RESIDENTS of Darwen's Avondale Road - still reeling from a council error which robbed them of the view from the rear of their homes - are now bracing themselves for a road safety battle.

Blowmoulding firm Weltonhurst Limited, who were mistakenly granted planning permission to almost double the height of their factory last year, have asked the council if they can use the road as a permanent access route for heavy goods vehicles.

The affected householders are gearing up to fight the proposal, which they believe will create a death trap, putting school childrens lives at risk.

Furious protestors also believe the proposal will turn their community into "little more than an industrial estate".

They have expressed misgivings about the road plan, saying an accident black spot will be created on the busy main road and in the back alley behind their homes - which is used as a short-cut by local schoolchildren.

Avondale resident Kevin Hutchinson fumed: "This is the last thing we need. We haven't even been compensated for the last fiasco yet, and now we are facing an increase in vehicles using our road which is already struggling to cope with existing traffic."

The company was given temporary permission to use the route for five months last June, during the construction work, after a request for permanent access was turned down. Residents, who lodged objections against both proposals, were assured by councillors that planning permission to use Avondale Road as constant access route for works vehicles would never be granted.

But many householders are concerned empty promises have been made, and have compiled a petition and plan to bombard the council with letters of objection.

Ward councillor Sue Reid has echoed the concerns of the residents, she said: "None of the issues concerning Avondale Road have changed. I will be writing to the planning officer to ask him to reject the application. The road is not suitable for commercial vehicles."

Meanwhile, Weltonhurst deny any problems will be caused if their application, which includes plans to create a staff car park, is given the green light.

Director Kevin Bretherton said: "At the moment part of our site is derelict and an eyesore. By turning it into a car park it will relieve parking problems in the neighbouring community.

"We don't envisage any problems with having permanent access to the site via Avondale because we will work closely with the council to make sure heavy goods vehicles do not coincide with busy times or when children are leaving school. We have only applied for commercial vehicles to use the route occasionally."

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