New traffic calming measures aimed at reducing the number of speeding vehicles on a busy road have been given the seal of approval by councillors - but have brought mixed reactions from residents.
Priority passing and give way to oncoming traffic features, as well as pedestrian traffic islands, are to be put in place on Pole Lane in Darwen after concerns were raised over speeding and road safety.
Plans to erect bollards at the top entrance to Thorncliffe Drive, making it a no through road, have also been approved, as well as a pedestrian refuge further down towards Sough Road.
The proposals have attracted a mixed response from residents in the area however, with some saying they will cause more harm than good.
One resident said: "The 'give way to oncoming vehicles' obstructions will do more than calm the traffic on Pole Lane, it'll totally block it.
"It's way too busy for those things, they are for quiet residential streets, not the main road into Blackburn from this end of town.
"And that's because the council has managed to turn the A666 into a car park thanks to their previous clueless decisions."
While another commented: "They say this is to make the road safer, and yes that will happen because you will be at a complete stand still, and all those currently living and parking on Pole Lane will no longer be able to."
Many other people took to social media to complain they had not been properly consulted on the matter, stating the council posed the 'yes or no' question, 'do you agree there should be traffic calming measures on Pole Lane?', only to residents in the immediate area, with the majority (more than 50 percent) in favour of such measures.
One man added: "These wouldn't be needed if they hadn't diverted all the traffic off the A666 when they were doing the lights at Hollin Grove.
"Most of this diverted traffic hasn't gone back to using the A666, and building three to four housing estates at the bottom of Pole Lane certainly will not help.
"It is far too busy, and this will only make the traffic worse on Pole Lane.
"It won't reduce it, only make it even slower and moreover, standing waiting for traffic to move through the give way.
"People who make these decisions do not live in the real world.
"Why were these details not put out to the wider community who use these roads?"
However, one Facebook user said: "If it slows things down on Pole Lane it'll be worth it.
"I've been overtaken too many times on there by speeders."
Darwen South Conservative Councillor, Cllr Neil Slater said due to Covid, a proper resident's consultation on the matter was not possible, although he and his fellow ward councillors did put forward alternative options for the traffic calming measures, but unfortunately they were rejected by the council's road engineers.
He said: "Normally we would've had a proper consultation and a residents' meeting, but have been unable to do so because of Covid.
"One of the reasons these particular measures were chosen was to try and put a stop to huge trucks and lorries being diverted down Pole Lane as this was causing a danger to pedestrians, as well as the speeding issue.
"Unfortunately the plans have been passed but we thank the residents for all their input and I would like to think that in six months time we will be able to come back to them and see whether they are working or not, and if not, we can do our best to get them moved or changed."
Regeneration boss at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Phil Riley said surveys had been carried out along Pole Lane with some shocking results.
Cllr Riley commented: "At the behest of the local councillors we carried out some surveys which showed some vehicles were travelling at alarming speeds down Pole Lane and we accepted the need to make an intervention.
"The problem is, that when putting traffic calming measures like this in place, they will always end up outside someone's house - that's just the way it goes.
"I have seen the numbers of people who responded to our consultations and the overwhelming majority were in support of the plans we are making because all the figures illustrate that there is a need for them.
"We can only go with the majority because we have to put them somewhere."
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