NO-ONE can say that Blackburn's orbital route has crept up on those in authority in the town.

Its planning goes back years and it seems almost as long since the approach roads to the town were free of the bollards, roadworks and temporary traffic lights associated with its construction.

The gestation and birth of the new road has been a painful process and it would be stupid to make any judgements about its effectiveness on the basis of its first day of operation.

Through traffic must be diverted away from town centres if they are to thrive as places where shoppers can arrive, park and walk around without being faced by fumed filled streets and solid walls of cars and lorries.

The majority of prosperous towns and cities have had such ring roads for many years.

But if the motives behind Blackburn's road improvements are to be applauded yesterday's confusion was deplorable.

Chamber of Trade president Ron O'Keeffe complains that he saw nobody from Blackburn Council in evidence in the crucial King Street area yesterday.

The council says they did have people out but not all of them had yellow jackets "and may not have been seen."

It seems logical to ask what help they were giving to confused motorists if they were not able to be seen.

Police want more warning signs to stop motorists driving the wrong way down one-way streets.

This must happen fast. Comprehensive signing (in other countries 'Wrong way go back' is used) should have been planned in.

Not too long ago the whole of Sweden switched overnight from driving on the left to the right hand side of the road with hardly any incidents or complaints. It would have been nice if Blackburn council had managed to achieve the same success with the orbital route.