‘Crumbling’ link road closure hits motorists

Wild Lane, known as the Moss, has been closed due to damage

The single track Wild Lane and North Houses Lane - known locally as The Moss - links Marton Moss with Ansdell and Lytham and is used by thousands of motorists every day.

But it has been closed since Wednesday after council workers inspected the site following calls by the police and found worrying defects in the surface.

Now, County Hall says part of the road between Whitehill Road and Division Lane could be shut until February next year.

Motorists can still drive down North Houses Lane before being diverted along Division Lane and on to Midgeland Road before joining School Road.

The closure has seen Queensway packed with extra motorists forced with trying to find an alternative way to and from the M55 junction.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “Owing to weaknesses within the underlying road structure, it is very likely that the road will remain closed for a prolonged period and until a full investigation can be carried out and appropriate funding found to carry out any necessary repair work.

“Arrangements have been made for a temporary road closure and a diversion has been put in place.”

The road is due to be turned into a dual carriageway as part of the 1,150 homes development in Queensway – but work will only begin once the first homes are in place, which could be several years away.

Fylde Coun David Chedd, whose ward, Park, includes the road, said the situation will only improve once a proper link is in place.

He added: “Although a lot of people use it, its not up to the traffic going on it.

“The link road is promised with the latest development at the Queensway site – that is the sensible long-term solution. I try to avoid using it if I can – it is too uneven.

“You still get large vehicles trying to use it, while people ignore passing lanes.

“The only solution is a proper dual carriageway, but that could be some time yet.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We have attended a number of collisions on this road over a period of time and together with the council we felt that the deteriorating road service needed to be addressed which is why the decision has been taken to close the road and start work on it.”