DEMOLITION work on the M65’s last major stretch of lights has been rubberstamped by the county council’s highways boss – despite widespread safety fears.

No significant opposition was forthcoming from East Lancashire county councillors regarding the removal of lighting columns between junctions 10 and 14 – not even the 12 representing divisions in Burnley and Pendle.

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And so county councillor John Fillis, highways and transportation cabinet member, was able to approve the plans, as part of works to replace the central reservation on the county council owned leg of the motorway.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson have previously spoken out about the controversial move, and the plans have provoked anger among the families of road collision victims.

County firefighters, who have dealt with the aftermath of a number of late-night crashes on the M65 in the dark, have also voiced concerns.

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “From our point of view, street lighting provides a much safer environment for motorists driving on the roads and for firefighters responding to incidents.

“However the service also recognises that Lancashire County Council needs to make efficiency savings and it is important to find the right balance between making savings and safety.”

Lancashire Police has also signalled its opposition to the proposal, for which the bill has rocketed from £2.64million to £4.3million in just two years.

It is said that the central barrier cannot be replaced without removing the lighting columns, which will save the authority around £10,000 annually.

County highways officials have insisted that they are justified, as the accident rate has improved along the stretch, even when compared to junctions seven to 10, where the lights were switched off in November 2011.

In a report, Akis Tsakonas, a transportation officer, said: “Based on the limited data in the 24 months 'after' the lighting modification, accident analysis indicates that traffic safety will not be significantly affected if no M65 J10 to J14 link lighting is replaced following the replacement of the existing steel barriers along its central reserve.”