A NEW bus station has been so badly designed that buses cannot pull into the stands and congestion is causing delays, according to transport companies.

Accrington bus station, which was redeveloped last year, now has shelters which are so close to the pavement that buses cannot pull up to the kerb, said Michael Morton, director of Blackburn Transport.

He said: "If the driver gets close to the kerb, when he pulls out the back of the bus swings round and hits the shelter. We now have to stop in the road, which is dangerous for passengers and defeats the object of having easy access buses."

Mr Morton said the company had written to Hyndburn Council several times but had not yet received an answer.

Accrington bus station was now much smaller and no longer had enough space for buses to wait for their timetabled time, so drivers wait on the stands instead, according to Alan Pilkington, a partner in Pilkington's of Accrington.

He said the congestion meant some buses could not reach the stands to pick up passengers when they were due to leave, leading to delays.

Mr Pilkington said some of his drivers decided to run their services early in order to avoid the delays. The firm was recently fined several thousand pounds by the Government, partly for running late and early services. Coun Peter Britcliffe, Conservative leader of Hyndburn Council, blamed the problems on the previous Labour administration who were in power when the plans were made.

He said: "I've had many complaints from members of the public who say the shelters are inadequate and they get soaking wet while they are waiting.

"Many people regard it as a disaster waiting to happen as it is now so crowded with buses."

Labour group leader Coun Ken Curtis said: "When these plans went through they were accepted by both parties and there were no objections. Part of the bus station has now been taken up by the proposed new market area. You cannot put a quart in a pint pot, and so long as the Traffic Commissioner keeps allowing more operators to run services, there is going to be congestion."

Coun Britcliffe said the council was considering redeveloping the station and moving some of the bus stops elsewhere in the town centre to reduce congestion in the bus station.

He said: "If some buses terminate elsewhere, it helps circulate people around the different shopping areas."

Pictured is a bus waiting to enter Peel Street, its back end sticking out into the road.

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