URL: https://democracy.blackburn.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1094

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: In accordance with Part 4 of the Executive Board Procedure Rules for questions/statements by Non-Executive Members, one question had been received from Councillor Sajid Ali relating to Barbara Castle Way, Blackburn.   Councillor Ali said he was excited about the £12m investment into local roads, footpaths and travel network on the agenda.    On a more immediate note, he said the roadworks currently underway on Barbara Castle Way were creating considerable disruption for residents.   He personally attested to this, having spent nearly 20 minutes navigating the congestion to get from Preston New Road end to Lark Hill Lights and a friend of his took 90 minutes at 4pm to get from Freckleton Street to Whitebirk roundabout at Junction 6 of the M65.   He said this highlighted the significant impact on the community’s daily routine.   He asked the Executive Member to outline what steps he was taking to tackle these traffic congestion problems and what measures he was proposing to prevent them recurring during the future highway improvements being approved this evening.   In response the Executive Member for Growth and Development, Councillor Quesir Mahmood said he was pleased that Councillor Ali recognised the new enhanced capital investment programme, which was set out in more detail in a report further down the agenda.   Councillor Mahmood said the junction improvement scheme at Barbara Castle Way/Lark Hill was funded through the Bus Service Improvement Plan programme.  This scheme would bring benefits to buses at the junction by using bus detection technology within the traffic signal software.  This would also bring additional benefits to general traffic using the junction by upgrading traffic signal hardware and software.  The junction would also be resurfaced as part of the works.  Given the scale of these works the Council had worked hard to minimise the effect on traffic throughout, however, inevitably there would be a level of delay for road users during improvement works.   Councillor Mahmood said delays to traffic were monitored throughout the day to ensure the junction was operating as efficiently as it could under the temporary traffic signals.  He acknowledged there would always be instances of traffic delay, with or without roadworks, due to other factors impacting on traffic flow.  To minimise on this, extensive communications had been provided via local media and BwD Roads so that road users could make changes to their own route planning to avoid these works where practically possible.   When planning the schemes, particularly the carriageway surfacing works, coordinated schedules had been carefully considered to ensure that no two sites affecting the same diversion routes were undertaken simultaneously.  However, Councillor Mahmood accepted that there would inevitably be some disruptions to drivers while this important and necessary work was underway.   Councillor Ali added that he felt the scheme had been mismanaged and he felt that improvements could be made to open/close lanes to ensure the least congestion for road users.  In response Councillor Mahmood said improvements had been made since the work had first started and practical steps had been taken to minimise risk, but also to ensure safety for all.    

Date of Decision: June 12, 2025