RESIDENTS say more action is needed on a notorious East Lancashire road where a major safety initiative was introduced.

In February 2006, a restriction was placed on HGV drivers using the Grane Road as a short-cut between the A56 and M65 after fears that large vehicles were a contributing factor to a high level of road traffic accidents.

Since the three-year restriction was introduced, the county council has received complaints from Grane Road residents claiming some HGV drivers were choosing to ignore the ban.

And since the restriction was imposed, the number of accidents between the Grey Mare pub and the Holden Arms, in Grane Road, has actually increased from 41, between 2003 and 2006, to 50 during the last three years The number of fatal collisions has also gone up from one, between 2003 and 2006, to three in the last three years, since the lorry ban was launched.

Tony Hodbod, a member of Grane Road Residents’ Association, said: “The HGV ban has to stay because it has improved safety around the inhabited area of Grane Road.

"The stretch where the accidents take place is prone to “mad drivers syndrome” and what it needs is simple measures to tackle speed, aggression, and impatience.

“We have been hammering the county council since 1998 for these measures, but they have not come through. There needs to be speed cameras and a mini roundabout at the Holden Arms, which would force drivers to slow down.

"The HGV drivers who ignore the ban are usually Europeans following a sat-nav.”

A discussion on the recent statistics will be held at the Rossendale Lancashire Local meeting tonight.

A county council report to the meeting says: “There has been a significant reduction in HGVs on Grane Road.

“In January 2006, 834 HGVs were noted out of a total of 11,843 vehicles counted (7per cent) and in April 2006, 103 HGVs were noted out of a total of 12,909 vehicles counted (0.8per cent).

“Recent manual checks have also revealed that the numbers of HGVs are currently less than 0.5per cent of the total traffic volume.”