A COUNCILLOR has branded the state of a busy Darwen junction as ‘absolutely atrocious’.

Sudell councillor Roy Davies said the junction of Sudellside Street and Sudell Road had fallen into a desperate state of disrepair.

But he claimed repeated requests for the council’s contractors Capita to go in and make repairs to the junction had been knocked back.

Coun Davies said: “The signs are filthy and lamp-posts are leaning over.

“As well as that, there are probably about 50 or 60 potholes there.

“And all the white lines have worn off, so nobody knows who has right of way.

“Over the past three years, there have been five accidents at that junction.

“It really does need to be sorted out as soon as possible.”

Coun Davies said he had spoken to Capita about the problems.

He said: “I have asked for that junction to be looked at.

“But Capita said it met their guidelines so they wouldn’t do anything about it. That road leads up to Sudell Primary School so there are children around. It is an absolute disgrace.”

Sudell councillor and mayor of Darwen Town Council Eileen Entwistle said: “That junction is bad but I think it is down in the programme to be done. The trouble is, there are so many roads that need doing it can take a lot of time.

“It is necessary, though, as it is a busy junction. It takes a lot of traffic.”

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for regeneration, said: “Traffic calming features, such as the ones at this junction, generally require a higher level of maintenance than a normal road surface.

“We have recently carried out repairs at the Sudell Road junction but we are aware it has since deteriorated further.

“It will continue to be inspected on a regular basis. We are aware that many of our roads are in a bad state but our funds are limited and we have to prioritise them.”