BLACKBURN with Darwen council is under fire for failing to warn motorists travelling from the M65 to Whitebirk roundabout about traffic jams caused by the closure of Gorse Street off Burnley Road.

Yesterday morning’s shutting of the road, a cut-through for drivers avoiding congestion from the £4.8m Furthergate link roadworks, caused chaos.

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Traffic was backed up along Burnley Road and beyond the lower roundabout with Blakewater Road and Whitebirk Road up towards the main Junction 6 interchange with the motorway until mid-morning.

The delays of up to 45 minutes on one of the main routes into Blackburn are now set to continue for eight weeks while works continue on Gorse Street.

Jamal Kazi, owner of Whitebirk News, said drivers were not using shops near the roundabout at the bottom of Burnley Road.

He, local ward councillor Tony Humphrys and Tory regeneration spokesman Colin Rigby criticised the borough for failing to warn drivers about the Gorse Street closure.

A council spokesman said as the A678 Burnley Road, the main thoroughfare, remained open there was no need to give warnings and diversions to motorists coming off the M65 about the closure of a side road.

However, he said the council had notified local residents and businesses of the closure in a letter.

The spokesman said traffic lights at the junction of Furthergate and Harwood Street will be changed to ease congestion.

Shadsworth with Whitebirk Councillor Humphrys said: “Drivers coming off the motorway should have been given plenty of warning to find alternative routes.

The council should live in the real world of drivers who use Gorse Street to avoid the problems on Furthergate, Bottomgate and Copy Nook.”

Cllr Riley said “A decision was made to close Gorse Street as work on the Furthergate Link road continues. I thank motorists for their patience.”