October 29, 2012
England

Oswaldtwistle drain collapse blamed on heavy wagons

By Lisa Woodhouse | The Citizen | 29 October 2012 | www.blackburncitizen.co.uk

A busy road in Oswaldtwistle has been closed after a drain collapsed – with one councillor blaming the heavy loads travelling to a nearby wind-farm for the damage.

Lottice Lane will be shut from today as highways officers from Lancashire County Council investigate the cause of a collapsed drain and carry out repairs to the high-way.

Lancashire County cou-ncillor and Oswaldtwistle councillor, Peter Britcliffe, says that the vehicles carrying the sections of the 12 turbines to the wind farm at Oswald-twistle Moor have caused the pot holes and damaged the culvert.

He said: “The road was unsuitable for the heavy vehicles being used to bring the parts for the windfarm and now we are going to suffer traffic chaos for weeks.

“The diversion is such a long way around. It’s one of the major routes used for people travelling to the hospital and the added time for emergency vehicles could cost someone their life.”

Energiekontor, which is constructing Hyndburn Wind Farm, were un-available for comment.

Lottice Lane, which links Guide in Blackburn to Haslingden Old Road, will close from 9.30am today for three weeks.

A signed diversion will be in operation via Haslingden Old Road, Haslingden Road, Bank Lane, Shadsworth Road, Haslingden Road and School Lane and vice versa.

It is hoped that the investigation and repairs will be completed within the first week and that the resurfacing of the section of road will be completed in two days during the week starting November 12.

If possible the road will be reopened between completing the repair and starting the re-surfacing works.

The proposed closure of New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, due to begin on Nov-ember 5 has been put back until after the completion of these emergency works.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/29/oswaldtwistle-drain-collapse-blamed-on-heavy-wagons/