14 Ossy streets to be made 20mph zones

5:40pm Friday 4th July 2008

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PLANS to create 20mph zones in Oswaldtwistle have gone ahead in a bid to slow down speeding drivers.

Residents living in 14 streets which will be affected by the plans, which involve the creation of speed humps throughout the Aspen Lane area of Oswaldtwistle.

Only three of the 487 residents affected opposed the scheme, citing fears that speed humps would reduce parking spaces.

Another objection came from a disabled resident who was afraid speed humps would cause him to lose a parking space near his home, before planners came to an arrangement with him.

However none of the residents, who were first consulted on the scheme in November last year, have objected to the speed limit. The affected roads are Aspen Lane, Dunster Avenue, Dudley Avenue, Banbury Avenue, Cranbrook Avenue, Dorchester Avenue, Harlech Drive, Radnor Close, Brecon Avenue, Cardigan Avenue, Central Avenue, Conway Drive, All Saints Close and Barnard Close.

County Councillor Dorothy Westell said the move was necessary to protect children going to West End County Primary School on Aspen Lane.

She said: “It was definitely needed because so many people had asked for it. It’s a lot of traffic going through a residential area near a very busy school. These plans will ensure safety for everybody.

“It simply means drivers may need to leave a few minutes earlier in the morning.”

The scheme will see flat top road humps being created in the area. One of the objectors to the scheme also complained about the general condition of the roads and gullies throughout the estate, and said money would be better spent on repairing the roads.

However the current Highways Maintenance Programme includes resurfacing schemes for parts of Aspen Lane and the whole of Harlech Drive, which would be carried out prior to building the road humps.

Planners also revealed there are no restrictions to parking on road humps so current parking patterns should not be affected.