WORRIED moorland will get the chance to put their concerns about 'downright dangerous' parking to their councillor.

They have been invited to a special meeting at 6pm tonight/tomorrow (THURS) on the issue at the Carus Centre in Hoddlesden by West Pennine ward's Cllr Julie Slater.

She hopes it will be attended by senior officials from Blackburn with Darwen Council's Highways Department.

Cllr Slater called the meeting after several residents from Hoddlesden, Eccleshill, Waterside and Pickup Bank contacted her about the worsening parking problems in the villages and other traffic concerns.

The issues to be discussed include parking congestion in Hoddlesden village, parking and traffic at school times often blocking residents drives, speeding through the villages, very large wagons going through Eccleshill and Waterside, speeding down Pickup Bank, and road signage missing for Pickup Bank.

Cllr Slater said the residents wanted 'NO HGV' and weight limits on wagons going through Eccleshill,Waterside, Pickup Bank, and Hoddlesden.

She will raised traffic problems coming out of Eccleshill Gardens caused by cars parking on pavements blocking sightlines from oncoming traffic.

Residents also want the roundabout at top of Hoddlesden Road repainting and improvements to the villages 'unsafe' pavements.

One Eccleshill resident told her: "The parking is a serious accident waiting to happen.

"It has happened in the past.

"The speed some drivers go on local roads you wouldn't stand a chance of them stopping in time."

Cllr Slater said: "The parking in these villages is not just careless, inconvenient and irritating but downright dangerous.

"It is going to lead to a serious accident with someone getting badly injured.

"We don't want a child getting hurt as a result.

"I know people can have problems parking but life is more important. We have already damage vehicles.

"We have also got problems with speeding and heavy lorries trundling through the villages with some of them getting stuck and causing damage."

Other specific problems raised by residents include parking congestion in Sydney Street, Albert Street and Graham Street in Hoddlesden and indiscriminate parking by visitors to the villages Ranken Arms pub blocking access to Hargreaves Street, and wagons coming out of Shaws factory in Waterside causing problems

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokeswoman was unable to confirm whether the meeting would be attended by highways department officials.