MOTORIST Edward Campbell has been driven into a rage by a town's new transport system.

Mr Campbell is so furious with the traffic management scheme in Blackburn that he has written to town hall bosses detailing the exact route he now has to take to get to the Boulevard.

He says his complaints to the council have fallen on deaf ears and was amazed to read the council had received no complaints about the scheme after he complained twice.

Mr Campbell, of Lower Darwen, said: "It's an awful, ill conceived system that needs a complete re-think.

"They just haven't thought about the drivers coming in from the Darwen end - we've been totally ignored. I told the council that getting to the Boulevard has added 10 minutes to my journey."

"It's since got worse and 10 minutes is a gross understatement."

But a council spokesman said only "minor" changes had taken place to roads in Blackburn.

He said: "The Boulevard was re-designed after wide consultation with a variety of people.

"Comments from the public were also invited and all points of view were taken into account. "The minor changes to the traffic flow were carried out to help buses proceed on their routes more efficiently and the bus companies and passengers are extremely pleased with the way the system is working."

Mr Campbell's amazing route to get to the Boulevard includes nine sets of traffic lights, one pelican crossing and a roundabout. It takes him:

Through traffic lights at St Peter Street, King Street and the top of Church Street.

Past a pelican crossing on Church Street.

Through the traffic lights in Ainsworth Street, Penny Street and Cicely Lane/Starkie Street.

Right around the roundabout at Eanam.

Back down to the lights at Cicely Lane/Starkie Street and back through the lights at Penny Street.

Finally turning left at the Ainsworth Street lights.

Before the system was introduced he was able to turn right off Mincing Lane and go straight to the Boulevard via Darwen Street and Jubilee Street.

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