Fears have been raised about the dangers of traffic accidents and blocked access for 999 emergency services along narrow roads and streets in the Barnoldswick area.
Routes mentioned include Manchester Road, which rises upwards from Barnoldswick and connects to Barrowford, Nelson and the M65. Speed-checks and warning signs were discussed but some narrow roads may not have enough space for any extra measures. The Barnoldswick worries came amid wider talks on West Craven traffic dangers including speeding on the wider A56 around Kelbrook, connecting Colne and Skipton. Three accidents had happened there recently, councillors said. Lancashire police officers were at the meeting and took note of the concerns and locations.
“We get ordinary people in biggish cars driving faster than they should do on that type of narrow road. They go along, get funnelled into the narrow section and then face oncoming traffic coming towards them. It’s like a voluntary one-way system. It’s not speed-freaks who are the problem there. It’s ordinary drivers going a bit too fast and creating problems.”