Daily traffic jams in Fulwood, Preston, show no signs of improving after County Hall bosses admitted they had still not got their hands on the land to build the 548-space car park near junction 31a of the M6.

A firm has not even been chosen to build the £2.5m facility next to the Norman Jepson pub, despite the county council originally mooting the plans in 2005.

In March 2007, County Coun Michael Welsh, who represents the area, said he hoped the Bluebell Way facility would be up and running by this March.

Then, after planning permission was granted earlier this year, the county council said it hoped to have the facility open by the end of this year.

Today, business bosses urged council chiefs to get on with the work "sooner rather than later."

Hugh Evans, policy director at the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: "This area has grown so rapidly in terms of business development in the past five or six years but what hasn't kept pace is improvement to the infrastructure. We want to see it sooner rather than later.

"There's a great deal of frustration that transport infrastructure projects take a long time to get going.

"You're not talking about big buildings here – you're talking about a car park."

And a spokesman for Homeserve Claims Management, based in Caxton Road, said: "We are disappointedthat the park and ride facility for the area has not yet been put in place.

"As one of Preston's largest employers, this facility is a necessity if we are to continue to grow our business and stay in the local area."

Coun Nick Pomfret, who represents the Ribbleton ward on Preston Council, said the whole issue of providing park and ride facilities needed to be resolved.

He said: "Unless the park and rides are up and running before the bus station goes and before the Tithebarn project is up and running, we're going to be in a sticky situation."

Aiden Turner-Bishop, of pressure group Campaign for Better Transport, said: "It's a shame it's been delayed and let's hope they get on with it because it's needed in Fulwood.

"I hope it will help with the traffic problems.

"We need to have a park and ride network in Preston before the Guild in 2012 and the Tithebarn scheme."

Coun Alan Hackett, chairman of Preston Council's environment review panel, which looks at transport issues, said the Bluebell Way scheme was "12 months down on its original plan".

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, said: "The county council's plans for the park and ride site at Bluebell Way are very advanced and we are currently finalising the terms for the acquisition of the land.

"We are also currently going through the tendering process in order to find a contractor to carry out the building works and we are aiming to start on site in August.

"Of course the start date depends on when we finalise the land deal but, if all goes well, we anticipate completing the work in April of next year."

Preston is already served by three park and ride facilities, one at the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale and two in Riversway.



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