A COUNCILLOR is calling on highway chiefs to take action on a dangerous road to prevent serious accidents near a school.

Cllr Noordad Aziz, who represents the Netherton ward on Hyndburn Council, had campaigned for a speed survey to be completed on Blackburn Road in Great Harwood after a spate of accidents last year.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported how Lancashire County Council returned results that the average speed recorded was 25mph northeast bound and 27mph southwest bound on the 30mph road.

However, Cllr Aziz has quizzed highway bosses about the results and found that 62mph was the top speed recorded.

Meanwhile, on an average day in both directions around 73 cars would be travelling at speeds of between 40-50mph.

He said: “I do not want see any deaths on this road and we should not be judging on figures as that does not take into account that it is someone’s dad, mum, brother, child and that is not grasping the issue.

“Great Harwood is a very close community and the effect it would have is worse.

“I have contacted the cabinet member for highways Cllr Keith Iddon and I have invited him to come down with the council officials to see how bad it is and understand the residents concerns about crossing the road. “

A 69-year-old man suffered neck and back injuries after being hit by a Seat Ibiza on Blackburn Road, at its junction with St Hubert’s Road, in August.

Cllr Aziz said the Great Harwood road is a popular route for people travelling to St John’s CE Primary School and St Wulstan’s RC Primary School and he was worried about them.

“There is an issue for people locally as they feel like it is a danger zone and there have been a number of incidents or crashes in the past 12 months.

“Some traffic calming measures need to be introduced.

“There are lots of cars parking on the road and there needs to be a holistic approach to sorting it.”