Darwen West's Cllr Dave Smith has waded into the row between the borough council and the town's MP over traffic jams on the A666.

Tory backbencher Sir Jake Berry is calling for the switching off of controversial traffic lights at Hollins Grove and the suspension of the bus lane.

He wrote to Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley on the issue of 'unacceptable' congestion on the A666,

But Cllr Riley said his proposals would make things worse not better on the main road from Darwen to Blackburn.

Now Labour's Cllr Smith has said Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake was seeking to unpick a government approved scheme, and backed the borough boss's claim the problem was largely caused by spiralling increases in vehicle traffic.

Cllr Smith said: "The bus lane and traffic lights at Hollins Grove are part of a much wider government approved and funded scheme called 'Pennine Reach', the aim of which was to improve public transport along the Darwen to Accrington corridor.

"It can't be altered without government approval to do so.

"There is a review of the scheme due next year as per government rules where the scheme will be evaluated and any necessary changes made. However the government would have to pay for these changes.

"Sir Jake Berry promised to get the lights switched off back in 2019 but failed to do so.

"He has also been written to requesting him to contact the relevant transport minister who has the power to direct the council to change the government-approved scheme. But he hasn't done so.

"Congestion is primarily caused by the huge increase in vehicles. In Blackburn with Darwen there were 31,000 vehicles in 1981. This rose to 64,000 in 2014 and an estimate of 73,000 today.

"I would ask Sir Jake how he proposes to reduce the number of vehicles, not only in the borough but in the country as a whole as this is the primary cause of congestion nationwide. "

Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake said: "In terms of the comments by Cllr Smith regarding the Department of Transport, this has been addressed clearly by Martin Eden, strategic director of operations at the council, who said in a email to me: 'Decisions relating to the bus lane and traffic signals at Hollins Grove are the responsibility of Blackburn with Darwen Council and not the Department for Transport'.

"Blackburn Council have the power to suspend the bus lane and turn off the lights at Hollins Grove but are choosing not to do so.

"As the highways authority it is their responsibility to make sure traffic can flow properly in Darwen.

"I am calling on the council to take the action for a temporary period to see if this helps reduce the severe congestion residents are currently experiencing on A666."