Lancashire link road named after billionaire Issa brothers

The multi-million pound highway connects Blackamoor Road to Roman Road, opening up land around Fishmoor Reservoir for housing and other development.

It will be named Issa Way after EG Group founders Mohsin and Zuber who in October last year took over supermarket giant Asda.

The siblings started their business when they bought their first petrol station in Bury.

They are the latest borough local heroes to get a major highway named after them by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The brothers follow Blackburn Rovers footballer Alan Shearer, world superbike champion and ‘King of the Jungle’ Carl Fogarty and Lake District fell-walking author Alfred Wainwright.

They said they were ‘extremely honoured and humbled’ by the decision.
But the move was criticised by Cllr John Slater, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Conservative group and Darwen East ward Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Browne.

The Issa Brothers EG Group head offices are in Haslingden Road.

Zuber and Mohsin Issa said in a statement: “Our family are extremely honoured and humbled by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s kind consideration.

“We have always been proud of our local heritage and feel privileged to have been able to grow-up and support the town alongside building an international retail business that has generated much employment, wealth and opportunities for both residents and businesses of the borough and the surrounding areas.”

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “This new road needed a name and we decided to use the opportunity to pay tribute to the Issa brothers and their development and expansion of the EG Group which has brought countless jobs to the town and has really put Blackburn on the map in the most positive of ways.”

But Cllr Slater said: “This is scandalous. I would say there are many other people from the borough who should have a road named after them before these two businessmen however successful they are.”

Cllr Browne said: “This is ridiculous. There are other people in the borough who deserve a road named after them before them.”

The brothers grew up in the Brookhouse area of Blackburn and founded the then Euro Garages in 2001 following the acquisition of a single petrol station in Bury.

They now live in multi-million pound mansions in Billinge End Road, Blackburn, and are building an iconic mosque in Preston New Road.

The group now owns The Stanley House Hotel and Spa in Mellor and has opened a 150-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel with a conference and banqueting centre on the outskirts of Blackburn.