A STRETCH of road in Layton, notorious for accidents, could soon be getting a safety makeover.

Residents of the Plymouth Road area are to be asked for their views on a £1m safety improvement package being proposed by Blackpool Borough Council.

The area is a popular route for thousands of schoolchildren travelling to the six nearby schools. It suffers the worst traffic congestion in the borough, and since July 1997 there have been 49 crashes, including collisions at the junctions of Plymouth Road with Benson Road, Warbreck Hill Road and at the roundabout on St Walburgas Road. Plans include widening carriageways, better crossing facilities for pedestrians, cycle facilities and improving carriageway and footpath surfaces.

In addition, a series of interlinked traffic signals would be introduced to cut down congestion and give priority to buses to make public transport more reliable.

The scheme is expected to use around £1.2m of Local Transport Plan funding from central government. A council spokesman said: "The area of the scheme currently suffers from a considerable amount of traffic congestion, particularly at peak times, causing not only agitation and anxiety for drivers but unacceptable levels of noise and air pollution for residents.

"In addition there have been a high number of injury collisions occurring which the council aims to reduce."

The public are now being invited to comment and leaflets explaining the scheme are being sent out to more than 600 properties in the area. The council also wants to hear the views of people who travel through the area and asks them to send their comments by July 27 to the Technical Services Department, PO Box 117, Westgate House, Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, FY4 2TS.