TEMPORARY traffic measures are to be introduced around Ewood Park after responsibility for traffic management at football matches was passed to the council.

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley has approved proposals to shut off streets around Ewood on Rovers match days

Under the terms of the order, Nuttall Street, Top O’ Th’ Croft, Velvet Street and Tweed Street will all be closed to traffic with the exception of access on match days.

The same measures will be put in place on Kidder Street, Tapestry Street, Calico Street, Bolton Road and Aqueduct Road.

If there are no objections, the order can be made permanent at a later date.

Cllr Riley said: “Following a court case between Wigan Football Club and Greater Manchester Police, responsibility for traffic management at football matches and on event days has passed to local authorities and event organisers.

“Since then, Lancashire Constabulary ceased to be responsible for traffic management on match days at Ewood Park Football Ground and Blackburn Rovers took over, employing their own traffic management contractors to carry out those duties.

“These duties are mainly road closures and management of access to streets around the ground.

“The purpose of this report is to seek approval to implement an experimental Traffic Regulation Order introducing restrictions similar to those used previously by the police under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

Cllr Riley also approved plans to change coach parking arrangements.

He added: “Lancashire Police and Blackburn Rovers have requested that a more formal arrangement is introduced for coach parking near to the ground. A previous coach park is no longer available and currently coaches are parking at the bus interchange between Aqueduct Road and Kidder Street.

“This parking impacts on residents and it is proposed to introduce coach parking on match and event days only on Albion Road.”

The cost of making and advertising this Traffic Regulation Order will be £2,500 and will be funded from the Highways Maintenance budget.

An experimental order enables the impact of the new restriction to be examined and potentially minor changes made to address unforeseen issues more readily.

For an experimental order the objection period is 6 months which allows people to raise any objections or recommendations they may have with knowledge of how the restriction really works.