Our recent Focus newsletter on this issue

Improvements to Park Road could have been completed by now if Labour councillors had not stalled on making their decison.

The plan, which includes improved pedestrian refuges, anti-skid surfaces at the Platt Lane junction and by the doctor’s surgery, and built-out pavements to stop speedng traffic, was submitted to Labour-run Westhoughton Town Council for their views.

The town council refused the plans but they had to give their view again after it was discovered only 2 out of the 18 councillors had bothered to give a view.

Eight months later they approved the plans in a decision that was made in one minute!

The plans also included a mini-roundabout at the Platt Lane junction, which was later decided against. 156 out of the 192 residents who replied to a consultation agreed with the plans, but did not like the idea of the mini-roundabout.

This section of Park Road has seen 14 accidents resulting in 16 casualties, including one death and 15 slight injuries.

The Executive Member for Environmental Services will now reconsider the scheme.