ANGRY residents living near an industrial estate have been told a £3 million link road could end their air quality, noise and road safety nightmare.

People who live in the Blackamoor area of Higher Croft took their concerns directly to Blackburn with Darwen council bosses.

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Residents association leader Tom Hesmondhalgh told the borough’s executive board the junction between Blackamoor Road and Roman Road was dangerous. He said it was almost impossible to cross outside the newsagents and convenience store safely.

Mr Hesmondhalgh said heavy lorries and speeding cars often went through red lights, worsening the road safety situation.

Residents said traffic using Roman Road Industrial Estate had made crossing the busy four-way junction ‘a life-threatening experience’.

Mr Hesmondhalgh said residents were also very concerned about air pollution from the heavy traffic and its impact on their children, as well as the noise from lorries using local firms at all hours of the day and night.

He was speaking to council bosses in person after residents submitted a 53-signature petition, highlighting safety issues around the junction of Roman Road with Stopes Brow and Blackamoor Road.

Regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said stopping vehicles going through red lights was a police matter and there was little the borough could do in the short-term. She said: “The longer-term solution is to bring the Fishmoor Link Road project back for discussion, which would be the solution to most problems currently being reported.”

The £3 million scheme is now in the East Lancashire Transport Masterplan with a view to building it within the next five years. Coun Bateson said it would divert traffic away from the junction, especially lorries. She admitted the junction was difficult but said it would be too complex to install a pedestrian crossing without increasing the risk to motorists and those on foot.

The transport masterplan says: “The Fishmoor Link Road will be a new link road which will facilitate future development of housing and employment in the Fishmoor area of Blackburn with Darwen.

“ It also relieves one of the busiest and congested junctions at the Blackamoor Road and Roman Road junction, an Air Quality Management Area.”

“In addition, the scheme will also improve access to local businesses at Walker Park and Roman Road industrial estates from M65 Junctions 4 and 5.

“The likely scheme cost is around £3m. “ Coun Bateson added the council had no powers over when lorries for Accrol and other local firms accessed their premises on the Roman Road Industrial estate.