Blackburn Bus Station Shocker £3.7 million over budget

Blackburn's much heralded bus station has finally cost £8.4 million. Blackburn with Darwen's Labour run council said it would only cost £4.7 million at the start. They had to replace the contractors during the building of the project and when challenged by Liberal Democrat Councillors they said it would not result in increased costs. Liberal Democrat Councillor Roy Davies said," This will come as a shock to Blackburn with Darwen Council Tax payers, the Labour Councillors in charge should hang their heads in shame." His colleague Councillor Paul Browne added, "This is not the first time this council has overspent on big projects - they miscalculated on the cost of removing burials to make way for the ring road extension."

There are worries that there may be yet mores costs as problems have come to light in recent weeks with a crack in the floor of the bus station. Councillor Davies said, "The shocking figures also show that the Council's scrutiny regime has failed - this should have been picked up earlier and I am now demanding that a thorough investigation take place into this matter so that future massive overspends like this do not happen again."