HOSPITAL bosses are warning a flagship new school will cause dangerous traffic holdups.

They say traffic generated by the new East Blackburn Community School will restrict access to Royal Blackburn Hospital, "reducing the efficiency" of the service.

But council bosses have hit back, claiming the hospital is responsible for the hold-ups.

Plans for three new schools under the £150million scheme will go before planners on Thursday night.

East Blackburn school, on Haslingden Road, and replacement schools at Pleckgate and Witton Park, are all expected to get the green light after officers recommended they were approved.

But a number of objections have been received, including a letter from Chris Hodgson, estates manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

He said the development, on the driving range off Haslingden Road, would lead to a "significant increase in traffic volumes on Haslingden Road", and make access via the hospital service road more difficult.

And he claimed the anticipated increase in pedestrians would lead to "problems of safety and security", and the scheme could affect the trust's finances by reducing income from future land sales.

But Liberal Democrat leader David Foster said: "The hospital itself has caused drastic traffic problems.

"I have been caught there once or twice in rush hour and I know what the conditions are like.

"As I understand it the main problems are between the motorway and the hospital, and this will be on the other side.

"But we will have to work with the hospital."

The Queen's Park Supporters Group has also opposed plans for a pedestrian entrance boarding on Queen's Park Close.

A letter from the group said the area could not cope with an increase in drivers looking to park there.

Blackburn with Darwen council has just submitted its outline business case to the Government, detailing the £150million plans to rebuild or remodel nine schools in the borough, starting in 2010.