EXISTING streets could be used to create a low cost 'inner relief road' in Blackburn, according to plans put forward at a public meeting last night.

Blackburn Civic Society has drawn up its own scheme for smoothing traffic flow around the town's clogged-up streets.

The route aims to encourage through traffic away from Blackburn town centre and ease congestion at blackspots like Mincing Lane.

The plans include encouraging through traffic along Higher Audley Street past Tommy Balls and down Lower Audley Street to the Darwen Street Bridge area.

Suggestions also include a new traffic system, possibly a gyratory system, in the Park Road-Darwen Street Bridge area and re-directing through traffic along Canterbury Street.

Another proposal is to make town centre streets such as Darwen Street 'semi-pedestrianised,' allowing vehicles access only. Civic Society chairman Roy Walsh, said the idea of the plan was to still make Blackburn accessible for cars but to take through traffic away from the centre.

"It would free up the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists and let cars in to maintain the economy of the town centre," he said.

Mr Walsh stressed that the society was open to suggestions from the public about traffic changes and would listen to all points of view before making a final submission to the council.

Green Party candidate Robin Field, spoke to the meeting about the need to consider cyclists in any plans.

"You've got to look at reducing traffic, not just easing the flow," he said.

Doug Nicholson, representing Blackburn Transport, said he supported many of the society's suggestions and pointed out that it had taken 17 minutes for one bus to get from the Boulevard to Suddell Cross.

However, he also praised the current access arrangements for buses in Blackburn which, he said, were among the best in the country.

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