TRADERS in Blackburn say they fear that radical changes to town centre roads could spell the end for specialist and independent shops.

The town's chamber of trade has appealed to the council to avoid a repeat of the loss of local shops that followed the closure of King William Street in the 1960s.

Traders say their main concerns centre on the proposed closure of a section of Lower Church Street, from the shopping centre entrance to the TJ Hughes building.

A spokesman for the chamber said traders were "delighted" with the scheme to close town centre roads and create an orbital route around the town - the body was in full agreement with the overall aim of better linking The Boulevard and railway station area to the rest of the town.

But he also said: "We are gravely concerned over the proposed closure of a section of Lower Church Street, having canvassed for the orbital route with good signs to be put in place first and then monitor the knock-on effect on the Church Street route across town.

"It is imperative that routes for cars and buses around the town for residents and visitors to the borough are freely available in order for there to be trouble-free access to the shopping centre.

"With the closure of King William Street and building of a shopping centre in the mid-60s too many specialist and independent shops were lost and the chamber does not wish to see this same scenario should a new traffic management scheme not be correct at the time of implementation.

He added: "The proposed two-way traffic on Railway Road is an important route for access to the south of Blackburn if the small section on Lower Church Street is closed.

"We are deeply concerned about traffic movement should this access be revoked upon the finish of the proposed development at Lower Audley."

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