RESIDENTS fear they could be left out in the cold this winter because of plans to impose a weight restriction on the only road into their hamlet.

Ten homes and farms in picturesque Wycoller, near Colne, including one owned by TV star Penelope Keith and her husband Rodney Timpson, rely on tanker deliveries of oil or gas to power their heating systems.

Most properties in the village are visited by a dustbin wagon and isolated farms often take heavily-laden trailers of straw and hay along the road.

But residents claim traffic will be brought to a halt or risk breaking rules if a 7.5 tonne restriction is imposed on Laithe Hills Cottage Bridge on the only road into the village.

Lancashire County Council wants to bring in the weight limit after a survey highlighted bridges with a "substandard load carrying capacity." Parish councillor Barry Hodgson, whose Parson Lee Farm would be affected, said: "People could be faced with breaking the rules or having no heating.

"The bridge is the only way into the village. How are the tankers and farm wagons meant to get through without going over it?

"Residents will have to take their rubbish all the way to the public car park on the other side of the bridge. Refuse wagon drivers won't ignore the weight sign. They would be liable for damage."

Mr Hodgson said the county had spent money on improving other bridges in the area which served far less people but were not prepared to upgrade the main bridge into Wycoller.

A county spokesman said: "Consultations are continuing and we welcome views from anyone in the area. They can write to the surveyor's department.

"It's too early to comment about the possible effect of the proposed restrictions because we don't know what conditions may be applied."

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