ANGRY residents are considering legal action against a council for allowing a car park which they claim is causing traffic chaos near their homes.

The residents lost their fight to stop Granville Technology building the 145-space car park at its factory in Simonstone last month.

Lancashire County Council surveyors said the development would reduce on-street parking and had been carefully sited in Simonstone Lane to ensure that vehicles had clear views of approaching vehicles.

But 35 residents and parish councillors had objected to the scheme, claiming access to the car park was on the "narrowest and most dangerous part of the road."

Ribble Valley Council officers said if the application was passed there was a significant chance that accidents might occur and traffic-calming measures would be needed.

Granville Technology bosses agreed to fund the measures if the development was given the go-ahead.

But now the firm has applied to have the traffic-calming measures removed and angry residents have threatened to seek a judicial review of the council's decision. They also claim workers are leaving their vehicles outside their homes and not using the car park at all.

Resident John Hill told a meeting of Ribble Valley Council that the decision had been "so ill-founded and contradictory as to be manifestly flawed and unfair." He added: "We invite you to acknowledge that the decision was incorrect. It has caused traffic chaos in Simonstone Lane and a savage erosion of our boundaries. Residents are facing a situation of escalating traffic use with no way of forcing Granville Technology to provide traffic-calming measures," he said.

And he called on Ribble Valley planning chairman Frank Dyson to "immediately and personally take charge of this intolerable and unbelievable situation before a fatality occurs."

Coun Dyson said he was taking a daily interest in the case and promised: "when the matter comes up before the council again it will be dealt with for the benefit of all parties."

Granville Technology sales director Colin Silcock said planning regulations regarding use of the car park had been strictly adhered to.

He pointed out that traffic chaos at the site was also down to road and pavement works taking place.

"It is currently taking several minutes to exit Simonstone Lane into Blackburn Road and even longer to exit the road from the factory's main entrance.

"This is down to temporary traffic lights due to road and pavement works, not just use of the car park," he said.

He added that the firm was reviewing its undertaking to provide traffic-calming measures after taking advice on the matter.

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