Calls to renew road markings
CALLS have been made for urgent improvements to Bacup’s roads after it was revealed that fears over “faded” markings on Rochdale Road’s crossings were raised with highways chiefs back in May.
Resident Richard Jones complained to Lancashire County Council (LCC) on May 23, stating that zebra crossings and road markings in and around the town centre are “virtually impossible to see.”
He contacted LCC again following last week’s fatal collision.
In response, county highways bosses say some of the markings around the town centre are due to be renewed “very shortly” – although a decision may await the result of consultation on Bacup’s Townscape Heritage Initiative, which includes £500,000 worth of works to St James Street.
Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton said urgent action should be taken to improve the safety of the town’s roads.
He said: “The zebra crossings in the town centre aren’t very clearly marked. Some are faded.
“If you look at the one on Market Street, the other day I stepped out and a car nearly hit me.
“I would like to see – as a matter of urgency – the highways (team) come out and re-mark the zebra crossings.”
Coun Eaton added: “It is very tragic circumstances, it is a horrible thing.
“I’m sure the accident hasn’t been caused by where the zebra crossing is, but people seem to think that the zebra crossing should be further down the road from where you come out of the health centre.
“At the minute you go up about 20 or 25 metres to go over the crossing and you cannot access the car park from there. What myself and other people are thinking is it should be closer.”
In an email copied to the Free Press, Mr Jones called for immediate attention to the state of road markings in and around Bacup town centre, relocation of the zebra crossing in relation to the centre’s public entrance to the lower end of the car park – to ensure patients use it rather than attempting to cross the busy road – and installation of a “safer” pelican crossing.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “After receiving the report about faded road markings in a number of locations around Bacup town centre, we carried out an inspection and some of the markings are due to be renewed very shortly.
“Work has been ordered to refresh the zebra crossing markings on Rochdale Road and Burnley Road, and this should be done in the coming weeks.
“Some wider improvements are due to be made to the zebra crossing on Market Street in the coming months, when a new scheme of markings will replace the existing ones.
“Changes to St James Street could be made as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative and we are currently awaiting the outcome of consultation on this scheme before deciding whether to refresh the existing road markings in the interim.”