FIRE chiefs today claimed lives could be at risk because crews are being delayed by the roadworks engulfing Blackburn town centre.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue staff spoke of their concerns as councillors approved plans for a new one way system along three of Blackburn's busiest roads as well as the orbital route already being created.

Chamber of Trade bosses fear the scheme will be a recipe for disaster while ASDA bosses fear shoppers may not be able to get to their superstore off Park Road.

The AA blasted Blackburn with Darwen Council for putting so many roadworks in place at one time and said the council should now accept it has tried to do too much at once.

Under the plans, approved by the planning and highways committee last night, a gyratory system would be created around the Townsmoor retail park in a bid to ease congestion.

Traffic which traditionally uses Park Road and Great Bolton Street to leave Blackburn will be channelled up Park Road, while traffic coming into the town from areas such as Queen's Park Hospital, will be directed along Great Bolton Street.

Russell Street, which links Park Road to Great Bolton Street will also be one way.

Coun Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration, said today the work to alter the roads would start in the next couple of weeks and finish before Christmas. He said he anticipated traffic delays to be minimal.

Blackburn Fire Station is in Byrom Street, one of the roads currently being developed into Blackburn's orbital route, intended to make the road network less stop-start and take traffic out of the town centre.

Lancashire firefighters spokesman John Taylor said: "Fire crews are getting stuck in the congestion.

"No lives have been jeopardised yet but it is obviously very important that we get to incidents as quickly as possible.

"We are proud of our record for being above the national average for response times and we are concerned about how these roadworks will affect our performance.

"The council's officers have been good at telling us what is going on and where but the volume of roadworks are causing us concern, especially with more on the way.

"There aren't many routes left without roadworks."

Police and ambulance crews in the town today said they had not had any major problems so far.

But a spokesman for Leeds-based ASDA said: "We are concerned there will be some disruption for our shoppers getting on to the complex.

"Our highways consultants have raised this with the council and they are putting up extra signs explaining how people can get to our store.

"We hope it will be for the better in the long term. We only found out about it last week."

Ronnie O'Keefe, president of the Chamber of Trade, said: "Things are going from bad to worse.

"If it goes like all the other roadworks in town at the moment, it will mean more chaos. The council are taking too much on."

Clare Price, from the AA, said: "Just one set of roadworks in a town like Blackburn can cause major problems, but all these roadworks seem to be having a catastrophic effect.

"I can see the thinking behind the project, giving people a short sharp shock rather than a longer-term run of roadworks."

"But it seems to be affecting everyone now, including the emergency services, which should be kept in mind in the future.

"Hopefully, the roadworks will do the trick and solve many more problems but perhaps it would have been better to do them at a slower pace." Coun Whalley said: "The gyratory system will make it easier for the traffic to flow along the orbital route.

"The private sector in the area have been requesting a gyratory system for several years and £750,000 has been contributed by Peel Holdings and Redbourne Properties."