FEARS have been raised that a public transport route through a rural village may be changed as bus drivers are finding it difficult to negotiate past parked cars.

The notorious bottleneck at the bottom of Mount Lane and Park Road, Cliviger, has led to bus drivers having difficulty negotiating the bend when cars are parked on both sides of the road.

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Last week representatives from the highways authority and First Bus were seen at the site examining the longstanding problems.

Previously partial parking restrictions in the form of double yellow lines were introduced but the problem has remained.

Cllr David Heginbotham, who represents the area, believes if further restrictions are not put in place the Halifax to Burnley route could be changed away from Mount Lane and will continue down Burnley Road.

He said: “When cars are parked on both sides it causes obvious problems for the buses to traverse the road. In fact the bottleneck is so severe if there are two cars travelling in opposite directions on that section then one has to stop.“I said at the last parish council meeting that the present situation is not fit for purpose.

I think it would be sensible to restrict parking all along the left had side and maybe for 25 metres on the opposite side. There is unrestricted parking close by on Burnley Road and Park Road.

“I understand why the route goes this way as is a residential part of the village but, in my opinion, unless something is done I fear the route will be changed.”

The problem is also believed to be worse when single-decker buses are used on the route rather that double deckers, as they are slighter longer and have greater difficulty manoeuvring the bend.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, which is in charge of highways matters, said meetings between the authority and the bus company were ongoing and they were investigating ways improving the situation.

Cllr Cosima Towneley, who also represents the area, said she had seen officials and was firmly of the opinion that the only solution would be for people to show more consideration when parking.

She said: “Residents should realise that we are a linear village, we all know parking is an issue.

“People should show a little more consideration to one another and these problems could be avoided.

“If the route changed away from Mount Lane it would be disastrous for many people, so people should work together to alleviate the problem.

“I don’t believe more double yellow lines will help and we are so on the periphery it would be difficult to enforce anyway.

“The only solution in my mind are advisory white lines and people abiding by those to keep this essential bus route.”

First Bus were yesterday unavailable for comment.