10:30pm Sunday 5th September 2010
By Jon Livesey
A FLY-tipping ‘hot-spot’ in Rawtenstall is to be blocked off as part of council chiefs’ plans to crackdown on the long-standing problem.
County Councillor Tim Ashton, who is responsible for Lancashire’s roads, has approved plans to install a drop-down bollard to stop vehicles entering the public footpath, opposite the Texaco petrol station in Bacup Road.
Rossendale Council requested the bollard after a long-standing problem over people driving along the lane and then dump-ing rubbish.
It is hoped the action will foil fly-tippers and also improve the safety of walkers and cyclists.
In a report to County Coun Ashton, David Goode, of the environment directorate, said: “There are currently a lot of vehicles accessing the footpath, many of which are responsible for the high levels of fly-tipping adjacent to the lane.
“As a result of the fly-tipping, Rossendale Coun-cil is increasing high visibility patrols in this area with the intention of catching fly tippers in the act and also to discourage any future tipping.
“With the unauthorised use and increase in patrols comes the danger that there might be greater chances of lawful users of the footpath being hit by a car leaving the area at high speeds after being disturbed.
“To reduce the risk of any potential accident between a member of the public and a car driving unlawfully on the foot-path an appropriate solution would be to install a barrier under Section 66(3) of the Highways Act 1980.”
Rossendale Council has agreed to provide and maintain the bollard on behalf of the Lancashire County Council. It is proposed that the barrier will be a drop-down bollard, which can be unlocked by officers from either local authority.
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