New speed sign on busy road celebrated by residents in Guide

Residents in Guide say they have already noticed a difference in how fast vehicles are driving along the busy School Lane.

The new sign is part of a targeted effort to improve road safety through the village in response to concerns raised by residents.

Chicanes have already been introduced as well as a new pedestrian crossing, and new lining is set to be undertaken in the coming months too.

Councillors and Guide residents stand with the new speed sign (Image: Blackburn with Darwen Council)

On top of this, the council’s highways team have requested an external safety audit of the Guide junction.

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and executive member for growth and development, said: “It was fantastic to meet with residents and hear that the new speed sign is already having an impact.

“Our ward councillors meet with residents each month and a priority has long been to improve road safety in the village.

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“On the back of their proactive work, we’ve introduced the new chicanes in School Lane as well as the pedestrian crossing, but, sadly, we know there’s still more to do.

“This new sign is part of that, and we’ll continue to review our efforts and do all that we can, including working with our partners at Lancashire Police to help tackle the issue.”

Cllr Tony Humphries, a ward councillor for Blackburn South East, added: “There’s a fantastic group of residents from Guide who we meet with monthly.

“The issue of road safety has sadly been an ongoing one and we’ve worked with the Council to see what can be done to help tackle it.

“Residents are proud to live in Guide and they want motorists to respect that it’s a village and definitely not a racetrack or rat run.

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“The introduction of the road safety measures and the upgrades at the playground are a really good example of residents, ward councillors and the Council all working together to make a difference.

“I’m looking forward to that good work continuing.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council has successfully secured £20 million of new Levelling Up funding from the government for improvements to transport links along the Haslingden corridor.

Worth more than £30m with council funding, the successful bid included proposals to improve Junction 5 of the M65 to improve traffic flows, reduce congestion levels, and deliver significant carbon reductions.

There has also been a £60,000 upgrade at the Rec in Guide (Image: Blackburn with Darwen Council)

There are also plans for six new and upgraded walking and cycling routes – more than 11 miles of new and active travel networks – improving access to new employment opportunities created in the area.

As well as the highways and road safety improvements, work has also recently finished on a £60,000 upgrade of the playground at Guide Rec.

A new climbing frame with a slide, new swings, and play equipment has been installed using Section 106 money from new homes in the area.