A CALL has been made for residents along the A666 to be compensated for the months of road works misery they have had to suffer.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's majority Labour group will ask the Government to consider introducing laws to make utility companies pay for the distress they cause when repair work overruns.

Different sets of road works on stretches of the A666 in both Blackburn and Darwen have prompted councillors from all parties to campaign for North West Water and others to be brought to book.

Traffic jams have built up at rush hours behind temporary traffic lights.

Councillors blamed the companies for the "excessive time taken" to carry out repairs on the A666 and the "misery" they have caused to people who live near the road.

Labour councillors want to see a highway levy imposed on companies who create disruptions and "adequate and meaningful compensation" to residents who suffer disruption.

Councillor Michael Barrett said some homes had been left three feet deep in raw sewage after one incident.

He added: "The offer of £75 off water rates in such circumstances is simply not good enough."

Liberal councillors had asked for letters to be sent to the Government and North West Water complaining about the problems.

But Labour group members rejected their calls saying they were "jumping on the bandwagon."

Conservative Councillor Fred Slater also criticised the situation on the A666 but said the council did not help matters by spending money on cycle lanes.

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