ROADS in Bacup town centre could collapse at any time, but it could be Christmas before traffic diversions are in operation.

Some roads are so fragile they can barely stand the weight of a loaded Transit van.

The stark facts were spelled out to councillors following a large-scale survey of bridges in Lancashire carried out by the county council.

Rossendale engineering and planning committee was told traffic could be disrupted for five years before repair work even starts because the county council has no money.

The roads in Bacup have culverts for the River Irwell which flows under the town centre.

Three stretches - across the bottom of Irwell Terrace, the bottom of South Street and the bottom of Rochdale Road - will not take vehicles heavier than three tons, the weight of a loaded Transit van. Another stretch of road outside Bacup Library will take nothing heavier than 7.5 tons, about the weight of a yellow DLO vehicle.

Two more stretches - across South Street and Rochdale Road - could collapse under a vehicle heavier than 17 tons.

Councillors were told a loaded bus weighs 10 tons and a loaded lorry 42 tons.

The dangers have emerged from a county council survey which has shown more than 200 danger bridges with the figure rising daily.

Rossendale chief engineer Philip Cunliffe told the meeting weight restrictions would have to be imposed on roads through the town centre but it could be Christmas before the necessary permanent traffic orders are in place.

He said: "Things will be extremely difficult in the centre of Bacup. It will be up to us to use as much political pressure to get Bacup to the top of the agenda.

"But the available cash for bridge repairs is minimal."

Councillors and officers are to seek urgent, top-level talks with county council staff and an up-to-date report will be presented to the next committee meeting in three weeks' time.

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