THE boss of a Darwen haulage firm says traffic chaos caused by new lights on the way out of town is damaging his business.

Andrew Walker, chief executive of Kenley Warehousing and Distribution in Hilton Street, made the comments at Thursday’s meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board.

He was joined in his concerns by Sudell councillor Paul Browne, who said the new lights at Hollins Grove were causing huge delays.

The pair were told by borough regeneration boss Maureen Bateson that problems were inevitable but once the Pennine Reach scheme, which has seen the new lights introduced, is complete, there will be big improvements.

Pennine Reach is a £40million transport project to improve the road and public transport network between Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen.

Mr Walker said: “We have seen a dramatic increase in the time taken to get to and past the M65. I would safely say we have many commercial vehicles every day that have to make this trip.

“We are spending four hours on the A666 unnecessarily. This in monetary terms is at least £140 a day, £700 per week or £35,000 a year.

“This company won’t be around very long if the hold-ups carry on.”

Executive member for regeneration Coun Maureen Bateson said: “The traffic signals are designed to respond to traffic volumes to ease the flow of traffic.

“When the Pennine Reach scheme is completed, these signals will communicate with the ones to be installed at Birch Hall avenue to maximise efficiency of traffic movement.

“The full benefits of this technology will not be realised until the whole scheme has been implemented.”

Mr Walker replied: “I am fighting to keep my company going.

“I just cannot understand how stopping traffic can speed up traffic flow.”

Council leader Kate Hollern told Mr Walker: “We are quite happy to meet with Darwen businesses to see who we can help them.”

Coun Paul Browne said: “On Tuesday the guy was there doing something and the lights were switched off.

“The traffic was flowing far better. The lights only let two cars out at a time.”