Road and Orchard Road one-way, which would improve conditions for motorists and pedestrians and effectively double the number of free on-street parking spaces on these roads.

Principal Planner David Wilkinson said: 'This was always part of the original plans for the Square and the 'no entry' signs were put in place this week. We now have to

remove the yellow lines on the roads and mark out the new white lining to show the parking spaces, which should be completed by the end of the month."