Parking ban on Preston road to protect Guild Wheel users near site of proposed new mosque

The popular cycling route runs along a section of D’Urton Lane in Broughton, which was remodelled following the opening of the nearby Broughton bypass back in 2017.

As part of that work, D’Urton Lane was diverted so that it meets the bypass - officially known as James Towers Way - at a new roundabout. The existing western end of D’Urton Lane was truncated and a new turning head formed.

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet has approved plans to ban parking in that area in order to keep it clear for cyclists and pedestrians on the Guild Wheel, as well to make it easier for vehicles to turn as intended.

Several dozen objections to the proposal were received after they were advertised earlier this year. However, cabinet member for highways Charlie Edwards told a cabinet meeting that the restrictions would not limit parking elsewhere on D’Urton Lane, but were necessary within the turning head “on safety grounds”.

As well as fearing that parking would be outlawed along the entire route, objectors had also complained that the area to be yellow-lined “serves only one residential property”.

However, highways officers responded that there were other properties in the vicinity that may necessitate a turning manoeuvre - and that motorists may “erroneously” drive along that part of D’Urton Lane and so need to be able to turn around.

They added that if land just off the route - which is currently the subject of a planning application for a new mosque - was ultimately approved for any form of development, then parked vehicles in the turning head “may block the cyclists on the Guild Wheel”.

A report to cabinet members stated: "If the land is developed in the future, an agreement...will be required in order to repurpose this section of highway and create a formal access. There would still be a need to protect the junction from parked vehicles and the introduction of the Traffic Regulation Order would therefore be beneficial to any development in keeping the junction clear of parked vehicles for the safety of all road users."

The mosque plan is currently in limbo after Preston City Council’s planning committee voted to defer a decision on the application back in July pending more detail about the design of the proposed 450-capacity building. The winner of an architectural competition to design the place of worship has since been announced.

County Hall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change Shaun Turner said that the changes to D’Urton Lane introduced with the opening of the bypass had been “absolutely transformational”.

He added: “Broughton roundabout, for decades, was a nightmare - and that cleverly-designed bit of highway has made all the difference.”