A DECISION to close Clitheroe's award-winning travel interchange in the evenings has been slammed.

Lancashire County Council has cut the opening hours of the town's interchange to save cash.

But Ribble Valley Council, a financial partner in the scheme, said neither it nor any of the local county councillors were informed of the decision.

Chris Holtom, chairman of Ribble Valley's policy and finance committee and a county councillor for Ribble Valley South West, said he was upset that county transport bosses had not consulted the authority.

The facility now closes at teatime from Monday to Saturday and at lunchtime on Sundays, instead of 11pm every night.

County Hall transport bosses apologised for failing to consult about the measures, but stressed the service was cut because of low passenger numbers in the evenings.

Coun Holtom said: "We contributed to its costs when it was built and pay £5,000-a-year towards its running costs so we have a right to know what's happening.

"The interchange was designed to help people for 12 or 14 hours a day, not cut off at tea time.

"It provides transport to rural areas, so people who don't know the area are going to feel stranded by this."

The £500,000 Clitheroe Interchange opened in 2000, after a rundown part of Station Road was turned into an eye-catching state-of-the-art facility.

The revamp led to it providing disabled access, information on services, ticket sales and an area for buses to pull in alongside the rail track.

The facility, which employs three full-time, one part-time and one casual member of staff, was lauded as an example of best transport practice in rural areas.