CAPITA bosses have slammed a claim that the traffic lights and new junction layout at Hollins Grove in Darwen are 'unsafe and unworkable'.

Conservative candidate for Darwen in the General Election Jake Berry was contacted earlier this year by a former employee of Capita who had been heavily involved in the design of the junction.

Mr Berry, who was then the MP, was told the work, carried out on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council as part of the Pennine Reach transport links improvement scheme, was designed 'against national standards'.

But Capita bosses have responded to say the junction meets national guidelines and has been approved by road safety experts.

In an email the former employee told Mr Berry he had worked on the junction until 'my presence became untenable due to pressure from Capita management to design the junction against national standards leaving it unsafe and unworkable'.

He added: "As you know, the latter has come home to roost, mainly due to large inter-green periods (when traffic lights are on red and amber) to and from both side roads.

"If they had listened to the signal experts, £200,000 could have been saved and used elsewhere."

The former employee, who has since met with Mr Berry to discuss his concerns further, added that Capita staff had been asked to find a way to remove the new junction layout in a way that would 'save face for the management team'.

A Capita spokesman said: “The junction at Hollins Grove meets all national guidelines, and has been inspected and approved by road safety experts.

"We have made the junction safer for road users and pedestrians, which is demonstrated by the fact that there has not been a single reported collision at this junction since September.

"The new linked signals along the A666 will improve traffic flow along the whole route.

"As with all junctions with traffic lights in the UK, the operation of this junction will continue to be regularly reviewed.”

Mr Berry said: "I have been informed by a former worker at Capita about his deep concerns that the Hollins Grove lights are dangerous, badly designed and causing huge delays for the people of Darwen trying to get to and from work.

"It is a shocking development that we now have information that they are also now putting people's lives at risk every day.

"Why are they continuing with this dangerous and absurd scheme?

"I call on the council to turn them off while they investigate this email."

Council bosses have been sent a copy of the email but have declined to comment.