VILLAGERS in Darwen say their street looks more like 'Morecambe Bay' as vehicles from a housing development bring mud onto the main road.

Martin Jefferson lives on Pole Lane and is having to park his car on a pub car park as lorries are bringing rocks and earth from the nearby Kier Homes development.

He argues that the rubble is damaging cars on the road.

He said "It has become a filthy and hazardous mess.

"The tipper trucks leaving the site are scattering slippy clay and mud all over the road over a large distance.

"It is a disgrace and dangerous.

"I would hate to be a cyclist or motorcyclist on the road as the rocks would hurt and drivers are going to be taking evasive action to avoid them. It is an accident waiting to happen as they could slip on the mud

"Large rocks are regularly spread all over the road and some of them are larger than two and a half inches square.

"This leads to dangerous road conditions on a busy road.

Local residents are unable to park outside their properties due to falling debris from these trucks.

"They are now having to park their cars in other streets and the pub to avoid damage from this debris being thrown at their vehicles."

Mr Jefferson insists local residents understand that the development is taking place but want 'a bit more consideration for them'.

"There is a man who stands and directs traffic off the site, why can't he hose the trucks down to get rid of the mud and rubble.

"Also they could go south and along the road where there are not many houses.

"It is just like a quagmire with all the mud on it."

Cllr Kevin Connor, who represents Darwen South, said: "We have been working with the planning officers talking about this site.

"It was over traffic on the road which seems to have been sorted but we (Blackburn with Darwen Council) have arranged for a sweeper to go up there three times a day but now that the residents say that it is not right we will go back to the planning department to ask for more times it could visit the street."

Martin Kelly, Director of Growth and Development, said: “We are aware of this issue.

"We have contacted Kier Living to remind them of their responsibilities to provide safe working conditions on site and a wheel wash facility for vehicles, all agreed as part of the planning approval. If a satisfactory resolution is not found we will consider options around enforcement action.”

A Kier spokesperson said: “As a responsible housebuilder, we always look to take a proactive approach to concerns that may be raised by the local community.

“At our Pole Lane development in Darwen, we have employed a road sweeper to be in operation every single day to cope with the adverse weather conditions. We have regularly liaised with the local planning enforcement officer and residents to keep them informed as to what measures we have effectively been taking.”