PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson has criticised Lancashire County Council for their failure to install a zebra crossing on a busy Colne road this year.

In April councillors and local residents were celebrating when it was confirmed the crossing would be installed in Skipton Road following a three-year campaign.

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But while the county council still plans to go ahead with the crossing, they have confirmed that it can’t go ahead until the next financial year, with the budget already committed until April next year.

Lesley Colbeck, a welfare assistant at Park Primary School, launched a petition after Emma Matthews and her son Leighton were struck by a car while crossing Skipton Road in 2012.

Emma suffered a fractured pelvis and a fractured spine, and Leighton had a broken leg and scratch on his head.

The petition gathered more than 500 signatures in just two weeks.

Mr Stephenson said: “This is a complete disgrace. When a local resident contacted me about dropped kerbs and a mobility crossing on Skipton Road, I felt confident that one was about to be installed.

“Given the photos of Lib Dem and Labour councillors in the press during the run-up to the local elections, posing for photos on this road and boasting that a crossing would be provided, I think it is outrageous that we now hear nothing will happen until 2016 at the earliest.

“I shall be writing to the leader of LCC and I will carry on the campaign with local residents.”

Cllr Jonathan Nixon said: “Does someone else have to be knocked down before LCC will act?

“Maybe even killed? Lesley got 500 signatures in a fortnight and now LCC is backtracking.”

County Councillor David Borrow, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “I understand the aim is to include this in the 2016/17 budget as the programme for the current year has already been agreed.

“We are however hoping that any details such as where the crossing is located could be sorted out before the beginning of the next financial year.”