RESIDENTS of an Oswaldtwistle "rat run" road can look forward to new traffic calming measures being introduced in the New Year.
The scheme, which will be funded by £16,000 from Lancashire County Council, is designed to reduce the problems caused by speeding traffic and heavy goods vehicles on New Lane.
Those living in the area have campaigned for over three years for a solution to the problem, and they were presented with the new traffic-calming proposals during a special area council meeting.
The plans will see the speed limit from the Britannia crossroads to Duckworth Hill lowered from 60mph to 40mph, an interactive flashing sign installed at the entrance to New Lane, warning drivers who go over the speed limit, and build-outs placed at the side of the road to protect pedestrians and parked cars.
Suggestions for a weight restriction along the road were rejected as it would encourage HGV drivers to use other small roads, but officers agreed to look into installing a second speed camera instead.
A speed camera was placed at the junction with Grove Street last year but campaigners said that it was at the opposite end of the road to where drivers tended to break the speed limit.
The Rev Paul Watson, vicar at Immanuel Church, said that residents had voted in favour of the new plans, although they had raised concerns that the build-outs would make the road too narrow.
He said: "There were concerns that while the plans might make life slightly better for pedestrians, they were not going to stop people speeding.
"But the flashing warning sign was met with approval by everybody, as did lowering the speed limit at the top of Duckworth Hill. Anything that aims to make the residents' lives a little bit easier has to be welcomed."
