'Delays and broken promises' on Chorley Old Road junction

This comes after four sets of traffic lights were brought in to replace a zebra crossing at the junctions of Chorley Old Road, Moorside Avenue and New Hall Lane in February 2023.

Questions have been raised repeatedly since, with Cllr Garry Veevers, of Smithills, admitting that a meeting of councillors may think they had heard him make the same points before.

He said: “That’s because you have, perhaps three or four times, I’ve lost count.

“But if it wasn’t for repeated unexplained delays and broken promises from Transport for Greater Manchester then I wouldn’t need to keep asking.”

The junction has provoked a lot of complaints (Image: Newsquest)

Since the new system was installed in February last year, complaints have been raised about confusion at the junction that could lead to potential accidents.

In July the majority of 90 respondents to a survey said they felt conditions had worsened since the new system was installed.

According to Cllr Veevers “TfGM ignored advice from local councillors and installed an expensive scheme that in the views of many made the junctions less safe.”

At the last full council meeting in June of this year Cllr Veevers asked when a review of the scheme would be published.

He asked again at this month’s meeting when the review would be published given that “despite many promises” it seemed no closer.

Cllr Veevers said: “I can’t help but think I might be asking this question again.”

In response council cabinet member for transport, housing and highways Cllr Hamid Khurram officers in his department hoped a review would be made public soon.

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He said: “I can confirm officers within highways have been chasing colleagues at Transport for Greater Manchester on the review.

“TfGM have stated that they are in the process of carrying out street surveys on the junction of Chorley Old Road, Moorside Avenue and New Hall Lane.”

Cllr Khurram said this would being carried out as part of a wider review of the Bee Network’s crossing schemes.

He said: “If we receive any feedback that confirms any safety concerns then we will act accordingly.”