RESIDENTS will be given the opportunity to have their say on a new traffic scheme at an Accrington Area Council meeting tonight.

The proposed scheme for Avenue Parade, which will include the addition of yellow lines around junctions with side streets, has met with mixed reactions.

But County Coun Wendy Dwyer said: "This is something that the residents of Peel ward have been asking for for a long time.

"There have been far too many accidents and injuries on Avenue Parade."

In accordance with the Highway Code, the lines should prevent vehicles parking there so that visibility is not obscured for drivers turning in and out of side streets.

But local Labour councillors held a meeting with Hyndburn Borough Council last month to discuss the proposed scheme amid fears that 300 resident parking spaces could be lost if parking was restricted in this way.

At tonight's meeting in the council offices in Eagle Street, residents will be brought up to date with a review of the scheme and visual representations of how the addition of yellow lines would effect the junctions with Avenue Parade.

They will also be invited to share their own views on the matter and these could be implemented into the proposals.

David Law, principle engineer at Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "There has not been a huge response to the consultation so far but this meeting will give people the chance to say what they do and do not like about the proposals.

"The only problem raised seems to be with the waiting restrictions at the junctions to improve visibility but there is the possibility of relaxing these restrictions."

If there is opposition to the new road markings the length of yellow line on side streets could be reduced to three metres but the 10 metre limit would remain on Avenue Parade.

Further changes set to be carried out include the addition of raised plateaus at every junction with Avenue Parade, raised humps on Stanley Street and Water Street and the implementation of a 20mph speed restriction on Alice Street.

The Accrington Area Council meeting will be held in the main committee room in the Eagle Street offices from 7pm until 9pm.