RESIDENTS in a busy Darwen cul-de-sac have urged the council to convert an alley into a road to stop drivers having to turn round at the end.

The call came after a seven-year-old girl was left with a broken leg after being hit by a Mazda in Lightbown Street last week.

Lightbown Street, off Exchange Street, leads on to tiny Clover Terrace and there is an alley that leads back on to the main road which is impassible for traffic.

But residents want the alley to be made into a road so drivers can use it to get back on to Exchange Street.

So far, council officers have refused, but an offer has been made to install ‘no through road’ signs, although these have not been accepted by the residents.

In an email responding to residents’ concerns, Blackburn with Darwen Council highways safety officer Glynn Olive said: “We have been asked to look at speeds on this road but the resident asked us to wait until the schools were back.

“The road is a cul-de-sac but there is an unmade alley at the end. I can’t see the benefit of anyone going along that road as they extend their journey, so there is no advantage gained.

“I have suggested that two ‘no through road’ signs are placed at the entry point.

“Most cars using that road are the parents or residents themselves.”

Lightbown Street resident of 20 years Frank Crompton said: “This is a very busy road and it always has been. There are three ice cream vans that go up, delivery vans and taxis driving about at all times.

“Children are playing in the street because there are no ball games allowed on the fields.

“If they made that road up at the top, it would halve the number of vehicles because people are going up, turning round and going back.

“It is no use putting a couple of signs up.

“It seems as though they are waiting for another child to get hurt and the next time they might not be so lucky.” Sudell councillor Paul Browne said he would lobby for conversion of the alley at the town hall.

He said: “We have been trying for years to get the council to adopt that bit.

“We got the back alley adopted but I do not know why they did not do the end bit.

“The highways department has enough money to finish that off.”