Saturday, April 07, 2007

Junction 13 traffic headache

As the start of development works on two major schemes within yards of an already busy traffic junction looms, we ask - what action, if any, is proposed to ease the concerns of local people?

The centralisation of Nelson and Colne College on the main Reedyford site and the development of the Barrowford Business Park on the opposite side of Pendle Water by Peel Holdings have fuelled fear of major traffic problems around the motorway interchange and bypass junction.

There is already heavy congestion at peak periods, causing queues to stretch up the M65 slip road and back up the motorway towards Brierfield at busy times. There are similar problems in the other direction with traffic tailbacks through Barrowford.

Yet in spite of repeated requests, Lancashire County Council has refused to hold meetings with Pendle Council to talk about it – and the blunt message from County Hall this week was: It's your problem, you sort it out.

Pendle councillors raised the matter for the third time in five months at its meeting on Thursday night, when it was revealed no reply had been received to a request for a meeting with County Coun. Tony Martin, Cabinet member for sustainable development, and Environment Director Graham Harding made in October.

And this week, it was revealed in a reply to Coun. Tony Beckett and Pendle Council leader Coun. Alan Davies that the county felt there was no merit in such a meeting as the matter was being handled by Colin Badminton, a former Pendle highways officer who now works for Lancashire Highways.

But County Coun. Martin said this week: "Any questions concerning traffic problems should have been raised before planning permission for the two developments was granted by Pendle Council.

"It's Pendle Council's problem and they should sort it out."

Lancashire's motorway police have promised to keep an eye on the situation around the junction.

Insp. Phil Cottam said that while there had been a number of shunt-type accidents at peak periods, there had been no serious incidents.

"Unlike many busy interchanges, there are no automatic signs or signals at Reedyford and these are expensive to introduce. Many drivers who use the junction regularly know of the problems there. The M65 has brought a lot of business to the area and some of the junctions are working to capacity. The position at Reedyford is something we will be keeping an eye on," he said.

Source: http://www.pendletoday.co.uk