RESIDENTS in Rishton who have been campaigning for a new access road for more than 10 years have renewed their efforts after hearing more houses are to be built on the estate.

The Southside estate was built in the late 1970s and has only one exit, from Station Road, but residents want a link road from Walmsley Avenue to Walmsley Road.

Ruth Colling, of Petre Crescent, who has spearheaded the campaign, said the link road was proposed on the original plans.

But the scheme has been dogged by setbacks because the estate lies on top of a former pit head.

"We do need that road really from the point of view of emergency vehicles coming down, and people leaving the estate" she said.

"I have been working through Rishton Council, they are all aware of it but obviously it's a definite issue. We need to be aware of everybody's needs and concerns but when there are plans for more houses I think this is one issue that needs to be looked at."

Councillor June Butler, Rishton representative on Hyndburn Council, said she had made extensive enquiries and the cost of making the land safe enough to take traffic would be prohibitive.

"I have gone into it in great depth and it just isn't possible to put that road through because it's right over the top of the pit head, and I don't think the county council would look at it," she said. "It would cost too much."