Ribble Valley’s MP Maya Ellis has questioned the wisdom of planning three sets of overlapping road works in the closely connected areas around Longridge, Grimsargh and Fulwood at the same time.
One of the sets of roadworks will last for six months in central Longridge, and Ms Ellis says she has been contacted by worried motorists and local resident, says the Lancashire Post.
She said: “Constituents contacting me this week told me they anticipate having to factor an extra hour into their journey times and there is anger in the community about the knock-on effect this will have on commuters, young people travelling to school and businesses, along with others.
“This is a community that has only recently had to contend with traffic congestion caused by work on Skew Bridge in Grimsargh.”
In her letter, addressed to John Davies, Lancashire County Council’s interim director of highways and transport, she mentioned the work which has begun on Longridge Road this week at Bluebell Way in Fulwood, which runs until 30 October as well as a second set of roadworks on Longridge Road near the Roman Way industrial estate from 5 October until 23 December. The third set of roadworks, due to begin on 19 October and last for six months, is to install electricity infrastructure for new homes on Whittingham Road and Cumeragh Lane.
She said: “ Although I accept these improvements will be deemed necessary, I question the forward planning that has gone into scheduling these pieces of work so they overlap.
“Constituents this week told me they anticipate having to factor an extra hour into journey times and there is anger in the community about the knock-on effecr this will have on commuters, young people travelling to school and businesses, along with others.
“This is a community which has only recently had to contend with traffic congestion and caused by Skew Bridge in Grimsargh.”
She has asked for the roadworks planning process to be reviewed and asked what mitigating plans are in place to reduce the impact during the roadworks.
(Picture: Yay Images)
