A MULTI-million pound scheme to widen a major route into Blackburn has been approved.

Planning permission was granted for the Haslingden Road widening scheme, as well as for the proposed new Blackamoor link road, by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee.

Borough growth and development boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said the two schemes would ease traffic as well as opening up potential sites for future housing and light industrial development.

The £11.4 million scheme, at Haslingden Road in Blackburn, aims to cut traffic congestion on one of the main roads into the town and improve access to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The planned upgrades, which have been slightly revised from the initial blueprints following consultation with residents, will see Haslingden Road widened between the Beehive roundabout and Royal Blackburn Hospital and the creation of a new entrance to the hospital at Old Bank Lane.

There will also be a creation of a new Blackamoor link road and junction improvements.

Work is scheduled to start in April, starting from the Beehive roundabout and working down to Shadsworth Road, with completion due by April 2021.

Cllr Riley added: “As anyone who drives along Haslingden Road knows, it is badly congested at peak times.

“This opens up the potential for more housing around there. It’s a significant scheme for the growth of the borough.

“As a council we have challenges to meet in terms of growth and housing and the facilities that go with that.

“We believe for people who live on Blackamoor Road, this is a good move.

This is a large parcel of land owned by the council which has been identified for some time as having potential for growth.

“I understand the concerns about that.

“It’s an area that has changed hugely in the last 20 years and some residents are bemused by that.

“The new road opens up that large area for the potential of housing and light industry.

“There are a lot of advantages but it’s not a surprise that not everyone who lives there thinks this is good.”

Cllr Jacqui Slater added: “It’s a pity they did not widen Haslingden Road when they built the hospital.

“It is massively needed in this borough.

“Everyone knows someone who has been late for appointments because of traffic and the hospital is crying out for it.”

Members approved both developments.