A COUNTRY lane caused controversy after Bury Council offered to "make up" the unadopted route.

Blue Ball Lane, in Simister, was highlighted as a top priority in the councils unclassified highways refurbishment programme for 2005/6.

The lane is in a bad state of repair and highways officers suggested the full length of the lane should be re-surfaced.

However, residents and councillors attending Prestwich area board meeting rejected the offer to improve its condition, claiming any refurbishment would encourage more traffic to use Simister village.

Coun Wilf Davison said: "It will generate a massive increase in traffic if Blue Ball Lane was made up and I dont think residents will want that."

Speaking to highways officer Ian Crook, Coun Davison added: "You have to come up with alternative solutions to making the road up. We would like you to spend the money somewhere else."

Plans to make up Blue Ball Lane have been drawn up before but Prestwich area board intervened and requested that it should be left as it is.

Chairman of Simister Village Association, Michael Slater said: "I am absolutely horrified this is on the list. There is a business park proposed at the end of Blue Ball Lane, in Heywood, and if the road is made up it will create a rat run for traffic through Simister. It is just unacceptable."

Mr Crook said he understood the concerns raised but he would be neglecting his duty as an officer for Bury Council if he did not highlight the worst roads to the area board.

He said: "I will go away and look at it again now you have raised the traffic issues."

Members of the area board agreed to discuss the list and decide which roads needed refurbishing first at the next development strategy working group meeting on Thursday, at Prestwich Methodist Church in Bury New Road.

The development strategy working group is a sub-group of the area board.

Also on the list for refurbishment were: Downham Crescent, Buckley Lane, Lowther Road, Bannerman Avenue, Holmfield Avenue, Chester Street, Barnhill Avenue, Hilltop Avenue, Vernon Drive, Meade Hill Road, and Oaklands Avenue.