COUNCIL bosses have been accused of putting the interests of lorries ahead of the safety of residents after they refused to impose restrictions on a busy road.

Fernhurst councillor Denise Gee made the allegation after her personal plea for a one-way order on Sandy Lane, from the A666 Bolton Road, or a 20mph speed limit, was rejected by borough highways boss Maureen Bateson.

The Tory attended Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board meeting on behalf of residents.

They were concerned about repeated damage to car wing-mirrors, small accidents and one near-miss when a vehicle almost collided with a pedestrian on the Lower Darwen feeder road.

She told Coun Bateson: “After our surgery meeting and consultation with residents of Sandy Lane, we are requesting that Sandy Lane is made one-way going down from the A666.

“If this is not feasible, we request a 20mph zone, due to the amount of damage caused to vehicles and a near-miss to a resident.

“We feel the one-way system is the best way to control this.” Coun Bateson said: “Sandy Lane is a classified road (B6231) and is an important link from businesses in Lower Darwen through to the A666 and on to access the M65 at junction four.

“Therefore, it would not be appropriate for this link to be made one-way. With regard to making the road a 20mph zone, to be effective on a relatively short steep road such as this would require the introduction of physical traffic calming measures which, from experience, are unpopular on routes used by heavy goods vehicles such as this.

“Officers will collect traffic data (numbers and speed) and look to see if there are any other measures which could be implemented to improve the situation for residents.”

After the meeting Coun Gee said: “I am totally disappointed that the council is putting the interests of heavy good vehicles ahead of the safety of residents.

“We have had many cases of wing-mirrors being knocked off, minor damage to parked cars and lorries blocking the whole road.

“There has been at least one near-miss where a resident was almost knocked down by a rapidly moving vehicle. The council should think again.”