A RESIDENT has complained about a proposed housing development in Darwen claiming it will create nightmare traffic issues.

The plans put forward are for a development of 22 new three and four-bed houses in Bury Fold Lane.

However, Nick Serpell, who lives close to the proposed development, has complained that potential traffic problems have not been assessed thoroughly enough.

He said: “Locals including myself are very angry that the traffic report that has been prepared and submitted as part of the planning application is misleading in the extreme.

Traffic counts have been done at the quietest part of the day and a device to measure traffic was sited above the main residential area and therefore only covered vehicles from a quarter of the properties affected.

“It is a single track road with a dangerous junction onto the A666 and it will not be able to handle this additional traffic.”

Originally, the plan was for 50 houses to be developed on the site but due to a great deal of opposition this was overruled.

Mr Serpell said the new application still posed the same problems, and he was unhappy he had not received a consultation letter.

He said: “A number of properties close to the development are not on the list that the council is using for sending out consultation letters.

“A public meeting has been called for October 15 to which a planning officer has been invited. It is likely to be a lively affair.”

The development will see 19 dwellings to the west of Ellerslie House with three to the north east.

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesman added: “There is an outline planning application being considered for the erection of 22 houses on Ellerslie, Bury Fold Lane.

“The issues relating to traffic and access to the site are two material considerations investigated.”