WORRIED residents have called a public meeting to discuss a package of traffic calming measures planned for their busy road.

Residents on Fielding Lane, Oswaldtwistle, have drawn up a petition opposing the scheme.

They claim the measures will create more problems than they solve and want town hall bosses to look again at the designs.

Ward councillors and town hall chiefs have been invited to tonight's meeting at the Stop and Rest pub in Fielding Lane.

Mick Holmes, a Fielding Lane resident and Accrington-based firefighter, is backing the campaign to force councillors into a rethink.

He said: "I am not opposed to measures that will improve safety and save children's lives but I think the council has gone way over the top this time.

"The measures they are planning to introduce could create more hazards than they solve and would look totally out of place."

He added: "I don't think the council have taken residents' feelings into consideration.

"They have asked for people's comments but we have been told they are making the final decision next week.

"A lot of people round here are very angry about what is happening and don't think they have been consulted properly."

The proposals include parking bays, a mini-roundabout, narrower roads and more traffic markings.

Mr Holmes added: "The council has just not considered this properly.

"They are not taking into account parking problems, street cleaning and access from side roads.

"The people who live at the bottom end of Fielding Lane are furious. The plans for that end of the road are absolutely horrendous."

Councillors approved the scheme at a technical services meeting subject to satisfactory consultations with residents.

Police and Hippings Methodist primary school have both raised concerns about the number of accidents on the busy route in the past.

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