RESIDENTS concerned about increasing traffic on an already busy road today called for the council to attend a public meeting to offer help and safety advice.

Members of Burnley Road Action Group (BRAG) have invited neighbours in the area of Rawtenstall to attend a meeting at the Old Fire Station, Burnley Road, at 6.30pm on Tuesday, August 27, to discuss highway safety.

Brenda Wilkinson, chairman of BRAG, said: "One of our members asked for this discussion because she sees children struggling to cross the road to school every morning on her way to work.

"We raised concerns last year and were told that there would be a traffic safety survey.

"Since then, a speed camera and associated road markings have been provided but the problems remain.

"We have asked the council to send a representative from the highways section to advise us on what can be done to ensure safe space for all in the Burnley Road area".

Burnley Road is a major road for commercial traffic, commuters, shoppers, and local traffic and many unaccompanied children cross the road to get to schools and to the recreation ground at Sunnyside.

There is only one pedestrian crossing between the cemetery and Sunnyside near the former St James the Less RC School but as the school has now moved to Haslingden Old Road, Brenda said most children no longer crossed there.

She said at some junctions, cars parked on the main road restrict visibility and force vehicles to pull out into oncoming traffic.

There are plans to turn the Robert Street depot into a business park, for a Spar retail complex at Holmfield Garage and for the provision of improved and additional facilities at Sunnyside.