A TRAFFIC-calming scheme is being put into place on one of Darwen's accident blackspots.

Council officers drew up plans to make Bolton Road safer following a study by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

It revealed there had been 18 recorded accidents recorded on the road, between Grimshaw Street and Watery Lane, since January 1996.

Councillors have now backed the proposals which, it is hoped, will reduce the number of smashes on the stretch of road.

The police, local residents and ward councillors David and Karimeh Foster will now be consulted before work on the scheme begins.

The road has also been identified as being in need of resurfacing, and council bosses hope to carry out both sets of work at the same time.

One of the pedestrian refuges will be placed near to Ashleigh Street, to make it easier for parents accompanying their children to Ashleigh primary and nursery schools to cross Bolton Road.

And although some homeowners losing the right to park outside their houses, council bosses say they will have access to off-street parking.

A council spokesman said: "In response to the injury accidents that have occurred on this length of road, measures have now been proposed that will address the causes of accidents and improve road safety.

"The scheme includes proposals for pedestrian refuges, which both slow traffic down and provide a safer place for pedestrians to cross.

"In order to maintain the safe flow of traffic past the refuges, waiting restrictions will be required adjacent to them.

"The loss of on-street parking will be kept to a minimum.

"In addition, residents of the area have requested that part of the daytime limited waiting restrictions be revoked to allow more on-street parking."

An existing pelican crossing on the road will remain, while another pedestrian refuge will be placed in the junction mouth of Watery Lane and Bolton Road.

The spokesman added: "This is to help people cross the wide junction, although care will be taken to ensure that access for HGVs is not compromised by this feature.

"Overall, it should improve the road conditions within the area and improve amenity for residents, protecting vulnerable road users."