A LANDLORD has called for speed bumps to be placed near his pub in a bid to curb motorists driving “at dangerous speeds”.

Mark Nicholls, who runs The Railway pub in Pleasington, said cars ignore the 30mph speed limit and drive much faster past his establishment in Victoria Road.

The 59-year-old, who has run the pub for three years, is concerned cars driving fast over the bridge could hit pedestrians.

Mr Nicholls said he has witnessed near misses and asked the council to alter the road layout or drop the speed limit to 20mph.

He said: “The council told me there had to be a fatality before the road could be looked at.

“I’m really worried it has to take that action before it can be looked at.

“We could prevent a death from happening.

“I’m worried my customers and staff will get hit one day while they cross the road towards the seating area as a car will come flying over the bridge at dangerous speeds.”

Mr Nicholls said he put up a barrier near the pub’s garden to deter people from sitting too close to the road, which has no specified public pavement.

He said: “I hope the council can take a look and do something. Speed bumps either side of the bridge would slow cars on approach and stop them from picking up speed on the way down.”

Cllr Phil Riley, regeneration boss for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The point we said to Mr Nicholls is broadly true.

“Before we introduce expensive and often not very popular changes to the road layout we need evidence and that evidence comes through different accident studies we get from the police.

“What we would like to do is check with the police to see if there have been any accidents there.

“If there was any it would be looked at. Speed humps are very unpopular, particularly with residents who find themselves driving over them regularly.”