HIGHWAYS bosses are set to press ahead with plans to close an accident black spot street - even though a survey showed a majority of people were against the move.

More than half (52 per cent) of those who took part in the survey came out against a county council proposal to shut down Brennand Street, Burnley, at its junction with Briercliffe Road - the scene of 19 injury accidents over the past six years.

But the county highways committee is being urged to press ahead with the plan - and shut down three other nearby junctions to prevent them being used as short cuts.

The county council sent out 725 questionnaires on the junction closure issue, following a public meeting at which residents called for traffic control measures.

More than 140 survey forms were returned, along with three petitions objecting to the junction closure and claiming the move would divide the area and lead to more safety and vandalism problems.

A report to tomorrow's meeting of the county committee shows 118 people felt safety at the junction was a matter of concern and 105 wanted alterations at the junction.

A majority were against closure and most of these expressed concern that it would lead to traffic problems being transferred or created in adjacent streets.

Officers are asking councillors to address these concerns by agreeing not only to the Brennand Street junction, but also the closure of Sharp Street at its junction with Pembroke Street; the closure of Bracewell Street at Pembroke Street and the closure of Green Street at Ivy Street. If the committee gives the go-ahead, traffic orders will be advertised and objections awaited.

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