This is the vision for a £400,000 revamp of Great Harwood’s Towngate.

The improvements will come as part of the £32 million Pennine Reach Scheme to improve transport links between Accrington and Blackburn.

The proposals for Great Harwood will include a new bus stop, traditional bus shelter, tree planters and seating.

A ‘hopper bus’ service could also be implemented to pick up residents from outlying streets and drop them off on the Towngate.

Improvements to Towngate will see the retention of the cobbles, bollards put in place to restrict and direct vehicle access and a reduction in street signage.

The plans were unveiled at a Great Harwood area council meeting attended by more than 30 residents and community leaders.

Ward councillor Ciaran Wells praised the proposals and said it would make the area more accessible, improve the market and enhance existing buildings.

However some residents raised safety concerns after it was revealed the pelican crossing on Blackburn Road would be changed to a zebra crossing.

Ian Wilkinson said the overall plans looked ‘quite promising’ but was not happy with the narrowing of Blackburn Road.

He said: “There are too many roundabouts, a lot of traffic and buses could be parked in both directions at one point.”

John Duckworth, chairman of Great Harwood regeneration board, said the county council has done a ‘pretty good job’ with the available money but also objected to the pelican crossing being changed.

Car parking spaces will be retained along parts of Blackburn Road, but three spaces will be lost on Curate Street. The public square will also include power and utility outlets and lighting for events and markets and the bike rack facility could be moved over to Commercial Road.

The Pennine Reach Scheme will include a new bus station for Accrington and Blackburn and traffic improvements along Whalley Road in Clayton-le-Moors.

Chris Anslow, public transport development manager at Lancashire County Council, said the proposals were ‘very exciting’.

He told residents: “The bus service at the moment is quite good but it’s unreliable and gets caught up in congestion in places like Clayton-le-Moors.” Mr Anslow said the government will make a final decision on the Pennine Reach scheme by the end of May and funding could be put in place by the summer.