A cabbies’ leader has questioned why a speed camera was installed just after a zebra crossing Rossendale — supposedly putting pedestrians at risk.

People have been using the crossing, near the shops at Farholme Lane, for a number of years, the Lancashire Local Rossendale Committee heard.

But then a speed camera was installed just yards from the crossing, in the Waterfoot-bound lane.

David Lawrie, chairman of Rossendale’s independent taxi drivers’ association, said: “If a driver is approaching a speed camera then their attention is on that and not the zebra crossing.

“Should the speed camera not be positioned before the crossing, to make it safer?

“Putting it 100 yards further down the road would seem to make sense.”

County council area highways manager Brian Cook said speed cameras were installed according to accident statistics.

If it could be established that a particular camera had contributed to accidents in a particular area then this would be reviewed and the device could then be moved, the committee was told.