BUILDERS Taylor Wimpey are under pressure to build a roundabout at a notorious East Lancashire accident blackspot sooner rather than later.

Clitheroe Liberal Democrat councillors want the national construction giant to speed up its plans for the new junction between the main A59 and Pendle Road on the outskirts of Clitheroe.

Ribble Valley LibDem leader Allan Knox and his Littlemoor colleague Mark French have started a petition on the issue.

Yesterday they were backed by Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans.

They want the company to honour its original promise to build the roundabout before it starts work on a 1,000 home housing estate at nearby Higher Standen Farm.

The junction and nearby stretch of the A59 has seen a string of accidents in recent years, the latest a serious incident involving a motorbike and Nissan Micra in April which left four people seriously injured.

In December Ribble Valley Council Planning Committee agreed that Taylor Wimpey need not start work on the roundabout about until 50 of the new properties were occupied.

Primrose ward's Cllr Knox said: " For many years now this junction has been an accident blackspot with at least 13 collisions since 2011.

"For too long residents of Clitheroe have been calling for a roundabout at this junction.

"Residents were hopeful that construction of this roundabout would have happened before any development started on the Standen Estate.

"They were outraged at the decision to allow the developer to complete the sale of 50 properties before construction of the roundabout was required.

"We call upon Taylor Wimpey to reschedule the construction of the roundabout at the junction of the A59 and Pendle Road, Clitheroe so that it is constructed before any houses are built."

Cllr French said: "If Taylor Wimpey want to add social, economic and environmental value to the community, they should start building this roundabout sooner rather than later."

Ribble Valley MP Mr Evans said: "There have many accidents at this junction over many years causing deaths and life-changing injuries.

"If Taylor Wimpey want to gain the goodwill of the people of Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley and save lives, they should build this roundabout as soon a s possible."

The Lancashire Telegraph approached Taylor Wimpey twice yesterday but they were unable to provide anyone for comment before the paper went to press.