PETITIONING residents who placed 30mph signs to combat speeding down their road have won council backing for calming measures.

Hyndburn environmental services committee agreed to press Lancashire County Council to include the safety scheme for New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, in its Small Improvements Programme.

Members were told New Lane was just one of 64 areas of the borough crying out for safety schemes.

The council has a budget of £65,000 to install measures in 1997/8 and officers have investigated each site and placed them in order of priority.

It was agreed that, following consultations, measures would be installed in Alice Street and Pinewood Drive, Accrington; Clayton Street and Dean Lane, Great Harwood; and Coleridge Drive, Baxenden. Councillors also said negotiations should continue with the county council to support schemes at Mayfield Avenue, Fairfield Street, Manchester Road and Exchange Street, Accrington, and Burnley Road, Huncoat.

And, in addition to New Lane, members will press for Sandy Lane/Plantation Street, Accrington, to be included in the Small Improvements Programme.

County Councillor Dorothy Westell and Tory leader Coun Peter Britcliffe expressed concerns about New Lane as it was the main road to the new motorway and children played in the area.

But Coun Ken Curtis said he was still receiving complaints by motorists who were annoyed with the council putting "humps and bumps" everywhere.

He said: "It's not the council who thinks these up, these are pleas from local residents who are concerned about the general public on the highway."

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