HIGHWAYS chiefs have been criticised for not taking enough action after a fatal car crash.

An inquest heard a badly-sited traffic island played a significant part in the death of a mother knocked down by a car.

Mother-of-two Aileen Wood, 55, of Haworth Street, Rishton, died in Blackburn Royal Infirmary after she was knocked down in Blackburn Road, Rishton, on a dark evening in January.

Lancashire County Council -- which has been ordered to file a report to the coroner -- has suggested that slimline bollards could be used at the crash spot to help drivers see pedestrians.

But Hyndburn councillors want more action, and some think road planners should consider building a pelican crossing or removing the bollards.

Hyndburn transport and highways committee has approved plans to cut the speed limit on roads including Blackburn Road.

A police expert told a Hyndburn inquest last week that the car driver had no chance of avoiding a collision because his view was impaired by the traffic island.

Hyndburn Council technical officer Dave Law told the committee that the police and county council discussed changes to the traffic island after Mrs Wood's death. He said the county council was considering slimline bollards.

But Coun Russ Davies said that was not enough. He said: "Crossing the road there is like playing Russian roulette."

The committee approved plans to cut the road's 40mph speed limit from Station Road past Rishton Esplanade to 30mph, and agreed to cut the 60mph stretch leading to the Whitebirk roundabout to 50mph. Coun Adrian Shurmer said council officers should face an independent inquiry. He said: "What is the point of the coroner requesting information about a traffic calming measure from the very people who designed them? Are we seriously expecting council officers to write and criticise themselves?"

Coun Stan Horne said residents had asked for a lower speed limit after years of witnessing people risking their lives by crossing the road.

He said the police needed to reinforce the limit by catching drivers who speed.

Coun Davies said a pelican crossing should have been installed in the first place. Mr Law said pelican crossings were expensive and said there had to be a certain number of accidents before one could be built.

Other speed limits approved by the committee were a 30mph limit on Whalley Road between Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors; a 40 or 50mph limit on Lee Lane, Rishton; a 30mph limit on Burnley Road, Altham, from Syke Side Bridge to Altham Road; and an extension of the 30mph limit on Burnley Road, Accrington, from Carlisle Road to the Whitakers Arms pub. All schemes are approved subject to consultation with residents and organisations including the county council and police.