A NOTORIOUS roundabout has been named the worst in East Lancashire for accidents prompting a war of words over how to tackle the problem.

The Whitebirk roundabout (pictured) was the scene of 66 accidents between 2000 and 2004, according to figures obtained by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph using the Freedom of Information Act.

Those figures prompted Lancashire County Council to re-mark the roundabout, reducing it from three lanes to two, which neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen Council claims has led to increased congestion and confusion. It has now successfully lobbied the Highways Agency to install traffic lights on the island to regulate the flow of traffic on and off the M65.

But Lancashire County Council's transport chief Coun Tony Martin said: "Initial figures show that the remarking of the Whitebirk roundabout reduced accidents because it gave clear lanes for the first time and guided people around.

"Traffic lights will only lead to accidents going up, because people will get fed up being in queues on roads on to it, which will be caused by the traffic lights.

"That will prompt them to take risks when the lights switch to red, while the drivers on green think it is safe to go.

"It's our road but no-one has asked us. They are happy to cause our streets to clog up with an idea which is just empty."

However, Blackburn with Darwen Council is adamant the new work will speed up traffic, make the roundabout safer and enable new business parks employing thousands to be built.

Coun Tony Humphrys, whose ward borders the roundabout, said: "The traffic lights will at least slow traffic down. That is a large part of the problem, people speed around it, up to 60mph sometimes, and can't stop if someone pulls out."

Four of the top five accident blackspots in East Lancashire are roundabouts, with half of the top 10 sites being roundabouts.

Coun Martin added: "We believe the Whitebirk scheme has been a success. We want to repeat it at other blackspots such as the Dunkenhalgh and other roundabouts.

"White lines and yellow lines are the way to solve the problems. We won't be allowing any more large roundabouts either, because they encourage people to speed."

A spokesman for the AA said smaller mini roundabouts were now recognised to be safer.