Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has welcomed an announcement of £1 million in funds to improve safety on the A682 – the most dangerous road in Pendle and one of the 50 most dangerous in England.
This follows the announcement on Wednesday 13 June of successful bids to the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund. £100 million was awarded to local authorities to tackle England’s most dangerous A roads.
A joint bid from Lancashire and North Yorkshire County Councils was given £1,065,000 to undertake safety improvement scheme on the rural road that runs from Barrowford to Long Preston, allocated for this financial year. The scheme will see the introduction of average speed cameras, solar-powered road studs, better lines marking the centre of the road and rumble strips. Together, these measures are expected to substantially reduce serious and fatal collisions.
In 2007, the A682 was identified as Britain’s most dangerous road by the Road Safety Foundation with serious and fatal accidents continuing to affect the route. A motorcyclist lost their life after a fatal accident on the road in June 2016, which had to be closed in March 2018 after a collision with a milk tanker caused a spill, leaving the driver in a critical condition.
Andrew Stephenson said, “Too many lives have been lost on the A682. It is a popular road for motorcyclists and whilst its safety record has improved, there is still more to do to make it truly safe.
“That is why I am delighted the Government is acting to improve road safety in Pendle and across England, by investing in our roads.”
Cllr Christian Wakeford, who represents the area around the road in Lancashire said, “Having lost family members through road accidents, improving road safety is close to my heart. Lancashire County Council is working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to improve the A682 and I look forward to work starting soon.”
Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, said, “I am pleased to announce the successful bids for the Safer Roads Fund, which we made available to enable local authorities to improve the 50 most dangerous stretches of ‘A’ roads in England. We are investing £100 million to tackle these dangerous roads.
“This package of measures underlines the government’s recognition of the importance of road safety.”