A THREE-year wait for action on a notorious road running through Hyndburn and Rossendale might soon be over - to the relief of angry residents.

Highway engineers from Lancashire County Council have pledged that traffic surveys along the Grane Road will be completed by September or October and be ready for debate at borough meetings in November or December.

But residents and councillors have questioned why it has taken so long for County Hall experts to prepare evidence on speeding motorists and heavy goods vehicles using the route, which has seen a number of fatalities in recent years.

Ann Wilson, chairman of Hud Hey Residents Association, near Haslingden, told a Lancashire Local Rossendale meeting: "Why has it taken so long to compile a report on this?"

Coun David Stansfield added: "It is like a boy racer's track along here and it's been a nightmare for the residents of Hud Hey Road, Roundhill Road and Rising Bridge Road for too long.

"I am glad that something has been done but it has taken us three years to get anywhere and it is not for the want of trying."

Coun Stansfield was also critical of stop-gap solutions, including various 40 and 50mph zones and line markings, which he claimed had created as many problems as they had solved.

Other works, such as installing parking spaces outside Stonefold Primary for teachers, had also created traffic difficulties because they had not been properly signposted.

Neighbours have called for permanent speed restrictions along the length of the Grane Road and feeder roads, and a ban of its use by heavy goods vehicles.

Area highways manager Brian Cook said that three years was the minimum time needed to accurately assess and analyse traffic data before major remedial operations could be undertaken.

The problems with Grane Road had also taken more time to solve because the route ran from the edge of Haslingden, in Rossendale, and through Hyndburn borough, on the outskirts of Oswaldtwistle.

Mr Cook said that this meant any proposals needed to be debated by Lancashire Local committees in each borough and consultations must be carried out with Rossendale and Hyndburn residents every time.