COUNTY councillors are due to decide next week whether to cut speed limits on the Grane Road.

The move is one of the measures being considered in an effort to cut the number of deaths and injuries in accidents on the notorious route between Haslingden and Blackburn.

Residents and local councils are being consulted about traffic calming measures planned for East Lancashire's death road.

And next Wednesday members of the county council's highways committee are due to decide whether to cut the speed limit on the road from the 60mph national speed limit to 50 mph on the main stretch and 40 mph at either end of the road.

Proposed traffic calming measures also include gateway signs along the road informing drivers which town or village they are in and asking them to drive carefully.

New chevron signs are also planned along with improved lining on the road including "SLOW" markings and extensions to double white lines.

Also in the pipeline are "intelligent" road studs which contain mini solar panels, making them light up without illumination from car headlights.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council confirmed that the speed limit reductions would be considered next week.

On other plans, he added: "These traffic calming measures are out to consultation at the moment and that period ends next week.

"As long as there are no objections from residents or local authorities, then we are looking to start work on the road as soon as possible, weather permitting." Coun Nick Pilling, chairman of Rossendale's engineering and planning committee, said he was unable to say when the work would be completed as it was up to Lancashire County Council to commission the work.

He said: "We have no powers to do anything at the moment until the County Council decides when it should be done. Lancashire County Council will hold a meeting in November and decide whether or not to hold a meeting with us.

"Hopefully there will then be a meeting in Rossendale, and if sufficiently important members of the County Council are there we can discuss what's needed and when it's going to happen.

"We do not know when it's going to happen but the sooner the better.

"It seems we hear of an accident on that road every week."

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