I HAD a winning treble last week; not that it would have paid much.

A comfortable “Yes” vote in the town council referendum was an even bet, a 20 per cent turnout around 7/2, while the executive board nod to the controversial bus lane scheme was long odds on.

My confident forecast of a 60/40 “Yes” vote from a turnout of 20 per cent proved to be well up to my usual high standard.

It was, in fact, a 58/42 “Yes” vote from a turnout of 20.49 per cent.

Perhaps the next time something like this crops up they will just ask for my verdict and save everyone a lot of time. I could save ’em a fortune.

So what happens next? Well, the Neighbourhood Boards are on their way and the For Darwen Party are still claiming they will cost at least a million pounds.

“It’ll probably be a lot more,” says Phil Jones.

But will a Darwen Town Council become another expensive reality? Probably.

But not without a fight. Tony Melia told me he presumes it will get the nod from the full council.

“I can’t imagine that anyone will try to change the ground rules now.”

But he’ll certainly be looking over his shoulder for a while.

Labour are certainly backing it. Dave Hollins was adamant: “The people of Darwen have spoken very clearly.

"We wouldn’t dream of going against that decision.”

Lib Dem leader David Foster was disappointed. He reckoned that the Conservative group now hold the key.

And they didn’t seem at all sure how to play it.

However, here’s another forecast from your columnist.

A Darwen Town Council will go through. And we’ll live to regret it.

Earlier the executive board had met at the Library Theatre, ostensibly to decide the future of the Pennine Reach bus plan, but the book had been closed days before.

As I wrote last week: “They have to press on; too much money has been thrown at it already. Hundreds of thousands of pounds is my guess.”

The original plan has certainly been well chewed but Darwen’s top transport expert, Gordon Holden, is still unimpressed.

“What’s wrong with it?” I asked him at the Derwent Hall display.

“You mean what’s right with it?” he replied and proceeded to go into expansive detail which, I’m sorry to admit, left me anxious to escape and wrap myself around a large Béné.

I hadn’t expected anyone from Capita to turn up, but technical director Faris Samin himself was on hand and more than happy to discuss his £50 million scheme.

A smooth operator, Mr Samin. Very confident; very cool. He obviously feels he is on safe ground.

Quick quotes: “Doing nothing is not an option,” Alan Cottam.

“It's been seen as a bus lane issue. It's much wider; it’s a transport issue,” David Foster.

“There’s nothing to encourage people to use the buses. It needs a lot more thought,” Kate Hollern.

Incidentally, it will be a 24-hour bus lane – by about 2030.

Meanwhile it’ll start with just peak-time operation.