What the media says about me...

"A stroppy Labour MP"

Simon Hoggart Parlaimentary Sketch, The Guardian, October 2004

MP Worried About M65 Tailbacks at Colne

Tags: driving | Local Government | Press Release | safety | transport

Tuesday, 29 April 2008 00:00

Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is asking Pendle Council to explain why highway improvements were not carried out before planning permission was granted for the huge new Boundary Mill development at the end of the M65. Leading Pendle councillor, Lord Greaves, recently accused Lancashire County Council of dragging its feet, telling the press: "The money for road improvements on the motorway is there and the county council hasn't done it." Speaking from Westminster, the MP said: “Tailbacks on the M65 are a worry. They don’t happen often but when they do there are real safety issues.” “After the snarl ups over the Easter weekend I raised the matter with the County Council, asking what more could be done to improve the flow of traffic at the Colne end of the M65. I am told that planning permission was granted by Pendle Council before certain highway improvements were agreed. This is very worrying.” “Clearly, both councils must work together to sort out the traffic problems.” Note to Editors: The Executive Director of Environment told the MP on 18 April: “The County Council is aware that severe traffic congestion was experienced on the M65 and on Vivary Way near to the new Boundary Mill store over the Easter weekend. To some extent, this was due to the fact that the newly relocated store had only opened the week before and to the extra visitors generated over the bank holiday weekend. However, some of the congestion was due to the fact that planned highway improvements on Vivary Way had not been completed prior to the store opening.” When the planning application for the new store was considered in 2006, the County Council recommended refusal, but requested that certain highway improvements be conditioned via a section 278 agreement if planning permission was granted. However, when planning permission was granted by Pendle Council, no condition relating to a Section 278 Agreement was included, which is why there has been a delay in implementing the specified highway improvement works. The County Council will continue to monitor the traffic flows near to the new store and work to implement the improvement works referred to above.”