DISAPPOINTED MPs have drawn up their own progamme of vital road improvements after the area was left out of the latest round of projects across England.

The £145million programme is made up of 92 schemes, including 11 in the North West based around Manchester, Cheshire, West Lancashire and Cumbria.

Now Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans and his Labour colleagues Peter Pike (Burnley), Janet Anderson (Rossendale and Darwen) and Greg Pope (Hyndburn) are drawing up their own list of schemes for inclusion in future road improvement programmes.

They will include:

The junction on the A59 at the Clitheroe and Sabden turnoffs.

The roundabout in the centre of Rawtenstall.

A new pedestrian footbridge over the Haslingden by-pass near the Carrs Industrial Estate.

This week's programme was drawn up by the Highways Agency in collaboration with Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

Mr Pike said: "I am disappointed with the this programme. I know there are places in Burnley and East Lancashire which would benefit from such schemes.'' Mr Evans said: "I have called upon the Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling MP, to use some of the £145million on the serious traffic problems that we have here in the Ribble Valley.

"I want Darling to use some of this cash to sort out the potentially deadly junction on the A59 at the Clitheroe and Sabden turn-offs.

"This junction has caused many accidents over the years and remains a hazard to all users of the A59 because of the staggered, offset nature of the two turn-offs.

"This dangerous junction has been raised again and again by my constituents.

"We need a roundabout installed before anyone loses their life because of this confused junction."

Mrs Anderson said: "The obvious one in my constituency is the roundabout in the centre of Rawtenstall. I, and many local people, want to see pedestrian traffic signals on the roads around this dangerous major junctions.

"At the moment people take their lives in their hands when they cross the roads around this busy roundabout."

Mrs Anderson and Mr Pope are also campaigning for a new pedestrian footbridge over the Haslingden by-pass near the Carrs Industrial Estate.

She said: "At lunchtime workers form the estate cross and recross this fast and busy road. Greg and I have long campaigned for a new footbridge.''

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "There has been major work in East Lancashire in recent years, notably the construction and completion of the M65 which has had a dramatic effect on congestion and road safety in the sub-region.

"The fact that no project from the area has been included in this year's announcement does not mean the area is being ignored."