Call for cameras on ‘drag racing circuit’
ASTRETCH of road was compared to a drag racing circuit as councillors called for speed cameras on a town’s two main thoroughfares.
Hyndburn council has voted to ask LCC Highways for “urgent” plans for average speed cameras on Oswaldtwistle’s Blackburn Road, West End; and Stanhill Lane/Road.
It comes as this week a driver in the town was clocked at 82mph in a 30mph zone.
Speaking about Blackburn Road heading from Intack to Oswaldtwistle, St Andrews Coun Stewart Eaves said: “Sometimes it feels like you’re on Santa Pod [drag racing circuit].
“People obviously don’t know the roads and have failed to take the bends correctly.
“We definitely need speed control and average speed control on these two roads.”
Several speakers highlighted roads they said were blighted by speeding over recent months.
These included Burnley Road and Lowergate Road, Huncoat, Dill Hall Lane in Church, New Lane, Catlow Hall Street, and Harvey Street, Oswaldtwistle.
Coun Loraine Cox said: “During the lockdown as the roads became quiet, certain people have taken the opportunity to abuse this and drive at excessive speeds. We have several notorious hotspots with accidents caused by excessive speeds.”
St Andrews Coun Sara Britcliffe, who is also MP, said: “These two areas are a big concern - Blackburn Road is absolutely awful.
“It cannot continue. I’ve witnessed this myself plenty of times in the area. This is a very dangerous area and action does need to be taken. I will do what I can to make sure that action is taken on these roads, not just in Oswaldtwistle, but across the borough.”
St Oswalds Coun Chris Knight, who seconded the motion, spoke of what he saw during a police operation. He said: “Over the space of two to three hours we witnessed a heck of a lot of vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
“One vehicle had to have its tyres repaired at the side of the road because they were bald.
“It was scary the amount of people that didn’t realise what they were doing.”
But Immanuel Coun Josh Allen said he “did not believe the county council would listen, for one reason in particular”.
He explained: “When they carry out their [traffic] surveys they generally do it during the day.
“I would like to ask when writing this letter that we ask for any speed surveys to be carried out either in the morning or after work during the teatime rush.
“Speeding at high traffic times, and at night when the cars do blister up and down.”
Proposer St Oswalds Coun Glen Harrison added: “I think the worst time is during the evenings when no-one’s watching.
“They absolutely fly down there. If we had a fixed camera we wouldn’t need a man or a woman with a speed gun.”
Lancashire County Council have been contacted for a comment.