Darwen set for traffic chaos?

It has been revealed that plans to clean up River Darwen and River Blakewater include £35m of drainage works over the next 5 years.

The project will replace miles of underground pipes which will result in local road closures meaning a series of diversions will be in force. In Darwen the junction of Marsh House and Sudell Rd is likely to see disruption for a period of around 4 months.

More details on the proposed work and level of disruption will be available once planning permission has been obtained for the various stages of the work in Blackburn, Ewood and Darwen.

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns amongst Darwen residents about how the opening of the new town centre Academy will affect traffic with most people resigning themselves to the fact their journeys to work in the morning will take longer as a result of parents on the 'school run'.

The news of the proposed works comes as local business owner, Dave Scott, has started a campaign to improve our roads because he is tired of the constant potholes outside his business. He says that the work to fix the road defects isn't good enough and in most cases the holes re-appear within 6 weeks.

In other news it has been revealed that the proposed bus lane as part of the Pennine Reach scheme may not be going ahead after all. Plans have hit a stumbling block - not because the local public oppose the idea - but because the Government has less funding available for schemes like this as they look to cut back on spending.

The deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council says he fears a major £45million transport scheme may “never happen” after it emerged it is still waiting for the green light from the Transport Secretary.

The £45m plan to connect Darwen, Blackburn & Accrington may never become a reality as the Government looks to make cuts in spending. If eventually given the go ahead, despite objections from residents and business owners in Darwen, the work would coincide with the drainage work and run from 2011 to 2014 meaning more traffic misery for local drivers.