THE speed limit of a road leading out of Darwen is to be increased on Monday after concerns about drivers going too fast.

Bull Hill’s 30mph limit is to be changed to 40mph from Monday for an initial 18 months after a long campaign against speeding in the area.

Councillors and residents have voiced concerns about safety on the road, on which drivers regularly exceeded the 30mph limit and undertook dangerous overtaking manouvres on those sticking to the speed limit.

It is believed the 40mph limit will negate these issues as drivers speed up on the approach to the 50mph limited Bolton Road leading to Egerton and Bolton.

The change is an experiment by BLackburn with Darwen Council which will be monitored and has only happened after traffic islands were installed to enable pedestrians to safely cross the road near the junction with Woodlea Chase.

Whitehall councillor David Foster said: “We have had meetings about road safety up there and opinion was divided as to whether it should stay at 30mph or increase to 40mph.

“They have put in traffic calming measures, so there are two pedestrian refuges outside Woodlea Chase.

“It will be interesting to see if it improves road safety or not.

“That road has been notorious for as long as I can remember.

“It is nice and open and there are some bends where you need to slow down and some drivers don’t realise quite how slow you need to take them.”

Coun Foster added the council was looking at increasing the 50mph limit further down to the national speed limit of 60mph.

But he said the decision had been put on hold until after the inquest into the death of motorcyclist David Frampton, who came off his bike on the road in August.

Coun Foster said: “They are waiting to see if there are any recommendations from the coroner.

“That seems sensible because of the speed of traffic in that area.”