MORE than 100 residents voted to set up an action group to oppose transport plans for the proposed enterprise zone at BAE Systems.

Concerned Ribble Valley residents voted overwhelmingly to set up Samlesbury Enterprise Park Action Group and take their concerns to Lancashire County Council and the defence company.

People at Monday night’s public meeting at the Windmill Hotel in Preston New Road, Samlesbury, said that instead of the current road proposals, a new roundabout should be created where Cuerdale Lane and Spring Lane meet the A667.

The existing plan would see two access points to the new site opened, one on the A677 past Samlesbury Hall and the other on the A59 past Carter Fold Wood.

John Greaves, who helped establish the action group with residents Bill Street and Maira Morton, said: “The current transport plans are suicidal and need to be changed as soon as possible.

“It’s clear that the system that is being proposed would not work and that needs to be recognised.

“Nobody here doesn’t want the park to go ahead, quite the opposite; they just want to make sure that their views are being taken into account.”

Joiner Andrew Morton, 47, who lives in Highfield, said: “The current plan that is around at the moment just isn’t workable and will cause huge tailbacks every day.

“Having a roundabout at the edge of the site would solve the problem straight away.

“It shows by the number of people that came that this is a very important issue to local residents and that the council should listen to us.”

The county council and BAE Systems are well-advanced with plans for a world-class business and training complex on vacant land at the company’s airfield and factory.

Almost 20 businesses have expressed interest in moving to the zone South Ribble and Ribble Valley councils have called a public consultation meeting at the Canberra Club at BAE Systems’ Samlesbury site at 7pm on November 12.