RESIDENTS in Tockholes were today celebrating as work got under way to amend traffic-calming measures dubbed "crazy golf for motorists".

The original scheme included 11 sets of speed cushions, one flat-top hump and six chicanes.

The amendments do not include removing any speed humps but do involve replacing a chicane with a hump, changing the priority of one chicane, and three sets of speed cushions will be joined together.

Resident Dave Grogan said Capita, the agency working for Blackburn with Darwen Council, had adopted a 'scattergun' approach to the scheme by "throwing down speed bumps and chicanes like confetti and in some cases at totally unsuitable sites".

Mr Grogan, 52, said: "It seems to me that if they had done the job properly in the first place a great deal of money could have been saved.

"Everyone agreed that some kind of traffic calming was needed in the village but nearly everyone felt the measures put in place were way over the top.

"On a one-mile stretch we had 18 traffic humps and six chicanes which was sheer madness.

"There was a chicane on the brow of a hill, chicanes on blind bends and chicanes on stretches where there was no pavement, forcing pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with prams to take their chances with the traffic. The vast majority of people in the village are pleased to see that common sense has prevailed and a more measured approach is being taken."

Many residents claimed that the motorists who needed slowing down, such as motorbikes and white van drivers, were avoiding the humps by driving through the middle of them, affecting oncoming traffic.

Following a public meeting in the village hall in October, an independent survey was ordered and it was the results of that which prompted the amendments.

Mr Grogan said: "I hope that when they have finished we will have a sensible scheme which achieves the objectives without putting lives at risk and turning our village into some kind of no go area. People have been put off coming here."

However, Coun Andy Kay, council executive member for regeneration, said: "The majority of the residents are happy with the completed scheme although there remains a small but vocal minority who have been opposed to it from the start of consultation.

"Far from opposing the scheme when it was put into operation, horse riders have submitted a petition to keep it going.

"The agreed scheme was delivered on behalf of the council by Capita and was within the agreed budget allocation.

"The police are also happy with the results. The ambulance service has been consulted and has provided us with no adverse comments on the scheme."