AN East Lancashire MP has described plans to modify a danger junction as "too little too late."

Nigel Evans in unimpressed with Highways Agency proposals to ban right turns at the A59 Clitheroe and Sabden junction between the trunk road and Pendle Road and Sabden Road.

He is demanding they upgrade the alterations to a roundabout -- as favoured by the police and a pensioner couple who were involved in an accident at the blackspot at the end of September.

Kenneth and Monica Swales, of Mayfield Avenue, Clitheroe, have called for a roundabout and warned that unless one is installed someone will die there.

And Inspector Bob Ford, of Clitheroe Police, has also called for a roundabout.

But now Ribble Valley Tory MP Mr Evans has received a letter from Tim Matthews, chief executive of the Highways Agency, proposing more minor changes. He said: "Our provisional view is that the most appropriate solution would be to make modifications to the existing junction.

"Our preferred options involve introducing right-turn bans, to limit the risk of conflict occurring and measures to narrow the A49 carriageway through the junction to restrict opportunities for overtaking and to reduce speed."

Mr Matthews said the agency was undertaking a detailed traffic count and analysis of turning movements before meeting with Lancashire Police shortly to agree a strategy for implementing any changes.

He said the agency hoped to be able to do the work before responsibility for the road was moved to Lancashire County Council. if that fails it will be up to the county to consider its priorities with money transferred from the Highways Agency after spring next year.

But Mr Evans -- who wants the government to provide cash from a £145million programme to tackle traffic congestion and safety "pinch points" which identified 92 projects across England -- is not satisfied.

He said: "I have received a letter from the Highways Agency regarding the A59 trunk road at the Pendle Road/Sabden Road junctions.

"The Highways Agency must not drag its feet and has done too little too late.

"This is a dangerous junction that has seen many serious accidents over recent times.

"The Highways Agency has suggest small modifications for the junction and introducing right turns bans but this will only cause bottlenecks in other areas. What is needed is common sense action now."