A CONTROVERSIAL park and ride scheme has taken a new twist.

Councillors have given the thumbs up to a different layout for the project after Lancashire County Council's original plans came in for criticism from local residents who were worried about the impact on properties on the proposed Winery Lane site.

This worry was echoed by South Ribble council who pushed the County Surveyor for changes to improve things for Flatts House, River View and Barn House.

Now South Ribble's Development Services Committee has approved revised plans which will mean the County Council buying the properties and incorporating them into the 900-space park-and-ride site.

South Ribble's chair of Development Services Councillor Tom Hanson said: "It's been contentious because without amendments the project would've affected the three properties.

"It'll be disrupting for them but from what I can gather they're just an island in the middle of developers. They'll get the full market value for their houses."

But the park and ride scheme is not cut and dried. The County Council has pushed for an extra lane to be built on London Way to take the traffic into Preston.

Preston council are firmly against the idea. Public Transport Sub-committee chair Councillor Ron Atkins said: "The council has made up it's mind. It's against any widening of the road and we won't be giving way on that.

"We've reached the stage where the County will try to put the pressure on but they will come up against objections."

A spokesman for the County Council said: "We've not changed the plans. It's just an amendment. We will now be going back to committee to see what the next step is."

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