THE dropping of a proposal to install a new pedestrian crossing at a busy road junction in town centre Lancashire County Council is to be reviewed.

The authority had deleted the £70,461 safety measure at the crossroads of the A56 Skipton Road, Market Street, and Keighley Road in Colne from its Capital Programme.

But county highways boss Cllr Keith Iddon agreed to look at re-instating it after a plea at the council’s Cabinet meeting last week from Labour group leader Cllr Azhar Ali.

Officers told the meeting: “This project was allocated £70,461 to provide a new pedestrian crossing on one arm of this junction. "However, detailed design has identified that in order to provide this improvement the existing pedestrian facilities on the other arms of the junction would require upgrade in order to provide consistency and clarity for pedestrians.

"These improvements would require a significant increase in budget for the project.

"Furthermore, analysis of the most recent 5 year collision history has shown a reduction in collisions.

"Consequently, a request for additional funding cannot be justified.

"It is therefore proposed that the project is cancelled and the remaining budget released back into the programme."

Nelson East's Cllr Ali said: "Could you please look at this again.

"People are concerned about the safety of this junction.

"It was put in the captial programme at the request of Conservative county councillors."

Cllr Iddon said: "I am happy to look at this scheme again but there is currently not enough money in the capital programme for all the works required.

"The officers have looked closely at the accident record."