BIG city red lines to stop ‘dangerous’ parking on multi-million pound highway scheme have been painted but will not ‘go live’ for a few weeks.

This week Blackburn with Darwen Council took a major step towards turning a key section of its £4.8million Furthergate Link Road into a ‘red route’ with ‘no stopping or loading’ to ensure motorists obey the rules.

But enforcement of the powers (so far only used in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh) will not start until later this year after a public notice is published.

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Council Tory group leader John Slater has criticised the borough bosses for failing to ensure the painting of the double red lines and their actioning did not coincide.

When the new scheme was announced in March, some local businesses reacted angrily to the crackdown labelling the road ‘a nightmare’.

The new route covers section of the A678 on Copy Nook, Bottomgate and Furthergate widened under the £40million Pennine Reach Scheme to speed buses between Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen.

Since completed, the new road has been plagued by careless and dangerous parking, highlighted by the Lancashire Telegraph.

The worst problem has been with drivers leaving vehicles in the middle of Copy Nook forcing the council to install water-filled barriers and bollards to deter them.

The new experimental red route covers stretches from Larkhill and the Eanam Roundabout to Accrington Road and Gorse Street with stopping and loading prohibited except in a few marked and signed bays with time restrictions.

It covers both sides and central ‘reservation’ areas, with fines of £70 reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, enforced by police and council officers.

Cllr Slater said: “This is another example of lack of forward thinking by the council.

“Why has it taken them so long to get these red lines down after the link road was completed?

“And why do we have to wait for enforcement to start after they have been painted?

“The introduction of this scheme is a god idea but these delays are unacceptable.”

Blackburn with Darwen council regeneration boss, Cllr Riley, said: “We have invested a lot of money is his scheme and these red lines are about enabling drivers and buses to move quickly and smoothly along this gateway route.

“They are also about safety as we have seen a lot of bad and dangerous parking since the road was widened.

“There is a process to go through to bring in this new system and we have also consulted extensively with traders about introducing these new lines.”

Cllr Rile said: “These things cannot be rushed and drivers need to get used to what is happening.

“The parking restrictions will be enforced carefully when they go live.”

He added this was the first time a ‘red route’ had been used in the North-West or outside big cities.