HIGHWAYS and public transport experts are being brought in to help draw up a package of measures to take Blackburn and Darwen into the next millennium.

According to a recent report, roads in the borough are facing funding crisis with many crumbling into ruin.

Council leaders are calling for extra cash from the government to pay for a series of urgent repairs.

Blackburn Town Hall will take over management of the borough's road network and public transport when the council becomes a unitary authority in the spring.

And council bosses have to prepare their first transport policy and programme by the summer.

This year's bid has already been approved and money has been set aside for improving Blackburn train station and general maintenance of the borough's roads. There are also moves to link up traffic lights and increase priority for buses in the town centre.

Because of the strict timetable, work will have to start on the new transport document as soon as possible.

Blackpool Council has already started drawing up its policies for the year 2000 and Blackburn with Darwen Council is planning to follow suit as soon as possible.

Consultants look set to brought in at a cost of £10,000 to start putting together the package of transport policies.

An extra £3,000 will be used to pay for a detailed report on passenger transport arrangements in the borough.

The consultants will take a close look at school buses and social services transport.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.