THE Highways Agency has expressed sympathy to residents following a decision not to change the M65 Blackburn Services sign to read 'Darwen'.
Divisional director Arthur Ashburner said: "I can understand your disappointment that the owners no longer wish to change the name.
"We appreciate the strength of feeling there is locally that these services should be named 'Darwen' rather than 'Blackburn' but the Agency would only intervene if we considered that the road safety was compromised by misleading or confusing information on our road signs.
"We do not consider that to be the case here.
"The naming of the motorway service area is a matter for the owner."
Mr Ashburner was replying to MP Janet Anderson after she expressed her disappointment to the agency.
Coun Dave Smith is urging residents to boycott the services and is to hand out orange cards to send to the owners declaring residents' disappointment.
Anyone wishing to protest should write to Swayfields Ltd, 1 Castle Hill, Lincoln, LN1 3AA.
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