THE anger expressed by members of Blackburn's Audley Community Association over plans for a new traffic scheme is understandable.

But their claims of victory for people power may be a little premature.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council have agreed to meet them to discuss fears that Higher Audley Street will become a rat race when Church Street is closed to traffic.

But a meeting over residents' concerns does not necessarily mean anything will change.

There is a long history to Blackburn's town centre traffic problems.

Many years ago a ring road to take vehicles away from the narrow streets of the central area was seen as the answer.

No doubt it would have gone a long way towards making life easier for motorists and pedestrians. Sadly, the only section built was Barbara Castle Way which connects the bottom end of Preston New Road with Eanam and Copy Nook.

The road was not completed because funds were never forthcoming from central government.

Anyone who uses the road on a regular basis during rush hours will know that all it does is connect traffic jams in Preston New Road and Eanam.

The proposals for the Audley area would appear to present Blackburn with one more traffic problem.

Residents are right when they say that traffic leaving the M65 would use Audley Range and Higher Audley Street if Church Street was closed. The roads are already busy and additional traffic would lead to dreadful gridlocks.

It would be rather like trying stop an incoming tide by building half a sea wall. The water would find a way round. So it is with traffic. Drivers have become experts at finding a way round pedestrian areas.

The only way to solve any town centre traffic problem is to have an overall plan in place.

Piecemeal schemes merely move the problem from one area to another. Closing Church Street could result in a dangerous situation for the residents of Audley and the council must take their plight into consideration before it puts up the barriers.