'˜Gridlock' warning over road delay

Photo Neil Cross Plans have been relaunched for a road bridge to link the end of The Cawsey, Penwortham and end of Carrwood Road, Lostock Hall

An action group fighting to reduce the impact of a planned retail and business park between Leyland and Lostock Hall has spoken out over fears a major road scheme is under threat.

Last week concerns were raised a 46-year-dream for a Cross Borough Link Road (CBLR) to ease congestion in South Ribble may never happen because of problems between a landowner and house builder set to pay for the scheme.

John Jones of Limit Cuerden said it would be a “huge strategic mistake” for the CBLR not to happen. The group believe the 65-hectare Cuerden Strategic Site near junction 1 of the M65 will create a traffic nightmare.

He said: “This road (CBLR) would offer some relief to stop South Ribble becoming gridlocked with the traffic from Ikea at the Cuerden Strategic Site.”

Photo Neil Cross
Landlady Marilyn McDonald of the Sumpter Horse, Penwortham, faces being made homeless, just after losing her husband, by Bovis Homes who want to demolish the pub to put a new road in. — Photo Neil Cross Landlady Marilyn McDonald of the Sumpter Horse, Penwortham, faces being made homeless, just after losing her husband, by Bovis Homes who want to demolish the pub to put a new road in.

He added: “As I understand there’s not many options of relieving the traffic near Cuerden, it would be foolish to write-off one option that could make a difference.”

South Ribble Council was accused of being “impotent” for not Compulsory Purchasing the land that would link the Cawsey in Penwortham to Carrwood Road in Walton-le-Dale.

Borough bosses said although they were confident of “a constructive way forward”, they admitted they had been caught out by Lancashire County Council’s change of heart to allow access in principle to a Bovis Homes development via Leyland Road and not the CBLR.

Marilyn McDonald, 67, landlady of the Sumpter Horse in Leyland Road, also hit out. The pub faces demolition if the Planning Inspectorate rules for the Leyland Road access option.

She said: “This isn’t just a pub, it’s my job and my home, and yey nobody has been in touch with me. I’m in limbo and there’s only so much stress I can take.”