FED-UP Darwen residents have accused the council of dragging its feet over an action plan for the town and told regeneration bosses: "Get on with it!"

Blackburn with Darwen Council has spent a year developing the plan and recently asked residents for their views. The "Six Towns of Darwen" plan identified projects and schemes which are set to be developed over the next 10 years.

But according to a council report, people in the town now want to see "rapid action" and the initiatives implemented as soon as possible. The ideas of Darreners will be taken into account when finalising the strategy, which will include transport, a refurbished rail station and enhancement of the town's historic areas.

Early proposals included a transport study of the busy A666, developing Darwen's markets and Market Square and promoting Darwen Tower and tourism.

Lottery funding of £1million has already been approved as part of a possible £4million scheme to improve key buildings in the town, including the Central Methodist Chapel in Railway Road, the Belgrave Tram Shelters, the former Lloyd's Bank building in Croft Street and former club premises in Church Street.

However, money will only be released if the council can come up with a suitable plan for the town.

Whitehall councillor Karimeh Foster said: "Darwen people are fed up of having consultations but nothing delivered. We need to see something done quickly. People want the shops in the town centre made to look better so that shoppers will come here. They don't want second-hand shops and takeaways.

"They also want the markets to be revamped and the run-down housing near the town centre made to look better. If the council doesn't deliver, they will be in big trouble."

Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen's executive member for regeneration, said: "Despite some positive indications I will only deliver when I am able to do so and we are making all the efforts we can.

"We have got to make sure the strategy is right. There have been a number of job losses in Darwen and a need for the same kind of investment that we have seen in Blackburn.

"Now we have got the lottery funds to bid for, we can start looking at regenerating Darwen as we have always promised to do so."

Coun Kay said a decision about funding was likely to be announced in either October or November.