New homes ‘would pile pressure on junctions’

THE building of thousands of new homes could push more than a dozen junctions in the Valley to breaking point, including Whitworth, according to surveyors.

A highways capacity study, commissioned by council as part of the work to draw up a new local plan, examined 15 Rossendale junctions which will have ‘significant capacity issues’ over the next 15 years.

One of them is the junction of Market Street and Shawclough Road in Whitworth.

The assessment, carried out by Mott McDonald at a cost of £40,000, identified junctions in Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Edenfield and Waterfoot that will require ‘remedial action if they are not to become significant constraints to future development’.

A report states the cost of work required could be ‘over £1 million’, and could have a ‘significant impact’ on nearby properties.

Coun Christine Lamb, portfolio holder for operations, told a meeting of Rossendale’s cabinet that funding will have to be negotiated from other bodies, such as the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Homes England and developers.

The current local plan, set to be submitted to government by next January, concludes that 3,975 new homes will be built by 2034.

Mott McDonald predict that the road systems will be able to cope without major works for the first five years of the plan and queueing can be addressed with solutions ●●The junction of Market Street and Shawclough Road in Whitworth could be one of 15 in Rossendale which could be pushed to breaking point by the building of thousands of new homes according to a survey such as changing traffic signal timings. However, beyond 2024, they state a number of locations will require ‘physical interventions’, such as extra lanes and mini roundabouts.

Eden ward Coun Anne Cheetham added that the only way she could see the junction of Rochdale Road and Market Street in Edenfield improved was by demolishing a row of terraced houses.

Council leader Alyson Barnes said the Valley was already struggling to cope with its traffic issues.

She said: “I worry that we’re not coping now so I can’t see how all of this is ongoing to come together. We are concerned about it.”

Irwell ward Coun Andrew Walmsley added: “It’s very challenging for the borough.”