SIGNS and roadmarkings at a key motorway roundabout are being monitored after drivers’ complaints of road chaos where new traffic lights have been installed.

Drivers have been confused after the signals at Gannow Top – where traffic comes on and off the M65 to Padiham Road, Pendle Way into Burnley town centre and Trafalgar Street – were activated on Tuesday.

As part of a major reconfiguration by Lancashire County Council at Junction 10 signs were moved and road markings changed.

Councillors were initially contacted about the work causing long tailbacks.

Motorists expressed concerns about moving a road sign, causing lorries and other vehicles to think Pendle Way was the M65 sliproad causing several last minute manoeuvres and near-bumps.

They also expressed worries about the reduction of the Pendle Way access to single lane by chevrons.

Liberal Democrat borough councillors Neil Mottershead (Gannow), Tom Parker (Whittlefield) and Charlie Briggs (Gannow) joined with Tony Martin, Labour county councillor for Burnley Central West, to discuss the problems with senior county engineer Alan Eastham at the roundabout.

The changes are part of a major scheme involving work at Junction 9 to promote the development of the new Burnley Bridge Business Park.

Coun Mottershead said: “We all had a lot of complaints about congestion caused by the works and since. People reported near-bumps as a result of the new M65 sign sending lorries down Pendle Way resulting in last minute swerves and U-turns.

“There’s concern about the chevroning off of one lane onto the roundabout from Pendle Way. The county has spent a lot of money on the traffic lights. We don’t want that wasted because of ill-advised changes to the road signs and markings.”

County highways manager for Burnley Alan Capstick said: “New traffic signals have been introduced and changes have been made to the road layout.

“We listened to the comments about the approach from Pendle Way and the new direction signs.

“We are continuing to monitor the traffic flows over the next week, so that we can make any necessary alterations.

“We have agreed to change the position of one of the direction signs, to make it clearer to motorists going onto the motorway.”