TRAFFIC problems could be horrendous in Oswaldtwistle when a new motorway link opens at Guide, a councillor has warned.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, Conservative Group leader on Hyndburn Council, says the volume of traffic will increase in Union Road and New Lane, which are already extremely busy.

He is now calling on the borough council to work with the county council to look at traffic-calming measures or other strategies to restrict traffic in the area.

Coun Britcliffe said: "I share the concern of residents who are quite rightly very worried and fear for their safety and that of their children.

"The consequence for Oswaldtwistle, if nothing is done, could be horrendous.

"The situation is becoming more urgent. It's no good shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted."

Director of development services Nigel Rix, said it was premature to speculate about the effects of the M65 link through to the M6 on Hyndburn generally, or any of Hyndburn's town centres. He added: "There will be positive effects as well as some negative effects.

"Taking into account local residents' existing journey patterns driving to Blackburn or Preston, it may be more beneficial for people living in eastern parts of the borough to take the motorway around the borough in future rather than to drive through such towns as Oswaldtwistle.

"So there is likely to be a significant diversionary effect, which should free a number of local towns of some through traffic."

Mr Rix said businesses across the borough were likely to prosper by being better connected to the motorway network.

"In bringing together the environmental and regeneration issues, we are paying attention to local residents' concerns about their environment and, equally, paying attention to the need to be alert to new business opportunities to improve the economic prosperity of local people."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.