Key road in Rossendale closed this Sunday following rockfall

Following a rock fall on Sunday, July 16, Bacup Road - the main road between Bacup and Waterfoot - has been partially closed.

The incident saw significant rock fall from a steep face next to the A681, in an area known locally as The Glen, damaging metal safety netting designed to protect it.

Councillor Scott Smith, lead member for highways and active travel who represents Whitworth and Bacup on Lancashire County Council, said: "I know as a Rossendale resident that this has been a frustrating time, and I want to reassure residents that fully reopening Bacup Road remains our top priority.

"I welcome today's update, which means we will achieve that earlier than expected.

"Our highways experts have brought in specialist contractors to carry out checks on the rockface, and these repairs will enable us to fully reopen the road. 

"Some further work will take place in future, but our focus at the moment is to ensure the road is reopened safely as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, I know residents appreciate the importance of safety at this time.

"I'm pleased there is now light at the end of the tunnel and I'm grateful for everyone's continued patience."

Emergency safety measures including temporary traffic lights and a reduction to single lane traffic were immediately put in place by Lancashire County Council.

Now the county council's highways department has announced plans to fully close Bacup Road from around 6am on Sunday, August 27, while excavation work is undertaken to clear the debris and measures are taken to replace the damaged netting.

A diversion will be in place via Booth Road on Sunday.

Temporary traffic lights will remain until Friday, September 1, and the road is expected to fully reopen the following day.

Highways experts at the county council will consider an alternative solution to stop the rockface from affecting the road, including further work in 2024-2025.